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Swapping CDR-31 head unit for PCM 3.1 head unit on 981 Cayman or Boxster

119K views 278 replies 44 participants last post by  Scoopy 
#1 ·
Has anyone attempted to do a head unit swap on a 981 equipped with the base CDR unit to a PCM unit? While the physical size of the units is the same the functionality is not and I am wondering if a simple plug and play can be done, assuming you also added a satellite/nav antenna if the new unit had those functions. Has anyone done this kind of swap that can shed some light on if it is an easy upgrade or not.
 
#2 ·
To do the swap you need the Sound Package Plus, Bose or Burmeister. The PCM unit is 'locked' to the vehicle VIN so any upgrade would need to go through the Porsche official channels.

The retrofit is not normally particularly difficult but as you say needs the fitment of the satellite/nav antenna. It doesn't normally rely on the windscreen diversity aerial. Not seen the 981 retrofit instructions but previous models involved 3 -4 hrs work.
 
#24 ·
A sat radio antenna need not be mounted on the roof, my current 987 CS has a RoadyII sat radio plugged into a gateway 500 unit, and I mounted the antenna on the plastic cowl at the base of the windshield. I've never had any problems with reception. If I could get a PCM unit that would plug in and allow for sat radio I know the antenna could be mounted in a similar position.
 
#3 ·
It's a very easy upgrade. I traded my CDR-31 for PCM 3.1 in a '13 Boxster with SiriusXM and Bose. Took less than an hour to swap out the units.
 
#4 ·
Did you need to have your dealer do any programing of the PCM to make it work in your Boxster? Did the donor vehicle also have Bose? Lastly, do you have full functionality, Sirius, and Nav both working in the Boxster? My dealer tells me I need a unlock code from the PCM vehicle and then the dealer needs that to unlock the old PCM and enter the VIN of the new vehicle. Any issues like that?

Thanks
 
#8 ·
I decided to wing it and purchased a PCM unit from a boxster that had nav from the factory. Plugged it in this evening and everything functions as normal, including the navigation, with the exception that the car has no nav antenna. I haven't received any codes to enable the nav, and the cluster display did not automatically recognize that it had been fitted. The option to display the map in the cluster display is not present. Perhaps this is what needs coding to gain full functionality?

Does anyone know anything about the nav antenna? Is it routed to the top of the dashboard? There are two additional plugs on this PCM that my original doesn't have..
 
#10 ·
Has anybody been successful in upgrading to the nav from bose. I bought a nav unit through eBay.
 
#11 ·
Pet page with PCM parts:
Text Diagram Technical drawing Line Font
 
#13 ·
I've had the car to the dealership to have it installed and they said they have to get codes to allow it to function in the car.

They contacted Porsche who then asked me to provide proof of purchase as I had bought it on Ebay.

We are still waiting for the codes and the car is back home.

The dealer doesn't know why it is taking so long.
 
#15 ·
Still ongoing.

The dealer is communicating with Germany to get the codes, and they asked for proof of purchase. I bought it on eBay so I gave them that information. The dealer has been good to deal with, but Porsche is being a pain.

They now want the License Key- America/South America which is not possible as it came from Europe.

I haven't had the time to pursue this further, and in the meantime I have taken the car to Florida to leave it there for the winter. I will start following up again next week.

I think that Porsche is pissed because I didn't buy it through official channels. This is not making me happy because of their pickiness.
 
#18 ·
I live in Kitchener, but go to Porsche London as it is the same distance as the Toronto dealerships with a lot less traffic.
 
#21 ·
I haven't installed the unit in the car yet. I am trying to get a license Key- America/South America for it. I took the car to Florida for the winter, and will go down after Christmas and use it down there.

Porsche is being a real pain with this issue. They made me show proof of purchase and now I need the code. I told Porsche I would pay them for it, with no response to date.

Part of the problem is the dealer is emailing with Porsche Germany and I am out of the loop. I need to communicate with Germany directly if this can't be resolved.

This is pissing me off, and quite frankly is turning me off the Porsche brand. My wife is asking for a new Cayenne, but I am not feeling like it now.

The standard Porsche electronics are crap in my car, and they want an outrageous amount of money to upgrade it. I have the CD31 with bose and it doesn't even have a USB input. My five year old Acura has a system which is light years ahead of this.

If and when I get this resolved I will have them install the USB in the glove box.

Stay tuned.
 
#23 ·
I'm interested in this thread also. i have a CGTS incoming, with just the standard radio. I would like to add sat radio, but it looks like right now there is no adapter available to allow this. Porsche is not very easy to work with as I understand, and as everyone knows, their pricing for any audio upgrades is outrageously expensive, which is mainly why I didn't order the $670 sat radio upgrade. Looking at the eBay offers, its pretty much a crapshoot buying one and getting anything that will totally function in your car, and I'd like a little more assurance that it would actually function. Please keep everyone in the loop about your situation.
 
#25 ·
For what it's worth, the nav antenna is mounted above the rear view mirror - there is a little clip-in mounting location for it. I ran my harness down the driver's side a-pillar, under the dash, and into the radio compartment. It wasn't too tough

Still haven't found a way to get the activation codes from my used nav radio :/
 
#27 ·
HI! My 2013 BoxsterS has a CDR-31 and I purchased a used PCM3.1 to install. Beverly Hills Porsche initially told me they would install and program codes for me. Then Trevor - the Service manager retired. Now, 2 weeks after I purchased the used PCM3.1 based on Trevor's cooperation, the new service manager refuses to install what I have. It does work because it was tested in a Boxster before I purchased it. So - now I have contacted an aftermarket installer to do the following: install the PCM3.1 head unit, add rear sensors and a backup cam. This installer knows my service guy at Porsche, and is calling him to see if there is anyway to get this done aftermarket - or do I try to resell the PCM3.1 I bought and just install ALL new aftermarket parts. UGH! This is totally ridiculous! Porsche wouldn't even give me a quote on adding sensors or a back up cam. I gave the installer the following information:

1. Email Navi_codes@yahoo.com
2. Skype scan.coding

I told him I will buy the codes. I was told that new codes are needed for everything - including bluetooth and SAT.

This is just getting waaaay to difficult!!!

What do you guys think: Is it worth it to have all Porsche parts? The aftermarket Navi and integrated bluetooth, sensors and back up cam use Gamin maps which are better than the PCM3.1. I had it in my 2005 BoxsterS and liked it. I am really just tired of working on this issue.
 
#28 ·
I just spent the weekend removing my base CD31 from my 2014 Cayman S and replacing it with a Pioneer Avic 8100NEX. Painfull experience but not rocket science. The one big surprise is that I was told by the dealer that the CDR31 does not have an external amp. Mine does, with front and rear speakers.
You will need the Porsche fascia and the EuroMotorspeed harness. You pick up the speaker wires, power, ground antenna and accessories power connections via the main connector that EuroMotrspeed provide and then an extra blue wire goes to pin 5 (or is it 4) in the blue small connector. Ignore the green connector, its for the aux jack in the glove box The biggest hassle was routing the GPS and Sirrius antenna's into the Frunk area and then mounting them under the plastic trim under the wipers. I also didnt use the bilut in microphone, I just mounted the pioneer one on the column
 
#30 ·
I have the North and South America codes that I need, but the car is still in Florida. I will bring it back in a few weeks and hesd for the dealer to finish this up.

My fingers are crossed. Stay tuned!
 
#37 ·
Hi Blackbean.

I was delayed getting the car back to Canada because my mother in law was very ill. Just got the car back last week and will be at the dealer in London next Wednesday. I have my fingers crossed.

Stay tuned.
 
#39 ·
I don't know at this point. This feature was added for the 2014 model year and I don't know what year my newly purchased headunit is.

I dropped it off at the dealer this afternoon. Driving a Cayenne in the meantime.
 
#45 ·
There are lots of PCM head units on eBay for from $480 to around $1500. I'm wondering if one of these will work with the other parts listed in your install? And are you saying that SPP comes standard with the GTS? I think if I get a head unit with sat radio it will work, I would just need to connect the antenna lead to an antenna that can be mounted to the cowl. Did your service advisor set you up with this stuff or did you have to do the research yourself?
 
#46 ·
Be very careful with an ebay head unit. Make sure that you get an activation code for the Nav for north america. It has to be tied into the car VIN number and Porsche controls the activation codes.

I bought an ebay head unit and Porsche was very difficult to deal with. I had to show proof of purchase as they were concerned that it might be a stolen unit. I got my ebay vender to get the code for me. It's at the dealer getting installed now.
 
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