New ‘features’ 2018 Panamera
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 49
Likes: 10
New ‘features’ 2018 Panamera
Car is barely two weeks old, discovered the following ‘features’:
1. Garage door opener refuses to program. Period.
Worked without an issue with 4 previous Porsche, and countless other cars. Not this car. Unacceptable for a Porsche not to get little things ironed out. Makes one wonder what else was poorly implemented. (Note: if your customers have to do hours of research to figure out how to program a garage door opener, you’re doing it wrong).
2. Start/stop resets to default with ignition restart. Annoying to have to press PCM ‘button’ each time I start up. I want less stuff to remember to do, not more.
3. My iPhone has CarPlay disabled in iOS,, but when plugged into the USB port inside arm rest triggers ‘CarPlay Disconnected’ message on PCM screen which I need to cancel out of. Then PCM goes into ‘ipod’ mode, no smartphone connected’ message pops up. But, iPod mode will not play any music not stored on iPhone, i. e. Podcast app, Soundcloud or YouTube will not play through PCM. Only through Bluetooth. iPod isn’t even one of the options to select under ‘Media’ or ‘Source’. Weird implementation, considering ‘smartphone’ worked flawlessly through PCM with CarPlay disabled in my 2017 991.2.
3.1. No info about proper use of USB ports is published in either hard drive or paper manual, so I suspect there’s only one way, plug in and hold on.
4. Climate system is unnecessarily complex and doesn’t work intuitively. I still can’t seem to get the car properly defogged and/or ventilated, despite spending over an hour playing with various settings. Whoever thought it was a good idea to over complicate things with new PCM implementation does not understand Porsche clientele. Not to sound presumptuous, but I suspect most Porsche buyers prefer to spend their time driving not waste it on trying to figure how to make the car work.
5. PDK is fussy, at times confused, in normal driving will be in 7th gear before reaching 35 mph.
6. The driving experience, once PDK makes up its mind, is sublime.
1. Garage door opener refuses to program. Period.
Worked without an issue with 4 previous Porsche, and countless other cars. Not this car. Unacceptable for a Porsche not to get little things ironed out. Makes one wonder what else was poorly implemented. (Note: if your customers have to do hours of research to figure out how to program a garage door opener, you’re doing it wrong).
2. Start/stop resets to default with ignition restart. Annoying to have to press PCM ‘button’ each time I start up. I want less stuff to remember to do, not more.
3. My iPhone has CarPlay disabled in iOS,, but when plugged into the USB port inside arm rest triggers ‘CarPlay Disconnected’ message on PCM screen which I need to cancel out of. Then PCM goes into ‘ipod’ mode, no smartphone connected’ message pops up. But, iPod mode will not play any music not stored on iPhone, i. e. Podcast app, Soundcloud or YouTube will not play through PCM. Only through Bluetooth. iPod isn’t even one of the options to select under ‘Media’ or ‘Source’. Weird implementation, considering ‘smartphone’ worked flawlessly through PCM with CarPlay disabled in my 2017 991.2.
3.1. No info about proper use of USB ports is published in either hard drive or paper manual, so I suspect there’s only one way, plug in and hold on.
4. Climate system is unnecessarily complex and doesn’t work intuitively. I still can’t seem to get the car properly defogged and/or ventilated, despite spending over an hour playing with various settings. Whoever thought it was a good idea to over complicate things with new PCM implementation does not understand Porsche clientele. Not to sound presumptuous, but I suspect most Porsche buyers prefer to spend their time driving not waste it on trying to figure how to make the car work.
5. PDK is fussy, at times confused, in normal driving will be in 7th gear before reaching 35 mph.
6. The driving experience, once PDK makes up its mind, is sublime.
Last edited by pawnstar; Jan 24, 2018 at 11:09 PM.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 509
Likes: 7
From: Florida
I drove the new Panamera for a test drive. The PDK was clunky and awful. I have PDK on my Carrera and it is great. The SA told me that it takes time for the PDK to "settle in" after which it is fine. I agree on the complicated electronics interface - using the PCM to adjust the middle air vents is ridiculous. I remember reviews of the old Panamera and the current Cayenne how there were just too many buttons on the console. I think perhaps the buttons are a good thing.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 652
Likes: 17
From: Redlands, CA
Buttons
I drove the new Panamera for a test drive. The PDK was clunky and awful. I have PDK on my Carrera and it is great. The SA told me that it takes time for the PDK to "settle in" after which it is fine. I agree on the complicated electronics interface - using the PCM to adjust the middle air vents is ridiculous. I remember reviews of the old Panamera and the current Cayenne how there were just too many buttons on the console. I think perhaps the buttons are a good thing.
DMoore
'15 GT3
'16 RS7
'18 Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo, sitting on the dock since 12/7, waiting for CARB clearance.
'18 911 GTS, presently at V210
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 49
Likes: 10
I contacted the dealer, turns out I knew more than they did. Had to walk them through Link/Data Device Manager functions. They admitted the car ‘too new, we’re learning ourselves...’ ‘opened ticket’
a month after delivery, still no Homelink, CarPlay is hokey pokey, turns itself on/off when it feels like it, and can’t be disabled like in previous PCM versions.
Getting used to PDK quirks, works best in Sport mode, less shifting/hunting.
Start/Stop is still annoying.
Semi-Figured out climate controls, less misting now.
Drives, turns and stops like a Porsche. Love that.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 486
Likes: 1
Lack of knowledge is not acceptable - I get the impression that the UK dealers are much more professional generally than the US. I have nothing but good things to say about London dealer.
Make sure you get the software updates for the PCM - maybe fix some of the annoying issues.
Make sure you get the software updates for the PCM - maybe fix some of the annoying issues.
Trending Topics
AutoX
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
> 5. PDK is fussy, at times confused, in normal driving will be in 7th gear before reaching 35 mph.
I think this is largely expected use when in comfort mode or not sport/sport +. I had this same problem in my C63 and in my Panamera S Hybrid with Tiptronic+. 7th/8th gear at 40mph when driving leisurely through town. The MB transmission eventually got more aggressive as it learned my habits and sport+ had it hold gears better. Panamera not so much.
I think this is largely expected use when in comfort mode or not sport/sport +. I had this same problem in my C63 and in my Panamera S Hybrid with Tiptronic+. 7th/8th gear at 40mph when driving leisurely through town. The MB transmission eventually got more aggressive as it learned my habits and sport+ had it hold gears better. Panamera not so much.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 60
Likes: 4
Ours gets fussy as well on low gears. But from reading other posts, seems to fade away after a few thousand miles. Only have 1500 so far, and 1 month ownership.
Another annoying tidbit, the memory system fails to work. Seat settings, and sometimes even software settings reset. I thought it was a key issue where it remembers what key you have and seat memory, but nope. I hope software updates fix several issues.
On that note, our car still hasn’t been connected to the Porsche connect yet. That dealer code you get when taking delivery so you can connect your car to your phone and apps, etc, still does not work. It’s been in and out of the shop. Porsche Germany apparently is working on it, 3 weeks later, no results. Quite annoying really as I want the convenience features as well as the safety features most importantly, activated.
Another annoying tidbit, the memory system fails to work. Seat settings, and sometimes even software settings reset. I thought it was a key issue where it remembers what key you have and seat memory, but nope. I hope software updates fix several issues.
On that note, our car still hasn’t been connected to the Porsche connect yet. That dealer code you get when taking delivery so you can connect your car to your phone and apps, etc, still does not work. It’s been in and out of the shop. Porsche Germany apparently is working on it, 3 weeks later, no results. Quite annoying really as I want the convenience features as well as the safety features most importantly, activated.
AutoX
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Does anybody else with a new generation Panamera (base powertrain) hear a subtle whirring or ticking noise from behind instrument cluster at about 1800-2500 rpms... I have this issue and the dealer says it is related to the the fuel delivery and injection system.
I agree that some of the PCM and electronics are wonky... There seems to be conflict between the CarPlay, Porsche Connect and Bluetooth functions.
I agree that some of the PCM and electronics are wonky... There seems to be conflict between the CarPlay, Porsche Connect and Bluetooth functions.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 49
Likes: 10
That depends. If it’s a ‘younger’ driver, in good physical shape with no back issues, and someone willing and able to mess with its new annoying interface, yes. Car drives well. Older driver - emphatic no. Entry and exit not very comfortable due to narrow door frame, combine that with maddening interface, it would be too frustrating of an experience for someone like my dad. I’d get him into an S class.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 486
Likes: 1
Make sure you have all the software updates - I think there have been 2 or 3 now (mine is missing the latest).
What you are describing does not sound right - not quirks of the system but a failure of it. Alternatively, they have not given you the information to enable you to use the system properly - a failure of a different kind. I attended a Porsche feedback session and one point to emerge was that they should start a kind of Apple genius bar or at least invite people in to learn the functionality of their cars properly.
What you are describing does not sound right - not quirks of the system but a failure of it. Alternatively, they have not given you the information to enable you to use the system properly - a failure of a different kind. I attended a Porsche feedback session and one point to emerge was that they should start a kind of Apple genius bar or at least invite people in to learn the functionality of their cars properly.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 282
Likes: 56
From: New Jersey
Donfenn, I have a 4S, so different engine than the one in your car, but I have also heard, on occasion, a faint ticking noise when accelerating from slow speeds. It is very faint, sounds very mechanical, and it is very regular and steady. Even before reading your post, I had thought that it was probably the fuel injectors doing their thing. These direct injection engines use higher pressures compared to previous designs in order to inject the fuel directly into the combustion chamber, the injectors work more like diesel injectors, if you will, and they make a characteristic ticking noise. Your dealer is probably correct.
AutoX
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
That depends. If it’s a ‘younger’ driver, in good physical shape with no back issues, and someone willing and able to mess with its new annoying interface, yes. Car drives well. Older driver - emphatic no. Entry and exit not very comfortable due to narrow door frame, combine that with maddening interface, it would be too frustrating of an experience for someone like my dad. I’d get him into an S class.
I cannot agree with this "younger driver" thought regarding Panamera entry-exit ergonomics, but the interface can be a bit maddening.. I also think that features such as the center vent on AC are more complex than needed..
I think the car is comfortable and relatively easy to get in and out of-- and I am a 6'3" grandfather.. Hardly a young driver. I had Jaguar XJR and a family member has a BMW 650 Gran Coupe which were harder to get in and out of. If you want the sports sedan experience that a Panamera offers you would not want to sit up higher and have taller doors.. I much prefer this to an S class.
However, I am very unhappy with the fuel system noises that I described earlier in this thread... I know that some cars have this more than others, and Porsche cannot explain why. They need to find a fix for mine. I find this aggravating and it is the antithesis of what an owner of an otherwise fine car at this price point should have to endure.