Upgrading CDR210 to a CDR220 in a 98 Boxster

[steve_wilwerding]

My CDR210 has been acting pretty flaky lately. It skips very easily, loses track of where in a song it is, which requires you to go back to the beginning, and generally does not work well. I've tried a cleaning CD, but that didn't seem to make a difference.

So, I'm thinking about upgrading to a CDR220. Are there any issues installing this into a 98 Boxster? Do I need a different wiring harness?

Thanks.

[Tool Pants]

This is a common upgrade because the 220 has aux-in unlike the 210. Otherwise the performance of both radios are the same. I think the harness is the same. The mounting housing for the 210 is removed because it is not needed with the 220. You also have to do something with the alarm contact for the radio.

[steve_wilwerding]

What do mean about the alarm contact for the radio?

[Tool Pants]

I am starting to forget old stuff so do not trust my memory, as this swap started years ago when the 220 came out.

I think the alarm contact for the 210 was on the mounting housing which you need to remove to install the 220. Or something like that. Back then most people removed the 210 housing and just put tape on the end of the wire to the alarm contact so that if the end of the wire happen to touch ground you would not get the single beep when you set the alarm. There was info on the old Becker board.

Also look at the Traffic Pro TSB as it mentions the alarm contact.

Who would ever steal a Becker radio? Back then people who did the 210 swap would just put tape on the end of the wire and forget to incorporate the alarm system into the 220 radio.

Get your 220 radio first and then I will see if I saved the old info on this swap.

This is the 210 bracket.

[KevinC]

Jeff - I did the 210->220 swap in my '98 and your information is correct. I got the alarm beep until I taped the end of the alarm wire. The important thing is to realize that the metal bracket for the 210 is not needed with the 220. :D Once that bracket is removed, the 220 slips right in and the old connector plugs right in.

[Jinster]

steve_wilwerding, I got the same problem as you - the CR210 doesn't read some CDs and skips and goes back to the beginning. The radio also has trouble staying fixed to a station - it'd skip after a while with the car stationary in an area with excellent reception.

Anyone know what this is due to? Or just another design flaw in Porsche components?

[steve_wilwerding]

I've decided that I'm probably going to stick with the CDR 210, so I'm going to try to "fix" it. I've heard cleaning the contacts between the faceplate and the stereo often helps, and I will try the CD cleaner again. I'll let you know if I have any success.