Successfully retrofitted bluetooth to 987 Boxster with Bose CDR24 using Rennkit BTR-3

Making this post because I struggled to find resources when I was researching bluetooth solutions. My goal: I wanted to maintain the factory head unit so I could retain Bose Surround Sound system. The surround sound is just killer taking advantage of the vocals and basses. And the current Bluetooth to FM is such a pain. All I want is bluetooth and a volume button and change song button. Aftermarket head units were just too expensive for bluetooth. Initially, I tried the Crux CS-AXMO Auxiliary Input Adapter for MOST Systems from Crutchfield and it didn't work. Would NOT recommend. Poor instructions. It was a black box with no lights to diagnose issues. Just didn't work. A year later, I stumbled into the Rennkit. Specifically the BTR-3 Bluetooth-Retrofit Kit - NO Phone Module (987-Boxster-Cayman) (2003-2005) (CDR-24_w_CDChanger) I have a 987 Boxster S with a CDR24 head unit, Bose and CD Changer. The Rennkit system is wonderful. Emailed Rennkit and to confirm it would work with my car and I was ordering the right one, and they replied within a day. The printed instructions that came with the kit were a good overview, but they pointed to a pdf and specific forums to ask questions and see common problems. The PDF was excellent. The install was a breeze! An hour later. when I turn the car on, bluetooth automatically connects and starts playing. The seek knob switches songs on the phone and the audio quality is beautiful. Cannot recommend enough based on initial impressions. Video of it working and changing the song.

That's excellent. I am very glad to see a solution that is not a $1000 head unit and MOST interface. After having spent that much on mine, across two years of poorly purchased and integrated steps, it would have been nice to have just lean and functioning bluetooth for music and calls.

I was so excited to find this solution until I realized that the Rennkit for the CDR-24 requires a CD-changer to work (they don't have a solution for a MOST-based CDR-24 without a changer.

I've experienced the same letdown, since my car also doesn't have a CD changer. I contacted Pedro Bonilla (PCA's Boxster / Cayman tech expert and owner of the Pedro's Garage website), and he told me that his "TechnoTooth" bluetooth adapter will work with or without a CD changer. I haven't yet ordered one and tried, so I don't know for sure if it will or how difficult it might be to install, but I plan to order one in the spring. I have no affiliation with him or his products or website, just passing along what he told me.

I believe the kit will work if the cd changer is reprogrammed. You would need to buy or rent a durametric.

Sorry to bring up old thread, but looking to install this over the weekend. Was going to use power from the cd changer. maybe a dumb question but Anyone know if the power should come from the red/green always hot wire, or the white/red wake up diagnostic wire?

I just installed on my 2005 Boxster S . It works great and I am very happy with it. The instructions were pretty terrible. Definitely very basic instructions. Really my only complaint with the kit. They literally could have spent a little more time writing up the instructions to make it more clear. I connected the red wire to the red/green wire and the black ground wire I connected to brown wire. IF I read the instructions correctly I believe it said it needs the hot wire and not the switched power wire. Ultimately I am super happy with this kit and highly would recommend. The sound is excellent with the Bose system and I like that it keeps the interior stock looking. Don't get me wrong, I love the touch screens in my newer vehicles, but I actually like the looks of the CDR24 . My next minor mod is replacing the ugly fan and Temp switches!

Hey Everyone, I've read this thread and really enjoyed the info. I am not having the best luck with using the various VIN decoders, and am hesitant to pay for one. I'm not sure that it would even have the info that I am looking for. I'm trying to figure out if my 2006 Cayman S is CD "changer ready". I have the Bose Surround System with the CDR24 head unit. I am interested in the Rennkit. I looked in the space in the frunk where I think the CD changer would go, at least it was behind the panel that said CD changer. The device that is in there doesn't look like a cd changer, and I am unable to get the stereo to recognize a cd change by repeatedly pushing the CD button on the head unit (this is what the stereo manual says to do). Would Rennkit be able to tell if my car is compatible via the VIN # Any info/help would be much appreciated.

You may want to read through this thread below. I don’t think there are CDR24 that are cdc ready vs not. It’s just a matter of programming the unit. Boxster - For those that got Porsche to program a CDR-24... I just got a Dension Gateway 500 Lite (with Lightning adapter) from a board member and installed it on my 2008 Boxster base. Now I have a really nice iPhone charger :-). I press the "CD" button and the single CD plays. My CDR-24 (Bose and no CD changer) does not recognize the Gateway 500 -- I... www.planet-9.com

Thanks for the reply DanielDolin. I checked out that link. Interesting stuff. I'm pretty hesitant to go down that path, if it means having to go to the dealer and possibly paying a few hundred dollars to get the unit programmed. It doesn't sound like such a great deal if that is needed. It might be worth the trouble of changing out the speakers, and just building around a touchscreen head unit. Then again I have never taken any of my cars to a dealer for any work. I contacted RennKit, inquiring about the compatability to my car. I was asking if they could tell me if my CDR24 was compatable, I said that I haven't had much luck with VIN decoders and the like. I gave them my VIN number. The response that I got was to ask the dealer or look on the window sticker. So, not much help there. Assuming I can ever get a VIN decoder to work (they all seem to be pay now), what option am I looking for regarding the stereo? I have the Bose surround system and the CDR24 . Pretty sure that there is not a CD changer. There is some sort of factory looking device in that spot. I don't think it looks like a CD changer however.

Cd changer looks like a cd changer if you have it

Has anyone been successful programming the CDR 24 to enable the CD changer port to use a rennkit or mr12volt Bluetooth adapter. Both Rennkit and MR 12 V say their devices won’t work with a reprogrammed CDR 24 without a cd changer.

I've also asked both and they maintain it needs to have a factory cd changer. My car has a CDR 24 with BOSE . I looked through PIWIS and feel I could just add the cd changer to the GATEWAY and in the PCM add the cd changer to the 2nd MOST ring slot. Maybe the CDR 24 needs to physically detect the cd changer to switch to that mode. I don't know if it would work. But not sure if I want to risk $200 to find out. Becker audio might be the better option.

My eyes are crossed....so much info and no solution for us that have the base radio / no cd changer. Called the Dealer and I may as well have called Baskin Robins...same amount of confusion.

What's the issue that you're facing? I managed to install a mr12v unit on my 04 cayenne with base radio, no cd changer, and non-Bose sound system. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Exactly. No need for a CDC, only needs to be programmed in with your CDR23 (did it using PIWIS ). You should first install the cables as indicated in the diagram (you can also refer to my photo) You attach the newly provided splitter cable on the harness that's coming from the amp (i.e. from behind your radio unit) then one plug goes to mr12v unit and the other to the radio following the polarity in my drawing. For power, I followed what mr12v suggest in the provided instructions. You'll be left here with the additional fiber optic loop that came in the box with your mr12v. Go to the trunk. On the right hand side, under the right panel, you'll be able to access the amp as well as some loose cables. Among these you should have a fiber optic cable (only with a cap) and a power plug. Hook your loop on the fiber optic cable. If your car doesn't come with a telephone module, your mr12v should at least blink red when it receives power, and you should be able to detect its bluetooth signal and connect to it using your phone. Once this is done, you'll need to program it in so that when you click CD on your radio, it reads the mr12v unit as a cd changer. If your car does have a phone module, the lights that i mentioned will blink only shortly. This means that your fiber optic loop is still open somewhere (most probably through a phone module connector plug that's left unused like the one that you'll find in the frunk). Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you!!! Im going to see if I know anyone that has PIWIS...the dealership will be much too expensive.

I bought a Mr12volt P600 for my 987.1 - Bose with Nav, no CD changer, hands free microphone that I switched to a new Enfig microphone mounted in the steering column shroud (I'm trying to maintain an OEM look as much as possible). I used Easy-taps on the factory PCM plug for the ground & power but I can't get the Mr12volt unit to power up - no LED indicators lit or "Car Kit" showing when doing a Bluetooth search on my phone yet mam y multimeter shows good power/ground at the P600 plug sockets. I'm guessing I have a defective unit and frustrated because I'm not getting support from Mr12volt . Any ideas?

I suggest you retry to get in touch with Mr12V. In my case they were extremely helpful and friendly. I contacted them over whatsapp asking for advice over a unit that emitted sound from only one side of the car, a couple of days later I received a new unit completely free of charge. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I wish my customer service was as attentive as your experience. They only text me with suggestions which I've told them I already tried. It's like they don't even read what I sent. I've yet to get anyone on 'What'sApp'.

How do these adapters work when you have a CD changer? Do you loose CD changer as a source and selecting CD on head unit takes signal from BT adapter? Or there is still some way to select CD changer as a source?