iPhone 6 and PCM 3 on 987 Gen 2 2011

[Pjm]

First post as just picked up my first Porsche today. Thrilled at the drive home but took it easy on the slippery winter roads. First success was managing to reverse park it in the garage and still be able to get out. Anyway I digress. I have looked in the manual to connect my iPhone 6 to the PCM 3. Phone connected straight off but I did not see a question about using it as a media player. I went through the manual and put a disc in the CD player which then allowed me to activate the aux menu but still no AUX BT menu. Is this possible with the combination of iPhone 6 and PCM3 a few youtube clips show that it should automatically display AUX BT but it is not doing so. Perhaps I missed a step somewhere in my haste to connect my phone before driving home. Any help would be much appreciated as I don't really want to have to go down the road of trailing leads back to the usb/ipod sockets.

 

[Pjm]

Just tried removing the phone from the PCM and removing the PCM from the list of Bluetooth devices on the phone. Started from scratch but still no AUX BT. How frustrating.

 

[RCS]

Used to have a 997.2 which I think had same PCM version. At back of my mind I think whilst it will work with an iPhone blue toothed as a phone, it will not for streaming music - something to do with the compatibility of 'formats'? I think the only way to get an iPhone to work for the music is to connect it through a lead to the USB port, which pre supposes you have the Universal Audio Interface option - on the 997 it gave you the USB socket and a jack socket I think in the arm rest.

Think I knew about it through some Forums, so try Googling PCM3 and iPhone and it may confirm my dodgy memory!

Edit: You could try ringing an OPC, pretty sure they will know immediately if my thoughts are correct, as should a lot of Indys

 

[Pjm]

I have the interface with the aux, sub and iPod sockets in the centre console under the lid. I am struggling to find where to get the interface y cable from.

 

[zorbs]

Hi
if you bought the car from an OPC they should provide it as I believe it was part of the original equipment. When I bought my car the cable was missing but the OPC supplied one at no cost to me.

 

[tscaptain]

Agree with all of the above. My 997.2 has the same PCM and there is no Aux BT. As mentioned you have to use the sockets in the armrest. Cable from Porsche Centre but should be with the car, again as above.

 

[Pjm]

I bought it privately from the second owner who did not have the cable. I can play it by connecting it to the aux in and power to the iPhone from the usb but obviously I lose any control via the PCM. I have seen a y cable that it advertised for PCM 2 with the 30pin apple plug but not sure if it would work.

 

[tscaptain]

I think you will need two things to connect your iPhone to the PCM. The standard Y cable that has the Din plug, 30 pin plug and USB. Then you need a 30 pin to lightning adapter.
See here
http://rennlist.com/forum...0-with-iphone-6-a.html

 

[Pjm]

I have ordered the lead and adapter so will keep my fingers crossed. Downloaded some MP3 tracks on to a usb stick and that works a treat. Hoping the iPhone will work to provide digital radio as DAB options seem a bit hit and miss.

 

[RCS]

Must admit I went down the USB route. Maybe a pain to keep updating it, but its just plug in and forget 'til it needs updating.

 

[Pjm]

I have ordered a cheap Bluetooth 30pin Dock adapter and will give that a go attached to the Porsche y cable and come back and let you all know if it works. Similar to the tune2air product. At £8.95 it has to be worth a shot.

 

[Pjm]

Here is the solution I have got to work. I ordered the Y lead from DESIGN 911 UK from a link accessories page on the 911UK site. £38.66 delivered. Expensive for a short lead and three connectors but beyond my soldering skills. Anyway superfast delivery. I ordered a 30pin to lightning convertor but I know they are notoriously hit and miss and am still awaiting its arrival. I then looked for the Tune2Air WMA1000 that I was told might work but tended to drop out, but it seems they have moved on to updated versions without the 30pin connector and apart from 89$ on ebay plus postage and possible customs I could not find one. I then came across the JUSTOP BTR004 Bluetooth Receiver on Amazon for the princely sum of £8.99. I thought it would be too good to be true at that price but at that price delivered I splashed out. It arrived today. It is really meant for old powered speaker docks made redundant by the Apple plug change. I took the Y lead and the JUSTOP around to the car and it went straight in and connected to my iPhone 6 no problem. The source appears as AUX but if you turn the phone up and the volume up on the PCM there it was working a treat. Tried it with the iPlayer Radio APP, audible for my books and both played perfectly. I tried the phone and it worked perfectly and then straight back to the audio book that was playing when I ended the call.
I haven't tried exploring from the PCM but in theory as it is coming in via the Y lead it should be fine. Cheap solution to an irritating issue of no reasonable upgrade path.
The alternative would be an expensive upgrade unit and I would lose the full integration of the PCM. The JUSTOP measures about 35 x 40mm so sits neatly in the armrest cubby hole. I noticed it stayed on with the car off so I unplugged the USB plug and it was off. Does the USB port switch off after a period with the ignition off?
Final question is it possible to set the default volume at a higher level for Aux on the PCM?

 

[MVB]

I am slightly confused. If you have bought the Y cable and plugged into your universal port, why didn't you simply plug your iPhone into the cable (using a lightning adapter)? Am I missing something. I have just bought the Y cable from someone on eBay for£12.50. I plan to use the lightning adapter (I already use one in my GLA) but now wondering if it will work. Also have you experienced any problems with USB connection? i currently use a USB stick but it doesn't always recognise its existence.

 

[Pjm]

I have got a lightning adapter but prefer to have the phone up where I can see it and the y lead is designed to have the phone or really an iPod tucked away in the armresT. I want to be able to stream music or play radio from apps. It is much easier and safer if I can see the phone screen and just tap in what I want. I find that if I plug the iPhone in via the usb port on my other cars it occasionally drops out where as if I have the link via Bluetooth and the phone just plugged in to a power only port I don't have the same problems.

 

[Briggy]

I've just had the same issue and resolved it by buying the Y cable, part number 997 612 471 02 from Design911 for £38.66 (but it's a genuine Porsche part, so you should be able to get it from OPC) and also the Lightning to 30-pin Adapter, part number MD823ZM/A which is £29 from Apple. Buy a genuine part, as copies don't support audio.

Plug the USB & Aux into the socket in the arm rest, the 30 pin end into the lightning adapter and the lightening end into the iPhone. I can now use the car's touchscreen to control the music. No need to touch the phone.

Cable and adapter aren't cheap, but having spent tens of thousands on the car and several hundred on the iPhone, I just want the thing to work. Now it does.

Cheers,
Bryan

 

[MVB]

Thanks for replies chaps. I do like forums. My cable should arrive tomorrow so hopefully it will work. The iPhone doesn't easily fit into the armrest storage though. Thinking of just buying an old iPod and leaving it in there.