Porsche Club GB

Urgent - PCM1 or PCM2 - How can you tell, by looking at a car

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YOUR RESEARCHUrgent - PCM1 or PCM2 - How can you tell, by looking at a car

Leading reported evidence

Install on facelift cars as well

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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I am almost certain that PCM1 was installed on facelift cars as well, but just for a few months.
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Urgent - PCM1 or PCM2 - How can you tell, by looking at a car

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Check vin number, as it isn't

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Unsuccessful attempts: 1
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Suggestion
You need to check the VIN number, as it isn't when the car is registered, rather it's Model Year build date.
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Urgent - PCM1 or PCM2 - How can you tell, by looking at a car

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Leading evidence: 'Install on facelift cars as well' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check vin number, as it isn't' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.

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Check vin number, as it isn't

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Unsuccessful attempts: 1
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Discussions that contain suggestions: 1

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Suggestion
You need to check the VIN number, as it isn't when the car is registered, rather it's Model Year build date.
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Urgent - PCM1 or PCM2 - How can you tell, by looking at a car

Frequently discussed actions (2)

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Check vin number, as it isn't

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes: 0
Unsuccessful attempts: 1
Discussions

Read evidence and context

Discussions that contain suggestions: 1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion
You need to check the VIN number, as it isn't when the car is registered, rather it's Model Year build date.
Original post Read captured discussion
Urgent - PCM1 or PCM2 - How can you tell, by looking at a car

Install on facelift cars as well

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes: 0
Unsuccessful attempts: 1
Discussions

Read evidence and context

Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome: 1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I am almost certain that PCM1 was installed on facelift cars as well, but just for a few months.
Original post Read captured discussion
Urgent - PCM1 or PCM2 - How can you tell, by looking at a car

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Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.

6 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.

Porsche Club GB: 1 discussions

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Generation: 20261026T142254Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources

POST 1 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Hi, I am looking to buy a 996 C2 and tonight I will be looking at a 996 C2 cabrio. It is a September 2002 car. How can I tell if it has PCM1 or PCM2? Are there any noticeable differences on the screen, buttons or something I can see by just looking at the car? I think PCM1 comes with tape and PCM2 with CD. Is this the case (ie. there are no PCM1 units with CD and no PCM2 units with tape)? Thanks, Michael

POST 2Original post

Hi Michael, I think thats right. The PCM2 unit was introduced with the facelift (oval front lights) and doesnt have the cassette unit and has a slightly wider screen. If you get the reg/chassis number then I am sure Porsche Cars GB could tell you the full spec. Cheers and good luck, Rob

POST 3Original post

Hi, There is some info within this thread : http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=115643&mpage=3&key=PCM1&#188426 that shows how to determine the version Pete

POST 4 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Hi Rob, Thanks for your reply. I am almost certain that PCM1 was installed on facelift cars as well, but just for a few months. The problem is that since the car I am going to see is a 02 car (first year of facelift) I need a way to distinguish PCM1 and 2. I guess I can write down the VIN and ask Porsche Greece (I live in Greece btw [ ]) for the full spec. Thanks again, Michael

POST 5 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Thanks Pete, this is exactly what I was looking for!!

POST 6Original post

You need to check the VIN number, as it isn't when the car is registered, rather it's Model Year build date. The tenth digit should read 3 if it is a MY03 & has PCM2, although most 52 cars onwards will have PCM2 there is chance that 02 MY cars could have been registered on a 52!

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