Is PCCM+ that bad? Anyone happy with theirs?

one of the top local car stereo stores has stopped offering or installing them. They claim 90% have something not work properly, and the unit is generally worse than alternatives anyway (which I know. No wireless etc)

I've had PCCM+ in my 03' with MOST for a few years now and it's been trouble free. I'd say without question that the 90% stat is BS. To be fair, if you search, you'll find posts regarding trip odometer resets, and install challenges depending on year and original technology. It seems as those with MOST based cars have fared the best from an install perspective. Technology wise, they're likely at a disadvantage over a nice third party solution. PCCM+ lack of wireless carplay/android, back-up camera and relative high $ to alternatives come to mind. It really depends on what you're trying to accomplish. If you want an HU to look like it really belongs with the right buttons/fonts, textures and color, and missing features aren't critical, and price doesn't give you heartburn it could be right choice. As a Porsche classic part it could be better in a resale situation. That said, there are many third party solutions that provide superior sonic capabilities with up to date features in a modern aesthetic. Here's a pic of PCCM+ in my Targa. CAI did the install along with customizing the batwing for the USB ports. Couldn't be happier with their installation and the look and feel of the PCCM+.

I think one big reasons audio installation shops don't fool with Porsche branded radios is because of the lack of installation instructions and setup support from Porsche. It's been well documented that even dealership techs run into roadblocks trying to configure the new PCCM+ radios. Partly because of the lack of experience with the units, but also some dealership techs run into roadblocks when they discover that someone hacked the factory wiring and harnesses which makes it very difficult to install since the PCCM+ units require factory ISO plugs to be in place. And lastly, there has been a lot of changes and innovations between 1997 until 2008 that are integrated into the headunit... we've gone from the basics radio (FM, AM, CD disc, etc.) to having backup cameras with steering angle display, parking sensors, Apply Carplay, Bluetooth, Satellite Radio, Navigation, etc. All of those things have to be addressed with the PCCM+ with full integration over all years of 996, 986, 997, and 987. I still commend Porsche for giving it their best effort even though its come with growing pains and a serious price of admission.

I have PCCM + in my 99. I love it. I installed it myself and was pretty simple. The thread here has lots of tips to help with install and any problems. I am sure there are better options but I like the look of it. Feels factory. Joey

Installed mine myself Not exactly easy but no big deal either. Very happy with the unit and appearance. Try not to think about the fact that the actual works are worth about 25% of the cost, the rest being the logos and flash screen but what the heck, paid through the nose for my Porsche Garmin too . Very careful reading of available instructions including attached Porsche instructions pays off. The unit has a built in microphone so don't bother with the remote one. If you have factory gps there is a separate adaptor to connect that to the PCCM+. No nasty dash mounted blocks! Good luck!

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I second the notion that dealerships have issues with this. I just had one installed in my 996.2 and the dealership couldn't figure out how to load the NAV software, and wasn't aware that the GPS antenna has a home on the dash under the alarm light. They also couldn't load the Turn by Turn feature in PIWIS. I'm glad I have the PPCM+. It looks great in the vehicle. It works well enough. But if you like being on the bleeding edge, or even int he current tech year, this isn't the product for you. If you want something that OEM, and you don't mind the price, then I'd go for it. I don't regret my purchase.

Installed myself in my 2003 C4S in fall 2021. Easy install and problem free, Couldn't be happier with it. Added a wireless dongle to it and hid the connection box behind the cubby with only the charge cable coming through. Had my dealer code with PIWIS the turn by turn (took 5 mins) at no charge. My advice, find another audio installer!

Interesting thread. I'm considering pulling the trigger on one of these. But honestly, the cost and reports of issues gives me pause - especially for a unit that's not up to date on latest features and tech.

I've been having the PCCM+ installed into my C4S now for a few weeks, just got the car in Dec '23 and put it in post purchase inspection, good indy place so figured being lazy I'd have them do it being he said he did quite a few. I did a ton of research ahead of time, so knew about issues with different audio options, like the DSP and cd Changer, felt lucky as the car was optioned with just 680 bose pkg, it should been PnP. Car passed the PPI great, but shop says the radio install ran into a problem with no audio, ad yea he tried the hidden submenu amp option multiple times, also reconnected the old Becker and confirmed it put out audio. I came across a post on rlist, user had pccm+ issue and turned out a run of Bose amps have faulty firmware so be wary of 996.645.333.02 or .03. Shop confirmed my car had the 02 revision, so luckily was able to track down a 04 revision so now hoping it comes in solves the problem. Post did say there was a way to update the firmware unfortunately they were all in the UK, not sure what US options there are for getting the amp updated, I might look into it later so this way I'd have a back up.

So an update on my PCCM+. When the phone is connected, I'm hearing this very slight static noise. As soon as the phone is disconnected, the noise goes away. I've tried multiple cables, including the cables that came with my iPhone. I rmember reading in another threrad that there was a fix for this, but I can't seem to find it anymore. In any case, I'll say it again, great that its OEM. Great that it looks like it belongs, but for the money, this thing should be a lot better.

Would you buy it again ?

If the dealership can sort it out and make it right, then I guess yes. It looks really good. But I say this reluctantly.

I love the functionality of mine, but I also have the phone static noise issue, along with the ultra-high volume/gain that some seem to have. I can only get to volume 5/30 before it becomes uncomfortably loud. I have the bog standard M440 spec so the blame really can only be with the head unit; there�s no other amp. I�m having a tough time getting a dealer to care though! Keen to see if you or anyone else finds a fix for it. the only other gripe I have is the fact that the DAB tuner always defaults to the first station alphabetically, rather than a station I have saved. I have to manually choose one that I actually want each time I drive the car. Minor thing but seems so unnecessary.

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Yeah same. I've an 01 non most, I think from 02 they were all most. Installed easily myself, and it looks and sounds great. I am sure that there are better options, certainly there are cheaper, but I don't regret the decision. I even splashed out for the map option. Wireless android Auto would be cool, as would backup camera, but it's no big deal. I plug my phone in to charge in the car anyway.

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For pre-MOST owners (1997-2002) that are experiencing the high-gain volume problem with the PCCM+, then please listen... you're missing a key component that doesn't come with the kit. Don't ask me why they didn't start including it, but here it is. If you have a pre-MOST car with the amp in the frunk, then you need this in-line adapter cable from Porsche. This enables the correct LINE LEVEL pre-amp output to be routed to the amplifier via the YELLOW C1 plug as all Porsches were design before moving to fiber optics. The reason you're getting high-gain volume is because your incorrectly sending the SPEAKER LEVEL outputs from the PCCM+ to the amplifier. Basically, you're overdriving the amplifier and unless you lived during the 70's hard rock era and loved distorted overdriven electric guitars, then you need to make this change. This should also attenuate any electrical static sounds that comes from using BlueTooth handsfree phones while being plugged in for Apple Carplay. There is no guarantee the static will be eliminated, but at least reduced in volume. https://www.sunsetporscheparts.com/o...er-99664234100

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Thanks for this. Mine is a 2004 no-Bose. I don't get the high gain problem, but I do get the static. I should mention again that I only get the static (not sure i should even call it that) when my phone is plugged in. Actually, to best describer the sound; remember when we all had desktop speakers, and our phone was too close and was about to ring. That sort of noise is coming out of my sound system every sop slightly. Its almost imperceptible when something is playing. But if the phone is plugged in (to use Google Maps or something) and there is no audio, then I get that noise.

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Ahh yes.... I know that problem all too well. My father was trained in radar communications in the Navy and then for the FFA during the '50s and '60s. He also enjoyed ham radio on the side, but when he'd transmit, the RF would bleed into anything electronic (TV, radio, telephone, etc.). The sound would be a crackling distorted type noise over the speakers as the transmitter was at full power. It would also mess up the image on the TV. hahaha As you've seen, cell phones will do the same thing (especially older ones), but thankfully, their RF signals transmit at a much lower power hence the need for cell phone towers up and down the freeways. However, if placed near a powered speaker, the transmitted signal could interfere with the amplifier and the byproduct would be a static sound. How do you prevent it? IMHO, through shielding. When CRT monitors were popular, computers had magnetic shielding on the cables. Remember those? This was needed to prevent interference on the monitor's analog signal. Lots of examples to this age old problem. That being said, newer cell phones shouldn't be as problematic, but yes, still can occur. You can wrap your PCCM+ in lead, but RF interference will still find a way at the point of least resistance. Usually cabling. And, since the PCCM+ does require phones to be plugged in for Carplay and such, the problem could continue for the foreseeable future.

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Hey ZuffenZeus; I appreciate the reply and I think your comment is correct for those people that have the M490 sound package, as this has an amplifier. The M440 spec has no external amplifier at all, and therefore speaker level out is correct. It utilises the head unit�s internal amp. I feel the issue is that the the pre-amp stage and output stage gains are not balanced correctly within the PCCM+ circuitry and there�s no apparent option to adjust these in the software. Some people have suggested using an attenuator between the head unit and the speakers, but I tried this and just found that the signal became very clipped/over compressed. Stands to reason given the signal is already over amplified by the point it is squashed. The problem seems to be earlier in the chain.

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Curious, do you have door speakers or just four speakers in the dash and rear of the car?

Just the four speakers. The only available plug in the dash is the brown plug with 8 wires, +ve/-ve for each speaker. Hard to see what else could be at fault except the head unit. I do have a factory CD changer, but that�s effectively not plugged in at this stage.

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Ah... Yea, thanks for the clarity. I was just looking at the schematic in the shop manual. The ISO Brown Plug B is just for the headunit's amplifier section to send SPEAKER LEVEL output to the 4 speakers. That would mean you're seeing roughly about 18-20W per speaker. That's about half the power of the NOKIA and HAES 6 channel amps. The only improvement that I can advise if you want to keep the same setup is to upgrade to higher quality aftermarket speakers over the HAES factory speakers. Crutchfield has many options for 4" coaxial speaker setups, but you'll also need to order mount adapters since Porsche uses a proprietary 3 screw speaker mount design for the 4" dash and rear speaker mounts. https://www.ebay.com/itm/31511570422...Bk9SR5iNgtjJYw

Thanks for this. Yeah, I should have said I�ve recently put some Alpine speakers in. It didn�t do anything for the volume issue, but it did reduce the noise:signal ratio a bit. In truth the system doesn�t sound too bad as it stands, and I�m not trying to win any ICE competitions. I just feel like it would probably be more dynamic if I was able to set the gains properly. I�ll live with it for all the other functionality the unit gives though.

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Do you have this menu in your PCCM+?

I do have that menu. I've tried a few things, but they don't address my issue really. I'm hoping there's some hidden engineer's screen that will have the controls I need, but I won't hold my breath until I find it. It's a shame, I think, especially with my new speakers, that the head unit could sound really good but the noise floor is just too high as things stand.

Old thread I know, but I've been reading about the PCCM+ as I have mulled and still am, getting one for my 02 996TT. Originally this car had the analog Bose M680 which had a below average sound quality IMO. Back in 2010, I took off the complete system: all speakers, main amp and sub amp and the PCM1+nav. I've had multiple systems installed (by myself) and the best sounding one I had included two large Alpine amps, driving the Focal speakers I still have. Headunits have changed: Clarion MAX983HD-Alpine IXA-W407 (the best sound)-Zenec 2041D (looked like the PCCM+)-Alpine ILX-700-Porsche Traffic Pro. This last move to a Traffic Pro was to go back to old school. Having said that, I made an outboard box with CD Changer and Bluetooth switching capability and all that fed into what you all need - a DSP (digital signal processor) amplifier with speaker level input added by a conventional single channel Focal sub amp. There's actually many offerings in the market, I have the most compact of all of them, an Audiotec-Fisher M 5DSP, installed in the Bose amp bracket in the frunk. The current available incarnation of this unit is the M 5.4DSP. By the way, I also tried quite a few DSP boxes in the past: multiple Alpine, JBL, Eton. This 5DSP one is the best for what I need and it has a sophisticated software suite to configure and manage it, adjusting gains, parametric equalizer, the works. So, for all those with 97-02 cars with a PCCM+ or considering it, my suggestion is take the amps and speakers out (some of the Bose speakers have 2 Ohm impedance, which explains gain mismatching when driving them directly from the PCCM+), replace the speakers with good aftermarket ones and feed them with a DSP amplifier that takes speaker level inputs. It can also be done with a separate DSP box with outboard amps. For reference, here's what I have currently, with no visible mods, speakers are in the Porsche grills (did require internal surgery) and all is using OEM cabling: Dash speakers, mid+tweeter: 2 x Focal 100KP2P - current equivalent would be ES 100KE Door low range: 2 x Focal 13WS - no current direct equivalent Rear sides: 2 x Focal 100KP2P Rear shelf subwoofer: 2 x Focal 13WS Porsche Traffic Pro Audiotec-Fisher Match M 5DSP - current equivalent M 5.4DSP Focal DF1.350 sub amp, driving the rear shelf from a signal provided by the M 5DSP.

I installed the PCCM+ in my 99 and it was easy to do. I have the original amp in the frunk and it is connected. I do not get any weird noises or anything. Bluetooth works with my iPhone as does the USB cable, so I can use it wirelessly or plugged in. It's been one of the best upgrades I have done to the car in terms of making it more enjoyable to drive on trips or errands where I need directions. I thought it was expensive, but it looks very factory once installed versus very "I did it in my garage or at the local HiFiGuy's" - the only part that looks less than ideal is the USB connection box I inserted into one of the cubby holes in the center console dash...I may move that later on... I ordered from SunCoast Porsche and it came with the necessary wiring pieces. My car had Rockford Fosgate speaker upgrades already installed when I bought the car, and they work very well with the PCCM and amp.

I have had mine in a few years in my 99 and had no issues til today. I haven�t drove it in a few months because of the snow. Today I took it out and the CarPlay won�t turn on. I have it setup wireless but even tried to plug in the cord. Nothing. Not even charging. I have done nothing to it for it to now not work. Any ideas? Thanks Joey