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I recently purchased a 2007 C2S. The previous owner had replaced the center entertainment system with an aftermarket unit. The original did not have navigation, nor telephone.
I don't like the look of the aftermarket unit! Am I able to "upgrade" the original unit so that it can have navigation and telephone? Can I buy an original Porsche unit which will have all of the new functions, if the old unit cannot be upgraded?
I'm also open to other suggestions to help the esthetics of the center console. The aftermarket unit is a Pioneer.
It really doesn't make financial sense to revert to oem pcm with nav & phone bluetooth. The oem nav alone runs for about $$3650 @ suncoast. I believe the phone Bluetooth module will run another $$600+. After that, you Still wouldn't have streaming data capability.
I replaced my non-nav PCM with a Pioneer AVIC and it is 1000 times better. Nav, satellite radio, DVD's, voice activated phone & text, iPod, real time traffic & weather, touch screen.
Last edited by user 72902; Feb 27, 2016 at 08:37 AM.
Reason: Added DVD's
It really doesn't make financial sense to revert to oem pcm with nav & phone bluetooth. The oem nav alone runs for about $$3650 @ suncoast. I believe the phone Bluetooth module will run another $$600+. After that, you Still wouldn't have streaming data capability.
I agree that it's an expensive proposition, especially for an outdated system. However, some people prefer the OE look in their car. Streaming for music can easily be added with an aftermarket solution like Mobridge, and it retains the OE look.
Yes you can return the car to stock. You can also add navigation to a stock car. You will need to find the right PCM unit to replace the aftermarket radio you have. You will also need the OEM navigation unit which sits in the frunk for C2S coupe (might be in other locations for cabs). There is a GPS antenna under the windshield cowl, along with both copper and optical cabling. Then the car needs to be coded to accept the newly added navigation system.
The telephone option was not very popular at all. The OEM PCM will need a sim card installed into a pop out slot on the face of the PCM. Not even sure all carriers in the US will work with the OEM telephone option. You will also need the telephone handset with the coiled cord. Picture something from the mid-1980's. Coding required here too.
When you are done you will have an out of date, poor UI navigation system and a corded telephone handset. No Bluetooth hands free calls. No music streaming. No iPod support. But it will be OEM. Buying new you will quickly be over $3500 installed. I wouldn't be surprised if costs crossed $5K installed. Used surprisingly will still be expensive, I'm guessing around $2K+ installed. For whatever reason used PCM's still command a decent dollar. And other than the OEM look you will hate the setup.
If you must have the OEM look, go back to stock without navigation buying a used head unit, and then buy a portable Garmin or use your phone for navigation. The better option would be stick with what you have or replace just the radio with a different aftermarket one. Or reach out to local folks in your area. You shouldn't have too much problem finding someone willing to swap their OEM system for your aftermarket one.
I'm not arguing that the OE navigation system is the way to go here, but I have a few comments. First of all, I don't think it looks bad. I know that looks are subjective, but I think it looks correct for the car. Secondly, it works well. I have the newest map discs in my car, and the navigation system works beautifully. Finally, it's easy to add bluetooth telephone functionality and streaming music with an aftermarket product that retains the OE look of the unit. I don't have a corded phone handset in my car, and I can use the telephone functionality of the PCM unit to make and receive calls.
For those who prioritize the OE look over the functions of a newer aftermarket unit, it's not all bad. I agree that it would be much less expensive to add a good aftermarket unit, and it would have more functionality.
I think that you can spend a great deal of money chasing new technology. If you buy an aftermarket unit now, then it will be out of date in a few years. What then? Another upgrade?
I myself wanted to get that Alpine unit but found a solution that is suffient. I have the Bluetooth for cell phone connectivity already, as well as the AUX/ USB / ipod Jacks in center armrest. I basically use my cellphone with large screen (Samsung Note 4) as my nav, and to stream audio, I connect via Bluetooth to a Bluetooth to Aux dongle) quirky but the dongle is small enough to fit in the tiny center armrest compartment ( along with a rechargeable lithium ion battery pack to extend the life of the dongle without connecting it to the noisy car charger jacks. I secure my phone into an air vent clip. It works.
By the way I love your white background dash and chrono!! Im finding difficult to resist the outrageous cost though (over a grand combined on suncoast).
Originally Posted by Philster
I have an Alpine unit that is super clean and has every modern function I'll ever need.
If you care about clean looks, it doesn't even have a logo on it. I think the original units look comical and dated, even for their time.
The fact that things are still progressing past what current aftermarket units can do is actually an additional argument against the OE unit.
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I guess it all depends on your point of view. The other way to look at it is that technology will continue to move on, and you've got to draw the line somewhere unless you want to upgrade every few years. For me, the OE unit is fine. It does everything that I need.
We aren't there yet, but we will get to a point where an aftermarket unit looks out of place in a 997. The 993 is certainly there. I hate seeing a 993 with an aftermarket head unit, even though it offers functionality that wasn't available when the 993 was launched.
I think that the way the car is used probably influences this decision too. My 997 is driven infrequently, and the navigation system is used infrequently. Spending thousands of dollars on an updated navigation system seems silly to me. For a daily driver, it might make more sense. If I was in a situation where I was going to replace an aftermarket system in a 997 like the OP, I wouldn't replace it with an OE system. That being said, I probably wouldn't buy a 997 that had an aftermarket system installed.
The OEM one is terrible.
I dont think it is possible to make a more complicated UI for a radio.
Show us a picture of your head unit.
If you want a good navigation system get an ipad + waze.
Yes I think this is a great setup too. I personally tend to get distracted easier by looking at my phone rather than looking at the display but that is an individual preference.
I've got Waze too. I like the live updating feature. However, the navigation functionality of Waze is very poor. If you're looking for the best or fastest way to reach your destination, then Waze is not a good call. If you're looking for a long detour or scenic tour of a bad neighborhood, then Waze is for you! I have the Tom Tom app on my iPhone, and it is superior to Waze for navigation.
Navigation System
