98 996 - Upgrading the instrument cluster

[Thklinge]

Got a '98 996 and think the newer dot-matrix-equipped instrument clusters looks **** cool (reason enough!). Is it possible to swap my instrument to a newer one and will a Durametric cable & software be able to enable everything needed to make the new cluster work? 

I managed to searching my way to find that the older cars have a 26 pin connector while the newer ones use 32 pins. WIth the correct pinout schematics would it be possible to get the correct signals at the correct place or are we talking apples and pears here? The threads I was finding were 5-7 years old so some other solutions might have presented itself since then...

The cluster I'm looking to buy has the following info:

VDO

110.080.019/003

996 641 215 00 70 C

TYP RDW

[Loren]

Sorry, but how do expect to get the CAN (network) data to the new cluster when your car does not have the CAN controllers?

[Thklinge]

Thought the 996 didn't get can-bus until '03, and dot matrix from '01. I might mix the info with what was delivered on the Boxster though. 

[Loren]

The 01 cluster is pretty rare as it was only used on the MY01 cars. Good luck on your conversion.

You can buy the two schematics you might need from Porsche at http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?/links/goto/18-porsche-piwis-tsi/