Porsche classic radio PCCM Plus

[moosey]

Has anyone installed this in there 996/986. Thinking about purchasing one and doing it myself. Not sure how to start . Thanks All!

[rbrindley1]

I recently made the purchase. However, have not installed. I’m interested in learning from someone who has installed as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mffarrell]

I have installed one in my 03 turbo.

 

1. Make sure that you replace the following before installing: 

996-552-231-12-01C Support frame for center dashboard trim in Satin Black for Porsche 986 and 996 

99655265304 Retaining Bar 

 

Climate control trim 996-552-339-00-01C

1. Took me awhile to figure out how to install the PCCM retaining brackets so they are secured to the horseshoe.

2. When you re-locate your HVAC control make sure you run the harness on the right side of the dash. There is only one place where the cables will be long enough to connect to the control module. 

3. The USB media box harness needs to run to the center of the dash. The harness length is way too short. It took me 15 minutes to connect the small 10 pin connector to the rear of the PCCM, connecting it by feel. 

4. You will need a PST2 or PIWIS to code your ecu, if you want map data to display in the instrument display. I used my PIWIS 2 to code the navigation in the instrument control module.

5. I haven’t read any of the manuals yet, but operation is pretty straightforward. 

6. I have a Bose system and the sound is amazing, as compared to the CDR23.

 

7. I would recommend installing a SiriusXM tuner kit.

 

8. If you have a MOST system, it’s basically plug and play. If not, the PCCM is problematic with grounding and sound issues.

 

[Larsinexile]

I bought the unit for my '02 986 but there are issues. There are no support brackets or retaining bars I could find for the year model so I bent the 1 DIN bracket to open it and grab the sides of the 2 DIN PCCM Plus and had to trim the plastic cross bar from the original dash bezel.  When it was connected it only powered the rear deck speakers connected to the brown plug. The manual I found on National Transportation Highway Safety Agency site advised to reconfigure the Volume from CAN to AMP and reset the unit. I made the change but maybe I didn't reset it correctly because I didn't get sound from the four front speakers. I've seen a lot of other posts from after market installs saying a jumper wire has to be installed between 12V on the yellow plug to a position on the black plug to tell the original amp to send sound to the fronts. Maybe that will work on the PCCM Plus too but I'm trying to get the real solution before I move ahead to put it all back in.  With all of the connector that have to be pushed in the back blindly, it isn't worth proceeding on guess work.  BTW what is a MOST system?                                                                                                                                                                            

Edited December 5, 2020 by Larsinexile
Added picture

[Larsinexile]

The install document shows a variation of the PCCM Plus that has a brown antenna plug which mine doesn't have but that unit was a variation sold in Europe. And here is a link to rennlist site sharing the experience of another self-install. 

Installation guide of the PCCM Plus - Rennlist - Porsche Discussion Forums

RENNLIST.COM

---

996 Forum - Installation guide of the PCCM Plus - So here it is.. Also printable on Google docs.. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lh5RjQR8HQ5Cg-W6QcYyuIaJEdDJ-TRT8C3Cju5JyKo/edit The PCCM Plus installation...

 

MC-10179274-0001.pdf

Edited December 5, 2020 by Larsinexile

[rbrindley1]

Thank you for sharing mffarrell and Larsinexile!

[Larsinexile]

I disconnected the cable from the MOST adapter to the back of the PCCM+ and everything worked. Leave the unit with the dual fiber connection off if you don't have the MOST system. The only requirement was to change from CAN to AMP in the VOLUME settings. It looks, sounds, works great and plays mp4 from the microSD card slot. 

[Zaheed Sankriwala (Sanky)]

On 12/2/2020 at 4:07 AM, mffarrell said:

4. You will need a PST2 or PIWIS to code your ecu, if you want map data to display in the instrument display. I used my PIWIS 2 to code the navigation in the instrument control module.

 

 

@mffarrell, Can you please share some more details of what needs coding and where.  To get the PCCM map in working in the display.

 

I have asked a local specialist and they are not even aware that it does this in the cluster display.

[jmj996]

Thanks for this info.  I've received my PCCM Plus and and preparing for the installation in my 1999 996 cab.  I only have the basic CDR-220 with four speakers (don't have either CAN or MOST, nor do I have a CD-changer or Bose system), so it appears I have the simplest path. 

 

I'm looking at the Porsche installation instructions hosted at NHTSA.gov. Due to a lot of different 996 stereo options over the years, (not to mention the switch to MOST), you have to figure out which parts of the instructions apply to your vehicle. They're not very good at outlining what should or should not be done in my specific case, but thanks to @Larsinexile at least I can see that I don't even need to install the MOST control unit, so I probably won't install the black metal tray either, in order to provide better ventilation to the stereo.

 

I have one part that I need help clarifying - it's about the antenna line. Step 3.1 on page 5 shows a procedure to bypass the antenna amplifier, and it says this should be done on all vehicles without M440. Does this apply to US/CAN vehicles?

 

My initial impression is that this step does not apply to US vehicles because Step 3.1 requires the use of the adapter shown on page 3, identified as item 10, but this cable is not in the US kit (and neither are some other ROW parts like the DAB adapter).  The procedure says that this car's antenna should be disconnected from the amplifier and connected to this long antenna cable, which should then be run to the back of the stereo.  Did anyone else receive this long antenna cable?  Has anyone else with a US/CAN vehicle done procedure 3.1?  If so, did you already have PCM in your car?  I've gone through all of the cables supplied with it (US model) and the only antenna-related cable is an adapter for the standard antenna wire to the back of the stereo. The procedure doesn't even show this being connected (which is fine, it's almost too simple to bother mentioning), but it seems to me that step 3.1 should be split into an 'a' and 'b' depending on whether it's a US antenna or ROW antenna.

 

I found a video showing this process at 9:17 in the video, but this is a UK/ROW car, and it originally had PCM.

Edited February 19, 2021 by jmj996

[jmj996]

I just installed the PCCM Plus today into my 1999 996 cab, and it's awesome! If there's one main thing I've learned while researching this process and performing the installation that I'd share with others that are thinking about doing this, it's that there are major differences between different cars depending on years and options, so no single installation procedure or video is going to have all the necessary details for everyone (unless you're really lucky and the video happens to show a car with the exact same configuration).  You will need to do your research to determine what parts need to be installed, and what modifications (or in some cases, new parts and adapter cables) are required.

 

All things considered, I probably had the easiest path, mainly due to the following:

1) Basic 4-speaker system - no Bose (so, no amplifier), no MOST connections

2) On the 99 with a DIN-1 system (the CDR-220), the original factory brackets can be easily modified to accept the PCCM Plus (a Dremel made this much easier).

As a result, I didn't need any of the adapter cables or replacement brackets that aren't included with the standard kit.

 

Two brackets that had to be modified on my car are the main plastic support bracket (sometimes referred to as the 'horseshoe') and the rear metal bracket.  I've attached a PDF that shows pictures with the areas that had to be modified.

 

For the plastic support bracket, I had to modify five areas - trim three sections on each side, remove the center bar, and drill holes in the sides.

a) The upper mounting holes for the original climate control mount had to be trimmed.

b) There was a small plastic guide for the climate controls.  It protruded forward from the support bracket further than the other surfaces, so I had to trim a little off of that.

c) The lower mounting holes for the climate controls had to be trimmed.

d) The horizontal crossbar had to be removed.

e) The side mounting brackets that come with the PCCM Plus didn't have anything to squeeze on the upper section of the main plastic mounting bracket to hold the radio on (the lower section was fine).  So, I had to drill holes in the side and put bolts through the holes to hold the mounting bracket to the upper plastic area.  This made it very solid.

 

The rear metal bracket only needed one slight modification - to drill out two rivets on each side to remove the dark metal clamping brackets.

 

Some other notes/observations:

1) I did not install the microphone in the suggested location.  I removed the supplied microphone from its housing and installed it in the factory-intended location to the left of the gauge cluster (see the attached PDF).  This required removing the gauge cluster, but otherwise it was not difficult.  The new microphone squeezes into the original microphone mount quite nicely.  To route the wires in a clean way, I had to remove the wires from the white connector for the stereo, slide the wires through a very small opening next to the screw hole that holds the gauge cluster to the dash, and then run the wires within the gauge cluster housing to the right side of the gauge cluster.  That put them in a perfect position to feed into the back of the dash and over to the center of the dash.

2) I did not install the media box (with USB and AUX connectors) in the storage tray, or in any visible location.  I have a storage tray in the third slot down, above where the climate controls were installed, but I didn't want it filled up with this box, so I just left the box sitting in the lower back area of the center console, immediately behind the carpeted trim piece on the passenger side.  I have a long USB cable connected to it that comes out under the carpet trim piece, and if I ever need to replace it, it's easy to access by simply removing the carpeted trim piece.  This keeps this ugly, nonstandard media box out of site, and also makes the installation of the stereo much easier because the connector wires for the PCCM plus are much closer to the stereo.  If you've watched some of the installation videos, one of the biggest problems people have is with connecting the cables for the media box, because they're so short (limited by Porsche due to maximum allowable length to prevent signal dropoff).  I had no problem at all with connecting any of the wires.

3) I did not install the MOST control unit at all, I left it in the box.  As mentioned above, this is not needed in cars that don't have MOST, and it's best not to even plug it in or the PCCM Plus will get confused, thinking it needs to send the signals to the MOST control unit.

4) I was able to transfer my output (line out) connector from my CDR-220 directly to the PCCM Plus, so my under-seat powered subwoofer still works.  I did have to switch the volume output settings in the PCCM Plus from CAN to AMP in order for it to send the signal to the output connector.

5) Step 3.1 of the installation procedure did not apply to my car.  I simply attached the antenna cable adapter included with the kit (goes behind the stereo between the original antenna cable and the PCCM Plus), and the antenna worked great.

6) After the installation, the horn would honk once when I locked the car. Some quick Internet research shows that there is a ground wire attached to a bracket on the left side of the plastic support bracket that causes this.  When you no longer have the original factory radio, this wire has to be disconnected, or the car will register a missing stereo code.  Fortunately this wire is accessible by simply removing the left trim piece, so I just knocked it off the connector and the problem went away.  If I knew this before the installation, I would have just left that grounding bracket off and taped off the wire.

1999 996 PCCM Plus pics.pdf

Edited February 21, 2021 by jmj996

[Porschelibrarian]

I am considering changing out the Bose Nav double din system in my 2004 996TT with the PCCM+ system.    What I find anoying is that the PCCM+ system does NAV but its an additional $150 for the SD card.. Does anyone gotten the SD card yet?

[987_RDC]

It would be nice to inspect the SD and see if format is already a known used setup from another car (i.e. updated audi maps can be used in a ferrari)

[Porschelibrarian]

Perhaps but SD slot is in back so it's awkward to switch it out.   I think better possibility may be similar to audi or Lamborghini maps.   

I think first thing is to see if it can be copied so one can have archive 

[Jody Woody]

I ordered one for my 03 C4S.  It was pretty straight forward for my model.  I ordered from SunCoast and it included the HVAC trim but it did not include the new cubby that you need.  I assumed that I could use the one I already had but it goes in a different location and doesn't work.  My car was a single DIN so I had to trim a few brackets but no big deal.  Don't get in a hurry.

[pdcurran]

I had the unit installed a week ago. Brilliant sound especially compared to the CDR23. A friend thought I got new speakers or a bass box. It really wakes up the existing Bose speakers. My rear view mirror pulses with the beat there’s so much bass.

 

Notes: volume seems a bit limited. The top number for the volume control is 30. Between 20 and 30 it doesn’t get much louder. Don’t get me wrong it’s crystal clear it just lacks that final umph of volume on some songs. I’m noticing that some songs are plenty loud and some songs not as much. There may be some “clipping” of digital audio.

 

You can adjust individual source audio levels in the volume menu to add or subtract 5 steps to UsB or tuner or IPhone. Come to think of it I should experiment with an android phone to see if it has the same sound limitation.
 

I was curious about the CAN versus AMP setting. I have a 2003 with the MOST system. I made the switch from CAN to AMP on the theory that this was my route the sound through my trunk mounted amp and increase the volume. I’m not sure if it made a difference, but it did turn off my air-conditioning compressor. Then, after turning the car on and off, the air-conditioning and the unit was off all together until I switched it back to the CAN setting.

 

All in all I think the unit was completely worth it $1850 installed in LA County Southern California. My installer didn’t have any drama, which is why I went with someone experience. I am pretty good at DIY but was glad to use someone who had all the trim pieces at hand and easily routed the antenna up under the right dash speaker to the A pillar. 
 

This upgrade really improves the driving experience of the whole car. As my son said “you don’t need to get a newer car now.” 

Edited July 11, 2021 by pdcurran

[mffarrell]

There is an inherent software bug in the PCCM Plus OS. The trip odometer will randomly reset. I understand there is an update to fix this. Does anyone know if there is a TSB?

[Daver996]

I installed one in my 996 2002 4CS with Factory Bose.  I really like it. Porsche did a good job.  Pretty much seamless with the additional wiring harness adapter Purchased it from Suncoast Porsche

[mffarrell]

On 1/26/2021 at 12:39 AM, Zaheed Sankriwala (Sanky) said:

@mffarrell, Can you please share some more details of what needs coding and where.  To get the PCCM map in working in the display.

 

I have asked a local specialist and they are not even aware that it does this in the cluster display.

You will need a piwis 2. Just enable navigation in the piwis menu and the PCCM will communicate with the instrument cluster providing turn-by-turn information.

[pongobaz]

Super easy to install on a MOST equipped car. Sound is so much better than the CDR-23 and finally the BOSE system sounds proper. I'll have my Porsche Centre enable the turn by turn with PIWIS in the spring, even if I prefer using Waze than the Porsche maps. Hopefully they'll have figured out where to get the software update to get rid of the mildly annoying glitch with the trip odometer randomly resetting.

Here's a complete list of parts needed to convert to double DIN and install the PCCM+:

 

- PCCM+ (for 2003 996 C4S, Bose CDR-23 MOST) 996-642-591-00c

 

-Navigation Maps 996-642-502-00C

 

- Retaining bar 996-552-653-04

 

- Front support frame 996-552-231-1201C

 

-Front A/C panel frame 996-552-339-0001C

 

-Two screws PAF008933

 

-Upper storage tray 996 552 253 01 01C

 

-SiriusXM SXV300 Connect Vehicle Tuner for Satellite Radio 

 

 

[Poiboy]

On 7/11/2021 at 12:29 PM, pdcurran said:

Im really interested in this unit for my 996, does anyone know of a good So California installer that has experience in installing one ? 

 

[Porschelibrarian]

Does anyone know if one can play videos on the PCCM+?

[pongobaz]

58 minutes ago, Porschelibrarian said:

Does anyone know if one can play videos on the PCCM+?

No you cannot.

[Porschelibrarian]

Does anyone know if one can play videos on the PCCM+?

No you cannot.

 

Damm.  I wanted to watch No Man's Land  in the car

[Teekster]

Someone had already hacked the factory harness on mine for an aftermarket radio with a separate amp. Since then I have upgraded the amp and a double-DIN unit with small subs in the doors. I am still interested in this. Are there line level outputs (including sub)?

[WRE2TRR]

How much should it cost to have a PCCM+ professionally installed in a 2000 996 Cab? I have had quotes all over the place. 2 Different Porsche dealers, one said $1200 the other said $1900. Both said it was a very complicated install.