AE0273B-08A Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S

Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S I just completed an upgrade from the old CDR24 to a Pumpkin Android 8.0 head unit . My car has the Bose sound system which has MOST fiber optic network between the head unit and the amp. I did a blog about this here: Porsche Cayman S Car Stereo Head Unit Upgrade . So far I am very happy with how it turned out. I hope others find this information useful.

Re: Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S Thank you very much for this excellent writeup, Jim! I never would have thought about the Pumpkin, but it does look well-featured and I am deeply in the Android ecosystem. Nevermind about USB and microphone, the manufacturer's page had the info that Amazon did not. Two rear corded USB and internal and external phone call microphones included. I recall reading a while ago that the factory Bose amp retains the settings for fader, so when you get ready to swap in the aftermarket HU, boost the rear bias a bit and then fader will be set for the new unit. I just purchased a Longate MOST adapter, and am evaluating all of the other components. I want to have rear backup cam, wired USB input, Bluetooth phone with good microphone pickups (like the Parrot BT adapter I have integrated to my Volvo), Android Auto for Maps and Waze, BT audio streaming. Does the Pumpkin support custom splash screens for boot or background? Also, off topic: I noticed that you had done your own headliner replacement. I have the alcantara in charcoal to do mine, and have wrapped my A-pillar surrounds and liftgate interior, as well. Would you do it yourself, again, or take it to a pro? I didn't cut the liftgate light hole well, and regret it. I'd prefer a pro do mine, but for $300 or more, I can sacrifice an afternoon. As long as I don't mess it up. :-|

Re: Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S Great write up. Thanks for taking the time to post your install. Do you know if the Pumpkin head unit supports Bluetooth LE? I'm looking to replace my factory head unit with something that will run Waze and JBV-1 for my Valentine 1.

Re: Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S Does the Pumpkin support custom splash screens for boot or background? - Yes. In fact it has a nice Porsche logo in there already. Watch this video showing the boot-up: https://youtu.be/Ec6zQQmvjCY I also installed an active wallpaper that is a map of there you currently are in a dark theme. You can see this in the video too. As for the headliner, I would probably do it myself again. It was a big job. Lots of cleaning the old foam. Its not the kind of work I enjoy though and I did get some wrinkles in it.

Re: Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S I spent yesterday on the couch, fighting a cold/flu. So, I had a lot of time to research, watch YouTube videos, play around on the Net. I pulled the trigger on the full kit to do this. What might not have been all that smart was to purchase the head unit from Alibaba. I should have gone the Amazon route, where it would have come to about $265. I just had to be different and play around. I got this unit from Alibaba for $254 shipped with the $20 backup cam. Just had to snag that extra $11. If I have no problems, great. If I do, I will be kicking myself that I didn't get it from a US distributor. More to come. I think that I will try to wire the subwoofer out directly to the Bose sub. I have no CD changer or Nav, so no need there. I have my fader set where I like it, and I think that the Bose MOST amp saves that setting. I will be missing the CANBUS integration, so will have to ground the parking brake, tap the reverse light for the backup camera. Should I do the front camera? I see that there is another video in. I was thinking of a real low profile one for front, like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07255S7DF/ Debating extensions for a flush mount USB , or just putting the USB cables into the glasses cubby under the HVAC panel. Should be an exciting project. Looks like my bill of materials is only $450 at this point, including MOST adapter, install kit and misc connectors.

Re: Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S I did a front camera but I used a backup camera that I already had which means the image is reversed. Any camera with composite video seems to work. The only reason I did the front camera is so I don't hit parking blocks witht eh nose of the car so it serves this purpose well even if the image is reversed. Cameras are cheap enough so I could always replace it if this bothered me. It was easy to mount it in the center under the license plate area. Since everything is black it disappears. I would not get the American International bezel kit if you can find a better one. I did not find many good options for this and spent a ton of time fabricating my own mounts and modifying the bezel. I did see kit in the $150 range and at the time I thought that was ridiculous but in hindsight maybe they are much better. One thing I recently did was get a AXXESS AX-LDBK Universal Line Output Converter Power driver I plan to install that tomorrow. This should help better match the output of the HU with the MOST module. The system sounds fine until about 3/4 and up volume where it seems to be clipping some and not quite putting out the sound level the stock system did. I too considered connecting the sub out direct to the sub amp to give that extra control but have not done that.

Re: Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S Your CAN module didnt work, even though I imagine on the website it said you needed the AX-PO904. Why the difference? And is it just a guess, so if I buy the kit I might need to swap it out for the other one too?

Re: Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S You can check your CAN voltage first to determine which kit to buy. Connect a voltmeter with the negative lead on a good ground and then check the voltages of each CAN wire. If the voltages are both around 2.5V then you need the PO90052 . Otherwise you need the PO904 . That is what they told me. They said there is not a way to tell other than that. I will say that Axxess product support is good.

Re: Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S I now installed the Axxess AX-LDBK and the sound is much better. It is now on par with the factory system, or better actually. The Pumpkin has an equalizer so you have more control over the sound than the old CDR24.

Re: Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S This is excellent! Thank you!

Re: Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S Thanks for continuing to add value to this thread, Jim. Jim, another question came up: did you have to short an emergency brake lead, like other units require, or did your CANBUS interface do that for you? I received my multiple packages from Alibaba, just fine. The MOST and Pumpkin, arrived without drama nor surcharges. I also got Amazon to supply a 2-input passthrough line filter to eliminate loop noise for the HU and sub. I just ordered the AX-LDBK and a small backup cam with guide lines. I'll do the same that you did and use the supplied camera to be nose protection. Just need to find a day to be left alone to plan and execute the install.

Re: Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S The Axxess CAN module has the brake and reverse outputs you need.

Re: Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S I haven't get gotten the head unit out. Working on running the rear camera line first. I didn't want to spend another $300 for the CANBUS adapter, but, I started to feel less confident that I was going to get it right, so I bought the PORSCHE Multi 2005-2012 FIBER OPTIC Wire Harness IX-PR004 from Spiral Audio. If I wanted to run RCA cable to the subwoofer, I guess I should disconnect the MOST cable. Not sure if it auto switches inputs or not. Any other lessons learned I need to know?

Re: Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S Thanks so much for taking the time to do this. Starting on this install this weekend. Did you have the CD changer with your original CDR24 system? If so, what did you do with it once you got all of this installed? Did you leave it or pull it out? If you pull it out what do you do with the fiber optic line to it? Do you have to cap it or anything?

Re: Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S @KreepnSlayer (totally scared of that nick, BTW): I believe that you can retain the CD changer, if you like, by using an optical adapter. User @ilikebigbumpers (not my nick, either) in this thread https://********.com/forums/996-for...-install-aftermarket-head-unit-in-most-car-without-removing-factory-amp-11.html says he has one for sale. I also have an unused Longate MOST adapter that I can sell. $99 from Alibaba, I'll sell for $80, shipped CONUS.

Re: Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S LOL. Don't worry bud, I'm not nearly as scary as the nickname implies! I'm not worried about retaining my CD changer. I don't even own any CD's anymore. I just don't know what the system would do if I unplug the thing and take it out. Does having an unplugged fiber optic line screw something up?

Re: Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S Oops, as Jim Roal notes below, I wasn't thinking of a loop topology for the MOST bus. I was thinking of switched optical, as in Ethernet. Don't listen to me, listen to the engineer who's done it. :-D

Re: Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S Which way did you set up the Axxess LDBk unit? As a line driver or LOC (line output converter)?

Re: Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S This would be a question for Jim, since his is actually installed. It was my assumption that I would use the line driver setting (close the two secondary wires, take power and ground and let the RCAs throughput). I think the intention is just to preamp the HU output before the Bose optical amp get the signal. Due to a death in the family and travel requirements, my stereo install will now take a few more weeks to resume.

The MOST network is a ring and must have the whole loop connected. If you remove the changer you must close the loop with a bypass adapter. I just left the changer there for now. I plan to bypass it later.

Hello. Been a while. Tackled this install today and it went well. How did you route wires for your front camera? Did you have to drill holes in the black plastic below the license plate or any where else?

I haven't yet started mine, beyond fitting the rear backup camera. I have all of the components in a box, but finding uninterrupted time that meshes with good weather and good health has been difficult. That, plus, since this thread started, both of my parents died, separately. Yeah, different priorities. How did the install go? Any lessons learned? I haven't gotten in to my console yet. I don't want to get halfway there and then have the car not driveable. How is the Pumpkin working? I tried to power mine off of a 12V wall wart on the bench, and didn't get it to power up. While I think it is a low risk, I hope I didn't hurt it. Any issues with the external antennas?

I took about a day and a half to do this install. I think the trickiest party was getting the unit back into the opening with all the wires. It's an INSANE amount of wires. Adding the line driver adds even more wires and another box but it's worth it. I used the American auto kit that Jim talked about and he's right, the unit does not fit into the hole with that kit. It's just too wide. But I actually used just one of the sides (on the left) and then used the original retaining screw on the right side to hold the radio in and it worked great. Didn't have to fabricate a new mount. The left side clipped in and the right side is held by the retaining screw. The bezel had to be opened up a bit to fit the fat pumpkin. Be careful here as it's easy to screw it up and have it be visible. I have one small spot in not satisfied with to might order another to see if I can make it better.

Oh and the unit sounds excellent. Better than factory. I wish the Bluetooth showed album art when streaming but that's only a small issue

How is the Nav and backup cam? Did you have to tap wires for reverse? Did you need to ground the parking brake wire? What did you do with the USB cables? I was considering running on USB female to the sunglass cubby and one to the glove box, or one into a flush mount USB panel. Do you have even sound from front and rears? BTW, regarding the MOST optical loop, I found a $25 optical bridge on Suncoast to take a device out of the loop without breaking the signal.

The nav works good. I put the antenna on top of the cabin air filter cover and it gets a good signal. The navigation itself is based on whatever app you want to use. By default it's Google maps. You'll need an internet connection from WiFi or using your phone as a mobile hotspot for it to work right. The backup camera works good. I think I wired something wrong as the little light on the camera was on constantly even when not in reverse. Yes, I did tap into the reverse wire at the rear. I think my my problem is the wiring behind the unit. When trying to get all of the wires and plastic box units packed into the small opening I had a couple instances where the wires pulled out of the terminal bar. I think I put the trigger wire for the camera with the acc wire instead of the reverse wire. I think. It was so hard to put in I just don't want to pull it all out again since I only found the issue after I put it all back together. I disconnected the camera at the rear until I go and tackle installing the front camera. The USB cables I ran up under the console and the poke out between each seat and the console. I'm not sure I'm even going to use them, however, so for now that's as far as I've taken them. They're nice and hidden so at least they're not hanging somewhere unsightly. I just couldn't bring myself to cut holes in anything

I did finally removed the old CD changer and related brackets which removed 5 poorly placed pounds of dead weight. I put a MOST loop in to keep everything else working properly. After having the system in for a few months now I am pretty happy with it. Here are a few quirks/issues I have had: 1) Every once in a while is corrupts my SD cards. I think this happens with low cranking voltage maybe. Pumkin product support said I should be using high speed SD cards and I have some antiques in there. I will swap them with newer ones and see if that fixes it. I found out later that you must use at least a class 10 SD card to prevent this issue. 2) The OS is very minimalist and you cannot run any apps automatically at startup except the system apps. Tasker for instance will not run at startup. - update. Tasker started working 5/2019 with a Tasker update. 3) Every once in a while the output drops. You notice it after starting that the volume on the left will be a bit quieter. The fix is simply to go into the fader and set it again. Odd but simple to fix. 4) the 600 pixel screen height is a problem for some apps. Most devices have much more than 600px height so sometimes certain apps will put buttons out of reach. 5) Sometimes when you want to interact with the touch screen while moving it thinks you are sliding instead of clicking. Using a touch screen in a moving sports car sucks. I want to add physical buttons to do common tasks like pause, play, forward, back, etc. It can easily be done actually using the steering wheel input wires, some switches, and resistors. I just have not worked out where I would put the switches.

Yes, I did drill a hole in that black plastic front piece. I then came up the drivers side along the frunk seal and through the plastic firewall plug near the throttle pedal.

Re: Pumpkin AE0273B-08A Android Stereo Head Unit Install in 2006 Porsche Cayman S I put a simple MOST loop from Amazon in place of the CD changer so I could remove that extra 5lbs (including the bracket). It all works good. I bought this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DX1Z124 . You only need the one side but for $15 I bought both. You can find just the side you need for about $10.

This thread is only nearly two years old. We can still add to it, right? Well, I FINALLY got to the point where I felt I could safely dismantle my car and get this thing installed. Since I started, both my Parents died, I got married, sold three houses, moved 1200 miles, quit my IT career, went back to school to be a winemaker, moved into a new home and did a year of schoolwork! My Cayman is all apart, right now. I got my Pumpkin 8.0 head unit working. The Axxess AX-LDBK for some reason comes only with all female RCA jacks, and I don't have converters, so I don't think i will be using it. Sound is pretty good as it is. I could NOT get my backup camera to work, no matter what I did. Just sucks. Re-tapped the Pin 3 blue/black wire on the rear light cluster, ensured it was grounded and powered. Nada. Guess I will install it without the rear camera or the line conditioner. Has anyone gone through the process of upgrading their 8.0 units to 9.0? I don't have any 8GB micro SD cards, so I can't do their process right now. Wondering if it made much of a difference at all. EDIT: I have tried 16 GB SD cards, and still that little Rockchip upgrade tool won't see them. Have tried partitioning to 4GB and 8GB and that won't work either on Win 10_x86. Pumpkin's support is just hot garbage in 2020. I get good wifi connectivity, after updating Google frameworks and apps, everything is working just fine. GPS seems good. The big missing data point was that you have to take the battery completely out to find the grommet bung to feed the antenna and ground wires back into the cabin. Man, I just do not seem to have room for all of the add-on interface and filter boxes this thing needs. Wish I could cut the dash frame for the double DIN unit. I had to get a different mounting kit, too. The one I had that said it fit Cayman 987.1 doesn't. So, I wait. Any new info on how your Pumpkins are working?

Welp, I guess this brings to a close my 2.5 year odyssey on installing the Pumpkin AE0273B in my Cayman . As the philosopher said "It is what it is." Could have been better, could have been worse. I tried two different install kits, each with their own failures and unsuitability. The $90 kit (can't remember the name) came with a CANBUS harness that I never used, but could have, I guess. It was the one with the nice Porsche logo bezel. But, the side panels didn't fit into the dash on the 987.1 . Then, I got the Metra kit off fleabay. Under $20, so that was nice. I ended up using the side panels which went into the side guide slots in the dash. However, the bezel there also wouldn't fit the Pumpkin. Out came the Dremel . I tried to retrofit the Porsche logo front bezel to fit around the Pumpkin fascia. Screwed it up, and ended up cutting the bezel too thin and cracking one of the sides through. The Metra one had nowhere to attach to, as the tabs didn't fit and had to be cut off. Unfortunately, i tried to be quick and dirty about it, and when Dremelling the tabs off, I touched the home button on the Pumpkin and roached it a bit. Whoops. With the jury rigged installation, I couldn't get the Pumpkin to sit far enough back, and I was out of options. I used the OEM set screw on the right to secure the radio as far back as I could. Then, I cut up the trim kit to fill in the blanks top and bottom. Installed the original black trim ring that came with the Pumpkin. In 2020 you probably can't say "it looks pretty ghetto" so I'll just say it could be more professional. However, all systems function. One interesting thing I found out was that my Bose subwoofer does not have an RCA jack for direct analog Subwoofer input. I just left it connected to the MOST loop and it works. Aside from the front of the unit being 5mm forward of where it should and no trim ring fitting around it, I can drive the car and get internet music and media, online and offline navigation and good call quality. I may end up fitting a Kenwood or Sony in the future, with a known good installation kit. Until then, It's good enough. 11/12/20 EDIT: No, it's not good enough. The alternator whine is intolerable. I had run a separate ground which passed by the battery along with the GPS and WiFi cables. I disconnected that, but it didn't stop the whine. I am steeling myself to go back in and dismantle it all to take out the long 4 foot RCA cabled ground loop noise filter, as maybe the cable lengths are becoming a resonance antenna. Also, this will allow me to move the MOST bodes under the radio area, since they are to the right side of the 2DIN unit and maybe the cause of the noise as well. Along with all of that, I have my third Metra fascia and mount kit, and have decided to trim the actual Pumpkin unit's face itself. My tolerance with this radio is gone, and I am about to throw it away in favor of a name brand that will fit properly. I do like the open Android, though. I popped in a raw APK package of Android Auto and it works fine. I have finally answered the question: "How much work will you do to save $300?" If I replace the whole thing, I haven't saved anything.