cqhall

My 2003 C4S came with a double-DIN head unit and Bose (with MOST). It never had a single-DIN head unit. This:



When I bought the car, the previous owner had already removed the Bose amp and installed a double-DIN head unit (and amp) and replaced a few of the Bose speakers. This:


I want to do something counter-intuitive and go for a less sophisticated single-DIN head unit that's modern with BT audio. I don't want the big screen I have now (above).

I want to rearrange my equipment like so:

These pics are from the internet and are of a Boxter, but the execution is exactly what I want to do except I'll use a modern single-DIN head unit:


I'll either have double-cubbys because I'm always in search of somewhere to store stuff in the car. Or, I'll go for the GT3 center console delete to get more leg room. I haven't decided yet, but I need to get the hard part sorted first.

What parts do I need to convert this car, that never had single-DIN, to using single-DIN?

Internet and forum searches all have info about the other way around (single to double). I can't find a source to explain how to go from double to single. Please forgive me if this has been covered before (I'm pretty sure it has...somewhere). If it has, please provide a link to it.

PS

I'm also gonna reroute my seat-heater buttons to the center console where the dummy blanks for the non-existant rear windows are. It makes more sense for the seat heater buttons to be there...near the seats that are getting the heat. Also, it makes use of the dummy buttons and turns them into something useful.

ZuffenZeus

You will need the single DIN front and rear support frame (part # 11, 13, and 20). Be extra careful when ordering and make double sure you're getting the correct part ordered. This is because some of these parts are painted or have wood or carbon fiber treatment and that comes at a significant cost. The basic part (satin black) is cheap.
Link:
https://www.autoatlanta.com/porsche-...section=809-02

Support Frame:
Porsche part# 9965522311101C

Radio (rear support) Bracket:
Porsche part# 99655267303

Climate Control Back Support
Porsche Part# 99657350100

cqhall

Thank you so much, @ZuffenZeus!!

I'm ordering now.

cqhall

Parts have been ordered. Some have to come from Germany. I'll report back when I start the reconfiguration and install. It'll be a while to gather everything, including the new head unit.

Ian Cooke

My (non-MOST) 02 C2 made this switch because I had 2DIN original PCM and wanted console delete. 1) I recommend GT3 console delete without reservation. Gives your eye and your knee a noticeable bit more room
2) You may wish to order seat heater switches for *Boxster*, which’ll have the pictogram in its proper orientation for the new location.
Enjoy!

cqhall

That's a good idea. I got the idea to move the buttons from looking at a Boxter with heated seats and I did notice that the orientation of the icons were different. If I'm gonna do it, I may as well do it right.

I'm sure that I'm not the first person with this idea. I haven't searched around for it, yet. I wonder how difficult it is. If I'll have to splice/extend wires or if the current wiring will work and it's as simple as moving them.

RobsterPC

Great thinking. I’m doing the same project to mine and hadn’t worked what to do with the heated seat controls. This solves my problem nicely!

redlineblue

My car needed 3 wires extended for each heater switch. No idea what difference MOST might make.
Until I weld the sunroof shut and commission a Pasha interior, this GT3 console/2DIN to 1/ seat switches *between the seats* mod is sure to be my favorite change to the car.

theprf

I did this on my car years ago with Boxster switches from ebay. You will need to extend wires.

cqhall

I'm strongly considering having a stereo shop that I trust do the reconfiguring of the center stack and rerouting of the switches. While I'm ultra-careful as the owner of an old car, they have literally thousands of hours of experience dealing with such. And I'm sure that having them extend the wires for the seat heater switches would be nothing for them.

I'm over 6ft/185cm and was driving the other day and noticed my leg leaning agains that center console and thought, "Man, it would be nice to have that be open...". Also, it really looks like the dashboard was originally intended to end at the bottom of the horseshoe, keeping the same horizontal line with the steering column area and the glove box. It's a really clean look:

Pic from the internet:


But, damn, that OEM GT3 center console delete is like $1,000USD...what the hell??

cqhall

UPDATE:

The parts came in...and I immediately realized that I needed 2x Climate Control Back Support Porsche Part# 99657350100, not just one. On a related note, I visited two local Porsche dealerships and they can't find the T20 screws that I need to affix all of the internal stuff. So, I bought some similar sheet metal screws from a hardware store. Works just fine.

I have to also order the plastic surround for the climate controls because the shape is different depending on if it's in a top or bottom position in the stack.

I was able to get through the conversion and get the new stereo hooked up. The Blaupunkt Frankfurt RCM 82 looks the part and sounds great with my current setup using a BOSS CE102 100W amp to drive the subs (that are not Bose anymore). It's a small budget amp, but it's perfect for the job.

It's a pretty neat unit. Looks like a cassette player, but it's actually modern...and has a volume ****, which was a requirement for me. The lack of which was the reason why I took the old one out.

https://blaupunkt.com/product/frankfurt-rcm-82-dab/



My car is still in pieces. Here is a pic of a 996 cab with the head unit from the internet:


Source: https://www.carhifi-store-buende.de/...e-911-typ-996/

I didn't bother with rerouting the seat heater buttons. I don't have the energy to rewire them. Maybe that'll be a project for another day. I did notice how they have separate wiring harnesses, but have a shared ground that binds them together. Also, I have empty buttons on the horseshoe. The seat heater buttons can be rerouted there, as well. Just have to make that common ground longer to fit around the back of the stereo.

cqhall

I need more help.

I disconnected the antenna and didn't pay attention to which color the adapter was affixed to. But, FM reception was never good on the previous aftermarket head unit. So, maybe it was in the wrong place anyway.

Can someone tell me which of these is the Radio Antenna?

Paul Waterloo

That's a great looking radio!

ZuffenZeus

Those are FAKRA connectors and you'll need an adapter to connect to the Blaupunkt. But on the PCM2 the standard FM/AM antenna connection is the Black FAKRA. The blue one connects to the GPS antenna.

cqhall

Roger that. Thanks!

I have the adapter. I'll update when I get that last part in and button it all up.

Oh, and I confirmed that you will indeed need to extend the seat heater buttons to put them where the blanks are by the hand brake lever. They don't extend past the gear shift.

If I recall correctly, they have 4-5 wires each. So, extending them would take 16-20 butt/solder connections. Maybe there exists some sort of "extension cord" type extender for situations like this. It'd be neat if that's what the Boxter uses to facilitate this. Also, more efficient because you wouldn't need different wiring looms. Just add the extensions for the Boxters with heated seats.