Fitting audio and radar units?

Hi all, Well, thanks for all your advice so far - both on the forum and by email. Looks like I will be collecting my first Porsche (a 996 C2 2001) this weekend. First thing I want to do, after paying OPC for the warranty, is to get the audio upgraded. The car already has the upgrade sound package (amplifier and door speakers is that right?) but has just the cd head unit. I'm thinking Pioneer Avic D3BTi so I can have ipod, cd, radio, sat nav all in one unit. Are there any otehr options? Also, after getting caught by the hairdryer brigade recently (3 points and £60 thank you Sir) I am looking to invest in a camera detector. I'm not convinced by the laser detector ones and so think something like the Road Angel or Snooper Sapphire looks favorite - but where to mount it? I will need to move the air con controls down if I fit the double DIN Pioneer unit so that area is out and I want to be able to see it but not have it "stuck" onto the top of the dash or the windscreen. Any advice - pics of otehr installs? Many thanks again and roll on Saturday [ ] Guy

Hi, Congrats on you car. With regards to ICE you have chosen in my opinion one of the best in the market. The 2 Din slot Avic D3 will look stock, nice sat nav, dvd play back and bt etc. It is the route I am going on. Check out Richards set up. Alan

How much is the D3? I'm thinkng more along the lines of a Becker Grand Prix in Amber to look like original - any one have any feedback on this model or alternatives?

Diesel130 - I have a Becker Grand Prix in my current car (Audi TT) and I have to say, with the BOSE upgrade its a great unit. Speed of ipod response is brilliant (I have the ipod adaptor for it too) and the sound quality is superb, its really transformed the sound in the car and makes the most of the speaker system. It looks OEM in a german car (I hate the flashing light / multi-colour stuff you can get). Sadly, I got the red illumination one to match the TT so it wont match in the 996 and I cant have that [ ] plus I want a "proper" always on Nav system. (Edit to add that the bluetooth phone side works very well too, as well as any Parrott type kit I have ever used) The best price I have found for the D3 thus far is £950 fitted (excluding fascia trim parts from Porsche)

I fitted the D3BT recently - and it is a truly amazing piece of kit the bluetooth and ipod connections are second to none and eliminates the need for extra boxes and wiring like Parrots....more than happy to help if you get stuck the wiring took about a day but you need to tap into speed wires and reversing wires and i fitted a reversing camera which is cool - and quite useful if you blind spots are as bad as in my 996 cab.....I think it looks OEM with the illunination set to Orange but there are a few pieces of trim you may need to tidy everything up I also fitted a Road Pilot Micro Go - its the smallest radar detector around and its great - alos on specail offer at Halfrauds for £99 - I have hard wired it in which was a bit of a fuss but worth it - no ugly wires and as its in the bottom corner of the windscreen its hardly noticeable.

Hi Alex, Be grateful of any info you can share with regard to hard wiring the camera detector, what trim pieces I will need to order (this would be especially handy) and in general about the D3BT usage. Got any pictures of the set-up (both the D3BT and the Micro Go)? Thanks Guy

my camera is playing up at the mo so no pics but you'll need to order the Centre console trim - PCM version - which has a double din opening You also need to move your Climate control panel down to the lowest point - above the gearstick and get the trim piece for that (about £80) your OPC will help you - its a fairly common mod in the UK (about £5) you'll need a female cigarette lighter adapter to plug the road pilot behind the dash - Maplins sell for a couple of quid Then you will need torx screwdriver bits for the trim which is a doddle to remove You need to remove the traqnsmission tunnel trim - again easy but a bit fiddly if you want to run the ipod cable from the head unit up to the armrest cubbyhole - which is a good place to site the ipod as it is lockable. The speed wire is a cluster of pink wires behind the fuse box by the drivers side footwell - one of the screws is a bit awkward but not too bad after that The reverse wire - which many people dont bother with, can be tapped-into on the control box under the driver's seat - you'll have to do this when the tranmission tunnel trim is out and look at http://avic411.com/forum/ for details how to "bypass" your head unit - this will allow you to enter Nav details, watch DVDs (not a good idea) and dial bluetooth whilst on the move - just go to that forum and look at the hacks/mods thread for the AVIC D1/2/3 to find out - takes 5 mins and requires no soldering and is fully reversible.