How does the three-pronged MOST cable help? Does it mean that you don't need to loop the CD changer anymore?

I have hit a problem that I can't easily get the fibre optic cable off the back of the CD Changer, as my car's RHD and with the Navigation unit above, there's no access.
And to pull off the CD Changer, I needed a low height right angle screwdriver and none of the local hardware stores had one.

Anyone done this with a RHD, Bose, CD-Changer, Navi and no phone car?



There's not much room to get to the FO cable

To get the CD Changer out, you need a really low height right angle screw-driver.

It all got too much for my little helper - she gave up and I had a beer.

 

Hey guys,

So I’ve finally received my unit and have time to get cracking on the install. I just have one question about the harness. The install videos and documentation I’ve come across all involve loosening the connectors and tapping in to the MOST ring. However I have the 3 connector harness which I believe is the updated version of the unit? Now I would just like some help on how exactly I plug these in.

See the attached image. I think the following:
1. Goes back in the PCM
2. Original connector that went into PCM prior to install goes in here
3. Goes into the LAPower unit.

Then I use the clamps to tap power from the PCM power cables. I don’t have the aux cigarett lighter port in the passenger foot well.
If it matters my system is Non bose, no cd changer (but activated at Porsche dealer), navigation and phone.

Thanks for any input!
(Sorry for image size, only have my iPad and can’t figure out how to reduce the size...)


at Porsche

 

Have you taken anything apart yet? If not it will be more obvious when you do. I too noticed that what I was reading here and what I saw in vids did not match up with what I received.

If I recall correctly:
- #1 will plug into the LA Power BT unit.
- You must unplug one of the plugs on the back of the PCM and replace it with #3. You only have one option so it is not like you can plug the wrong one into the wrong place.
- The plug that you have replaced with #3 should now be plugged into #2.

Of course I could be way off so maybe others can chime in. And my setup is completely "opposite" of yours so things may be different - I have BOSE, a CD changer, and no navi or phone.

 

@aelgen
This harness is simply a loop cable that allows for the addition of a device ANYWHERE in the exiting ring. One cable in each connector is send and the other is return (in and out). You can picture the MOST ring as a single unbroken loop, starting and ending in the same connector at the PCM. So you can see that any cable connector that is not plugged into a device would need to be patched between the in/out cables or the loop would be broken.

If this cable will be installed at the PCM location then unplug the MOST connector from the PCM and plug it into connector (2), which is the only place it will fit. Then either of the other cables can go into the PCM, although the shorter (3) connector makes the most sense physically. That leaves the longer cable (1) to plug into the LaPower unit. This would be similar for any location in the loop, simply unplug a device and plug that cable into (2) , then plug (3) into that same device leaving (1) for the Lapower unit.

Your car does not have a CD changer or the Bose Amp so unless you have Nav or the phone module the car may not actually have a MOST ring cable installed. I'm not sure how a car without the need for the MOST ring would be delivered, but I would imaging there would still be a MOST connector in the PCM. However it might just be a short cable looped from the send to receive (one side of the connector to the other). I would think the new cable install procedure would be the same either way.

When you are looking for a power source, it does not have to be switched. The LaPower unit will go to sleep when the MOST ring is not active, effectively shutting it off automatically when the PCM is off.

 

Thanks guys! So much helpful information. Like you said it was a lot more obvious once I took things apart.

I tried with 3 in the unit but that didn't work, I just got a phone error (I have the phone module). Switching to 3 into the pcm made everything work great!

Forgot to bring a multimeter so I spent 30 mins trying to figure out which was ground and power... Not my proudest moment. In case anyone struggles with the same, brown is ground, at least it was for me.

Everything is working now and the unit is great!

Thanks for your input!

 

With #3 into the PCM that puts the Lapower unit as the last device in the loop, which is what the instructions say is best. However, others here including myself have had to disconnect the factory phone module from the MOST ring in order to get BT phone functions of the LaPower unit to work properly. Do your BT phone function work properly? You should be able to make calls from the PCM keypad. If you do have to remove the phone module you need to splice through the in/out MOST cables at that connector and probably will need to have the dealer program out the factory phone module to avoid the phone error on each startup.

 

Working on the install of the LaPower (MR12V) adapter, I have spent more time reading about it than it will actually take to install!
I have a 2007 Carrera 4S with factory Nav and Bose, all I needed to do was to unplug the fiber optic cable (MOST cable) from the Nav unit and plug in the provided three headed cable and LaPower adapter (no factory reprogramming). The fiber optic cable is keyed so you can't connect it incorrectly. there is a spare 3 pin connector near the Nav unit on my car that I would assume is for Disk changer option, so it has the +12V and Ground. Installing in frunk, just Velcroing it to the floor behind the Nav unit. Seems to work okay with blutooth from the frunk. So, no need for any interior work except for the microphone.

Since the LaPower unit is so inexpensive, getting a custom microphone from enfig, they 3D print their own custom mic holder that mounts in the factory location, looks pretty easy to install too. Anyone try this yet?
https://enfigcarstereo.com/ENFIG_MIC_POR1.html

 

That mic is awesome. I will def get it.

Cw

 

That microphone is awesome! Could you report back on the voice quality please.
The LaPower micro hides very well in my cluster but the voice quality is very muffled and I usually pick up on the phone.

 

I simply swapped the CD changer in the frunk with the LA Power unit in the frunk, no fiber optic cable needed other than the one the CD changer was originally connected to - truly plug and play after tapping into the CD changer Power. No bluetooth issues so far and it has been months. I used a wireless mic to avoid threading it into the cabin.

 

i want to go with your plan but I can’t find this wireless mic you speak of, could you point me in the right direction?

 

Here you go:
Sold by: XiaokoaReturn and product support eligibility $35.99

 

Thanks!!
I did your install method and it took me all of 30 min and I was cleaning parts as I went! Not sure why anyone would go through all that other nightmare other than being able to plug the phone in directly which I would never do!

and I just bought that mic.
Thanks again

 

No worries. Easiest install ever and it makes your car “modern”.

 

First of all thanks for this thread as it is incredibly detailed. I have read the 374 posts on the LaPower unit and how to install but I am somewhat still unclear on the best plug'n'play solution with minimal downsides for my situation. I have RHD 2007 997 with PCM 2.1. I have NAV, BOSE, internal phone requiring a SIM card and CD changer. It sounds from reading this the easiest way to install this to hook into the existing phone module. But I have a series of questions to work out what my options are.

1. If installing in the current phone module position should I expect to suffer the phone error message?
2. If I choose to use the 3 headed cable instead, do I need to still need to install the loop on the CD changer? Am I right to assume the phone issue won't be present here?
3. If I plug the unit directly into the CD changer plug, is there anyway to pass the AUX and mic cables (extended) back through the firewall easily?

Anyone further guidance here would be truely appreciated.