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PCCM upgrade

I don't think DFI will make any difference - PCM displays trip info - calc'ed from signals the ECU provides - same PCM unit in the 987 2.9 ( non DFI) engine as the 3.4 and same feature set. There's little magic in the integration - just inside knowledge, the PCM is the same between 997 and 987 - you just code it to tell it what car it's in so it knows to wake up the "rear speaker" features.

The PCCM replicates some (maybe all who knows) of the PCM features, so has a level of canbus integration that 3rd party units don't have - it replicates the trip info stuff and allows basic navigation integration (for the built in nav) with the dash display which is good and a selling point for me - but isnt "hard" if you know the correct canbus messages to look for and to send. . Also - if it follows the pattern for the 9x6 you can bypass the aerial amp in the A pillar and then you use the windscreen antenna for both dab and fm - a win over 3rd party.

Less attractive is the choice of only having USB presentation in the front - even the 9x6 version has a media breakout unit that you can put somewhere - and a rear presented usb - with the option of putting the cable into the glove box or cubby hole would make it look a lot less halfords in use - or even support wireless carplay / AA. Also - I would like it to use the built in mic(s) if the car already had phone prep - but I suspect it will be an additional one.

I think its an opportunity missed - there is likely a decent market for 9x7.2 owners out there who would be prepared to spend that kind of money on a car that still commands a high price, and on the face of it, with the additional "version" being available for the early Cayenne - then its just cosmetics ( and perhaps physical shape of the fascia thats different ) - the Cayennes of the similar vontage to the 9x7 had a PCM 3 variant - exact same unit but it supported bluetooth audio streaming - so increasing looks like a ( flawed) marketing decision to me.
 
Between the non dfi and dfi ? Quick look at the parts list (987.2) suggests not - but that's to be expected - since the business end of the DME is driving different architectures - but the "other end" that talks to rest of the car has no reason to be different - and all comms to the PCM is done via the Comfort CANBUS - just a set of short messages broadcast throughout the car - so the instrument cluster gets them, the PCM gets them, diags kit get them if connected - the PCM doesn't send anything important to other modules - otherwise bad things would happen if you removed it.

There's a fair difference in the "comms" architecture of the 9x6 vs the 9x7 - a lot more things are direct wired, physical connections etc. - a lot less modules/control units in the older cars - but the 9x7.1 and .2 are very similar in how the various modules interact and a lot of the parts are interchangeable, and it wouldn't be difficult to make a unit that worked in both with a different faceplate etc.

They have released the same unit (with small differences ) for both 9x7.1 and Cayenne 955 - if that unit can work across two quite different model lines, then its a small increment to support the .2


 
I might be wrong, but, I think it's to do with age. These units are done by Porsche Classic and to qualify as classic, it needs to be a certain age. I think, the 997.1 qualifies as its been 14 years since production of the 997.1 stopped. The 997.2 won't be for a few years yet. I think the whole 997 range qualifies for Classic Porsche parts pricing when its been 14 years since last 997 model produced

This is going on what I was told by PC stands at events this year

Ta

Mark
 
I think that's part of the explanation, but the whole "classic" thing is just marketing - when I had my 987.2 serviced last year - OPC recommended leaving it a couple of weeks later than my desired date - because "it will be 10 years old by then and our labour rate is lower on 10y/o cars".

Then you have the "classic register" thing which 9x6 are included but not the 9x7. But that all supports the marketing thing - unless there is some crazy licensing lock in with Becker who made the 1st units saying "we won't make a different thing for x years" - then nothing will change in the .2 cars between now and if/when they decide to call them classics - so I think they "could" have made the unit now ( and I reckon the units will work in a gen 2 car but perhaps not fit the hole and certainly won't look right - but that is just guesswork and without seeing the install guide I don't know what needs to be coded in the car ) - and I reckon there's more people willing to spend 2k to have one fitted to a 997.2 with a value of 50K than there are owners of 987.1/10K cars - it will be too much money for not enough features for many - but its a chance missed in my opinion.
 
997.1 owner here who's looking forward to having this fitted at some point late next year. Is it a Porsche dealer only fit though as I was planing on using a car audio specialist to upgrade the rest of the stereo (non Bose) at the same time and does this unit have the connections for wiring up to aftermarket amps as it would also save having the car interior pulled apart twice.
 
We have the 997.1 PCM unit reserved at Porsche Reading. Will let you know how we got on once fitted. Can not wait! :)
 
Smurf991ts said:
We have the 997.1 PCM unit reserved at Porsche Reading. Will let you know how we got on once fitted. Can not wait! :)
Click to expand...

Will babe good to hear some real world experience with it. Wonder if they would share a copy of the install guide if you asked them. Would love to see what the behind the scenes steps are.
 
I’ve watched it and it’s a plug and play straight swap for the original unit.
Hopefully the 997.2 version is not far off !
 
Agree on the hope for .2 versions but there’s a bit of fitting required. Replacing the existing fm amplifier and running and installing the mic and the replacement GPS. I would have preferred an in place re for those (so remove the old mics gps and replace with new but it’s not an ugly install.


good that it seems it will "self code" and doesn’t need PIWIS and it looks good. Apart from the front mounted usb being only way if hooking up for car play it’s a nicely done upgrade.
 
If they keep the fitted price the same I’ll live with those extras. The way it is going it has the capacity to end up being quite prohibitively priced. I’ll be watching closely.
 
I really wanted to like PCCM, for it to have great features and to justify the price with more than just the Porsche logo…….. but I am left underwhelmed.


Whilst I like music, I’m not so interested here as I have my own soundtrack right behind me. So in truth it’s the sat nav that was most key for me, as PCM2 is really quite limited. The PCCM system requires an extra mini disc of content (for another £100) and from what I understand it’s still not as good as those offered by Google et al.

Which then takes you to CarPlay (or Android Auto) and this is my real issue….as it’s a wired connection directly from the unit which will result in phone and cables everywhere ! Bluetooth is available and is a much better integration, or other PCCM versions have a stand alone box that you could "hide” in the glovebox etc.

As a result I am really struggling with PCCM and its net £2k installed price……. you can get some nice looking Sony units for £500 or even a phone mount for about £20 !!! (And with a phone mount you could use the Porsche Roads app for their suggested driving routes, although not sure how good this app actually is ?)

Am I missing something ?
 

pays your money takes your choice I guess

The 100 extra is for the maps. They are licensed from tomtom. It’s better then we had before but agree it’s not comparable to google maps. And even tomtom On an iPhone is updated monthly and costs around 30 a year. Lot of folks won’t ever use built in maps so that’s an optional cost.


but. The integration with the dash is nice, the interface with Bose if you have it is better than any 3rd party solution. The trip and pcm (memory) functions just don’t exist on 3rd party solutions. Same with the dab aerial. 3rd party is all stuck on windscreen antenna.


it looks (to me) better than the 3rd party solutions and I like physical buttons and knobs for stuff. Touch screen on the nice isn’t the easiest of interfaces.


a Decent 3rd party unit with partial Bose integration and interface to steering wheel controls, with the wiring and fascia kits is 800 ish for the bits. Add a couple for a decent install and it’s not a cheap upgrade either.


Roads app. That’s an iPhone app and it’s car play aware. So in the pccm or other Car play setups you can use it. It’s "ok”. I use it for following planned routes that others have published.


not for everyone. But if I could have it for a .2 car I would consider it but the cables out the front of the unit are nasty. That alone makes it less attractive.
 
Thanks Malarcy…… and I guess you are right that many / most won’t ever use in built maps so being an optional extra makes sense. And good news about "roads” being CarPlay aware, if only I had a CarPlay unit.

Any my car doesn’t have Bose, so perhaps that reduces its value a little? Agree extra dab aerial is bad, as it’s the same as all these wires we both don’t like !

And yet to work out exactly what trip / memory functions I would lose (with a non PCM unit) vs what I actually have today in PCM2, and would still be able to get on the dash ?


All in I suspect I’ll end up simply doing nothing!!
 
£1,800 does seem outrageous, even with Porsche tax added.

Had a quote of £500 to have the Sony unit fitted but was hanging on for this thinking it may have other features. Given the Sony unit is £400, I was expecting the Porsche to be double and with about 2hrs labour charge for fitting I was thinking about £900-£1,000 all in.

I know the original PCCM operates the sports chrono and I think some other things, does this Porsche unit cover all that? (not that I ever use the PCCM for anything other than radio anyway). It would be nice to have bluetooth, DAB, spotify, modern navigation etc. At the moment if I go anywhere new I use a phone holder and google maps.

Is there anything else to warrant the extra £1,300 to get this over the Sony (or others?). Feels to me like the Porsche pricing is just a step too far this time.


 
The manual for the unit is available online to checkout the features.

From my reading. Yes the unit does the sports chronos integration and it’s native nav retains dash integration.

You also get bose integration including fader and audio pilot (if you have Bose). Steering wheel controls as well. If you need them.

And ignition on and lights on signals
and you don’t need the fascia kit.



depending on the starting point there’s approx 350 of extra bits to get the Sony hooked up. And (if Bose) the 3rd party solutions are lacking in some features). may of course be included in the Sony for 400 but I would be surprised.

the 3rd party units typically require an extra dab aerial stuck to the windscreen

the unit is 1420 inc vat. Before pcgb discount. If you are paying a 3rd party to install the Sony then they could install the pccm + for the same amount so that nets out.


also. Don’t known if this is because the car they used in the friends green Porsche video already had "individual memory” in the car but that was
supported - two ways of looking at that its a feature that would cost probably 400 to retro fit. If you get it free with pccm+ then great. If you already have it then you retain it. if you went 3rd party and already had it then it’s another feature you lose.

of course. Everyone’s personal call on what something is worth and what features you need / want.

Personally I am surprised a mainstream 3rd party could be done and dusted for 500 but if that works for you and you personally get what you want then winner
 
To release it now without wireless CarPlay, USB slot at the front for wires to dangle in the way of the gearstick, and charge almost 2k is crazy. Looks great but wireless features are table stakes these days.

To get the Porsche discount on them do we need to buy them ourselves direct then take them to an installer? Or just get the Official Porsche dealer to supply/install?
 
I would expect to realise the discount you would need to buy direct and supply to installer, it’s your discount not the installers.


Porsche Indy’s probably get similar if not better discount than PCGB members do but they don’t always pass that on.


agree wireless should be there. Then they could have left the usb on the front for occasional use. The wireless CarPlay could even be another of the little boxes that sit on the "cage”
at the back. Just needs a rear facing usb and all options would have been on the table.


 
The Friends Green Porsche installation video and the comments below (particularly the first one) and the user manuals for the head unit maps and FAQs are really useful, use this link: https://www.porsche.com/international/accessoriesandservice/classic/genuineparts/producthighlights/pccm/manuals/

The only thing I couldn't find in the manuals of FAQs was what impact if any it would have on Sport Chrono - if anyone knows, please would you post. The new PCCM seems very well integrated with the controls on the steering wheel and the instrument display but if it screws with the Sport Chrono it would be a shame.

In all this talk about prices, has anyone sold their old PCM unit, CD changer and the other box in the boot, is it something to do with the nav (all of mine is in working order)? £1800 seems to be the price fitted (Friends Green Porsche) but if you can recover a few hundred quid for the stuff that comes out it would make the cost more palatable.



 
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