What did you do to your 996 today?
#241
Installed a new head unit to compliment my recent speaker upgrade.
I decided to replace the stock Becker head unit with this Continental CD7416UB-OR. There aren't a lot of choices if you're trying to keep the look period correct and still have all the modern features.
When I bought this car, I vowed not to do any mods that weren't reversible. I also never hack wiring in any of my nice cars so I bought this pigtail from Bergvill that makes it an easy plug & play.
Pulling the head unit out is no problem but I found that removing the HVAC controls makes the install soooo much easier. It's only two phillips head screws and the wires are long enough that you don't have to unplug anything.
It's a pretty good match on the display color too.
I decided to replace the stock Becker head unit with this Continental CD7416UB-OR. There aren't a lot of choices if you're trying to keep the look period correct and still have all the modern features.
When I bought this car, I vowed not to do any mods that weren't reversible. I also never hack wiring in any of my nice cars so I bought this pigtail from Bergvill that makes it an easy plug & play.
Pulling the head unit out is no problem but I found that removing the HVAC controls makes the install soooo much easier. It's only two phillips head screws and the wires are long enough that you don't have to unplug anything.
It's a pretty good match on the display color too.
#243
Not today but on Sunday. Applied Rain-X to windshield, windows, mirrors, rear window and, way more importantly, fixed my speedometer!
The actual physical overlay inside the panel wasn't sitting flat and was stopping the needle from spinning. I noticed a wavering look on the overlay and used a flashlight to see if it was touching the bottom of the needle. So I took the cluster apart (cleaned all the plug contacts I could on there), and after re-assembly, voila! Analog speedo worko! It seems to track right along with the digital readout (about 4-5 MPH above GPS), but at least they're consistent!
The actual physical overlay inside the panel wasn't sitting flat and was stopping the needle from spinning. I noticed a wavering look on the overlay and used a flashlight to see if it was touching the bottom of the needle. So I took the cluster apart (cleaned all the plug contacts I could on there), and after re-assembly, voila! Analog speedo worko! It seems to track right along with the digital readout (about 4-5 MPH above GPS), but at least they're consistent!
#244
My question to you is does your audio system involve the frunk amp? If so, how did you make the Continental work? I had spoken to one of the Continental reps a year or so ago and they said their radios didn't provide the pre-amp output like the Harman Becker radios (e.g. CDR-220) and that the speaker level output would have to be used to drive the speakers. That's fine if you only have a four speaker system, but most of the systems in the Porsche 996 cars are 6 speaker systems. Plus, since the speaker output wiring is in the frunk, trying to interconnect from the Continental radio would be a nightmare. What radio was in your 996 before you switched to the Continental? Thank you.
Here you go:
#246
Over this past weekend I installed the short shift kit I bought from Sweet Victory on here. For me at least, it transformed the feel of the car.. a little notchy but it lends to a sportier feel. I'm really enjoying it and I put almost 50 miles on it driving around late Saturday night trying it out. I hope to get to the RennLine mounts this weekend but the rain in the forecast is not looking conducive to that.
#247
"as I understand it, for cars with the factory Hi-fi option(option code: 490). I'm not sure if it will work with the standard audio package."
This is the exact opposite of what the Continental distributor told me. He said the radio only had speaker level outputs and would not work with the factory amp. Looking at the owners manual it's hard to tell as they only list R+,R-, L+, L-.
This is the exact opposite of what the Continental distributor told me. He said the radio only had speaker level outputs and would not work with the factory amp. Looking at the owners manual it's hard to tell as they only list R+,R-, L+, L-.
#250
I actually saw the continental install pics last night and decided to buy the non-cd version. Its exactly what i was looking for as far as look and inputs. To answere the amp question above. The continental will feed the factory non MOST amp through the speaker wires just like the factory head unit. The plug he posted will make it a direct no cut install. I have already swaped out my amp for an atermarket unit. When u r look for an amp just pick on that accepts "high line level" (normal speaker wire) of just get a converter. Its a pretty simple work around if u need "low line level" (rca outs).
#251
#252
Anyway, I guess I just need to call Bergville?
#254
I think the Continental sounds a little better than the Becker. I never listened to Mom when she told me to "turn down that music!" so my ears may not be the best judge though. The Bergvill adapter definitely is using some kind of output converter but I can't say if it's passive or powered. If I had known there was this much interest, I would have taken the shrink tubing off for a closer look.
#255
To be honest the factory amp is not the best anyways i think the kenwood amp i bought was $200 and i was able to mount it to the factory bracket. Probaby a 10 fold improvement. If u wanted to keep the factory amp the low line level converters r cheap and i highly doubt u would hear any aditional "noise" or it would sound any worse then the becker.