996 Apple Play/Audio Upgrade from Porsche
- Thread starter andywill
- Start date
[attachment=AA11679D-D338-4E4A.D2F-73A3E60DF207.jpeg]
I recently fitted my PCCM Plus (bought from my local OPC with a 10% discount with my PCGB card - very happy!).
I found the installation pretty straightforward although it took a good few hours as there was lots to it and a few fiddly bits, threading cables behind the dash and a few scuffed knuckles as a result! Reading the various discussion threads online (including this one) in advance was a real help.
Really pleased with the look and feel of it. While it lacks some features compared to Pioneer, Kenwood and Alpine the fit, look and feel is so much better in my opinion. Delighted not to have an ugly DAB aerial stuck to my windscreen any more - it’s now connected to the factory aerial in the windscreen.
One issue I came up against - which I’m hoping someone here can help me with - was fitting the USB/Aux/Phone socket box in the glovebox (my preference over mounting it below the unit in the cubby hole): I’ve read (either here or 911UK) that this is possible and there‘s a hole in the glovebox you can use to thread the cables through to the back of the head unit. I couldn’t find this hole for the life of me and after half an hour of trying in vain to thread the wires through I gave up! Am wondering if some facelift 996s have a different glovebox to others? That doesn’t sound logical to me but mine definitely doesn’t have the hole behind the glovebox light that I’ve seen pictured before. Mine is a 2003 Targa (MOST non-Bose).
Does anyone have any ideas/inspiration? I otherwise might have to drill a hole (!) in the roof of the glovebox or mount the USB box somewhere else.
Many thanks in advance
I recently fitted my PCCM Plus (bought from my local OPC with a 10% discount with my PCGB card - very happy!).
I found the installation pretty straightforward although it took a good few hours as there was lots to it and a few fiddly bits, threading cables behind the dash and a few scuffed knuckles as a result! Reading the various discussion threads online (including this one) in advance was a real help.
Really pleased with the look and feel of it. While it lacks some features compared to Pioneer, Kenwood and Alpine the fit, look and feel is so much better in my opinion. Delighted not to have an ugly DAB aerial stuck to my windscreen any more - it’s now connected to the factory aerial in the windscreen.
One issue I came up against - which I’m hoping someone here can help me with - was fitting the USB/Aux/Phone socket box in the glovebox (my preference over mounting it below the unit in the cubby hole): I’ve read (either here or 911UK) that this is possible and there‘s a hole in the glovebox you can use to thread the cables through to the back of the head unit. I couldn’t find this hole for the life of me and after half an hour of trying in vain to thread the wires through I gave up! Am wondering if some facelift 996s have a different glovebox to others? That doesn’t sound logical to me but mine definitely doesn’t have the hole behind the glovebox light that I’ve seen pictured before. Mine is a 2003 Targa (MOST non-Bose).
Does anyone have any ideas/inspiration? I otherwise might have to drill a hole (!) in the roof of the glovebox or mount the USB box somewhere else.
Many thanks in advance
BatKing996C4S
New member
Haha, thats my car, my picture I posted on 911uk.
But yeah, strange if you don’t have the hole. Both my C4S and Boxster had that same hole so shouldn‘t matter the variant of 996 and seen plenty other installs with it. what year is your car? both mine are 2004, and yours looks to be the later interior horseshoe so must be 2002 or newer, perhaps the dash changed slightly at some point. There’s nothing crucial behind it if as a last resort you could always drill a hole.
But yeah, strange if you don’t have the hole. Both my C4S and Boxster had that same hole so shouldn‘t matter the variant of 996 and seen plenty other installs with it. what year is your car? both mine are 2004, and yours looks to be the later interior horseshoe so must be 2002 or newer, perhaps the dash changed slightly at some point. There’s nothing crucial behind it if as a last resort you could always drill a hole.
BatKing996C4S said:
Thank you for your reply. I’ve read the majority of your posts on 911UK (and also here) and they’ve been really useful in helping me fit this unit (particularly the aerial connection on the A pillar) so thank you for that also
My car is a 2003 (03) model and used to have a single DIN CDR23 unit (so MOST but non-Bose). I might be going crazy but I couldn’t see the hole.
I can see where the hole would go though and how it would work. I’ll have another look when I get time and
perhaps post a pic. Drilling a hole might be the only answer if I want this box in the glovebox.
Thanks again.
Just checked the glovebox again (for my own sanity!): no hole.
Maybe some 996s had a hole depending on their options or possibly a previous owner has had the hole drilled for something like a Dension or aftermarket head unit? Or maybe they forgot to include the hole in mine?!
Maybe some 996s had a hole depending on their options or possibly a previous owner has had the hole drilled for something like a Dension or aftermarket head unit? Or maybe they forgot to include the hole in mine?!
BatKing996C4S
New member
Maybe, perhaps Porsche may have had an aux or iPod kit in the making that they never got to release but had the hole on some car in preparation. Like I mentioned same hole in the same place on my 2004 C4S and Boxster so don’t think it’s aftermarket drilled hole since it was identical in both cars and I have the OEM install instructions for the PCCM+ which references putting the box in the glove box.
majordom said:
That’s interesting. I am in the same boat as you.
PCCM Plus works fine in normal (nothing connected) and wired CarPlay modes but when I use CPlay2Air it keeps crashing, resetting etc.
When I googled this I found a few threads saying CPlay2Air is a rubbish product and sending it back to China is a nightmare
Perhaps explains why these pop up on eBay every so often... :-/Out of interest, did you have the same issue as me or something different?
Apparently if there are other phones in the car with Bluetooth on or your iPhone is paired with other Bluetooth devices this can cause the CPlay2Air to play up.
If I find anything that is a robust alternative (and does not need posting back to China at my own expense if faulty) I will let you know.
BatKing996C4S said:
Thanks again BatKing.
I found the Porsche instructions too which, as you know, show a picture of the cables going in the the same corner of the glovebox. I reckon I wasted a good half an hour trying to find the elusive hole!
Am wondering if the hole is something they included on later (53 plate onwards) 996s and/or those with PCM and/or Bose? Is your Boxster a later model and did/does it have PCM?
I think I am going to have to take a drill very gently to the roof of the glovebox. Either that or find a friendly Porsche or indie tech who can opine...
One other question for you BatKing (as you seem like the authority on the PCCM Plus!) is on mounting the GPS sensor: I mounted mine under the plastic alarm sensor cover as pictured but now the cover sits proud of it when I put it back on.
This might be because the front plastic ‘teeth’ of the plastic cover have snapped/sheared (probably caused by a previous cackhanded double DIN installation*) so it cant latch down on the plastic pins underneath? I’ve ordered a replacement cover but wondered if you’d had the same issue and if I’ve mounted the GPS module in the right place?
I know a few others (including DeMort) have mounted it under the bonnet but I didn’t like that option.
Any thoughts much appreciated as always.
Thanks
* I didn‘t do the previous double DIN installation - I entrusted the work on recommendation to a well known AV specialist in London (the initials of the company are the same as a well known breakdown company and club for recovering boozers). I had to go back twice to get it done properly and even then I wasn’t hugely impressed. Perhaps they were too busy focusing on all the high end cars they get in and not my humble 996?!
This might be because the front plastic ‘teeth’ of the plastic cover have snapped/sheared (probably caused by a previous cackhanded double DIN installation*) so it cant latch down on the plastic pins underneath? I’ve ordered a replacement cover but wondered if you’d had the same issue and if I’ve mounted the GPS module in the right place?
I know a few others (including DeMort) have mounted it under the bonnet but I didn’t like that option.
Any thoughts much appreciated as always.
Thanks
* I didn‘t do the previous double DIN installation - I entrusted the work on recommendation to a well known AV specialist in London (the initials of the company are the same as a well known breakdown company and club for recovering boozers). I had to go back twice to get it done properly and even then I wasn’t hugely impressed. Perhaps they were too busy focusing on all the high end cars they get in and not my humble 996?!
BatKing996C4S
New member
Seems to be a year thing, my Boxster originally came with a PCM2.0 my C4S came with the single DIN CDR23, both cars BOSE and both the same year 2004, so last year of production for both cars. so doesn't seem stereo options are relevant.
your GPS antenna is back to front the cable feeds dow at the front, please see the picture attached, I managed to do the same and break those little teeth out on one side of mine but still stays down fine. though rather than replace you could always fit a double sided foam sticky pad to the top of the antenna, that would hold how the cover securely and not to evil should you ever need to take it back off.
Can't say I've been impressed by many PCCM installations I've seen by supposed specialists, Porsche designed the system to fit like a factory radio and involves a fair bit of cable routing and trim disassembly to get it the way it should be so imagine the guys are so used to simple plug in surround bezel and a adapter cable to install most aftermarket radio they are probably quite shaken to see they may have to put in a fair bit of work to get this in the way it's meant and try to cut corners to save a lengthy install when they already quoted a certain number of hours.
So far seen a respected Porsche specialist who didn't assemble the cage at all so the first time the owner hit the brakes the radio came flying straight out and smashed the screen on the gearstick, plenty with no antenna amplifier bypass installed resulting in no DAB and most shocking of all an OPC that installed a cheap stick on windshield DAB antenna as it seems they broke the delicate ribbon cable during install that connects the the windshield antenna and thought this was the more appropriate action than explain to the customer that their mistake would ideally result in a windshield out job to repair if not a new Porsche windshield.
your GPS antenna is back to front the cable feeds dow at the front, please see the picture attached, I managed to do the same and break those little teeth out on one side of mine but still stays down fine. though rather than replace you could always fit a double sided foam sticky pad to the top of the antenna, that would hold how the cover securely and not to evil should you ever need to take it back off.
Can't say I've been impressed by many PCCM installations I've seen by supposed specialists, Porsche designed the system to fit like a factory radio and involves a fair bit of cable routing and trim disassembly to get it the way it should be so imagine the guys are so used to simple plug in surround bezel and a adapter cable to install most aftermarket radio they are probably quite shaken to see they may have to put in a fair bit of work to get this in the way it's meant and try to cut corners to save a lengthy install when they already quoted a certain number of hours.
So far seen a respected Porsche specialist who didn't assemble the cage at all so the first time the owner hit the brakes the radio came flying straight out and smashed the screen on the gearstick, plenty with no antenna amplifier bypass installed resulting in no DAB and most shocking of all an OPC that installed a cheap stick on windshield DAB antenna as it seems they broke the delicate ribbon cable during install that connects the the windshield antenna and thought this was the more appropriate action than explain to the customer that their mistake would ideally result in a windshield out job to repair if not a new Porsche windshield.
So the glove box hole is perhaps a 2004 (53 model onwards) thing then? Or maybe I have a very ‘special’ glovebox haha
Thank you for the advice re the GPS module. Turning it around the other way makes a lot of sense now you mention it - I think I put it the way it is as you will see there is a notch cut out in the plastic to the right of it (next to the alarm sensor) probably from the previous install (a Pioneer AVIC double DIN).
Yes, there have been some stories about specialists fitting these haven’t there? That’s one of the reasons for fitting mine myself (also not having to cut/splice wires appeals!).
I remember seeing that video of the fitter forcing the head unit into the dash (of the black C4S) - was that the one that fell out and smashed? Awful for whoever it was
Thank you for the advice re the GPS module. Turning it around the other way makes a lot of sense now you mention it - I think I put it the way it is as you will see there is a notch cut out in the plastic to the right of it (next to the alarm sensor) probably from the previous install (a Pioneer AVIC double DIN).
Yes, there have been some stories about specialists fitting these haven’t there? That’s one of the reasons for fitting mine myself (also not having to cut/splice wires appeals!).
I remember seeing that video of the fitter forcing the head unit into the dash (of the black C4S) - was that the one that fell out and smashed? Awful for whoever it was
Also awful is the stick on DAB aerial (I hate those things with a passion!) hopefully the OPC in question fixed or replaced the windscreen in the end?![strike] [/strike]
PS. One more Q for you: On your Bose equipped car, do you get the Graphic Equaliser in the Sound menu or do you just get Bass and Treble controls like I do? The manual does state some cars don’t get the equaliser - I’m assuming it’s the MOST cars using the amp and those using the internal amp get the extra bells and whistles here. Am tempted to upgrade the amp and dash speakers at some point but that’s something for another time... Hi TimEagle1972 said:
If you scroll up the page a bit you’ll see pictures of the inside of a glovebox with a light on - look at the first one as this shows a hole behind the light that the two wires from the ‘media module/USB box’ can be threaded through. The other side of this hole is the void behind the removed head unit, drinks holder and central air vent. You can then attach these two wires to the back of the PCCM+ as you slide it in.
I don’t have this hole in my glovebox annoyingly so am thinking about drilling one.
Posts made and opinions expressed are those of the individual forum members
Use of the Forum is subject to the Terms and Conditions
