laalves
Established Member
Hi all,
Don't usually post much here but I decide for a full overhaul of my car's OEM system, which was the proverbial Bose. I love my car, and at first I even liked the sound, but after a while, noticed it was typical Bose: bloated overblown bass and not much else, very compressed and little midrange. The only good thing going for it was that it didn't distort at max level, which was too low, anyway.
So, in a couple of episodes, here's a description of what I did:
The Clarion episode
My 911 Turbo had the PCM1 system, with 16bit navigation, CD changer and Bose option, non MOST.
1 - The PCM1 16bit nav unit has the same GPS antenna plug/socket as the Clarion, meaning this was a direct plug and play deal with Porsche GPS antenna. Saved me a load of work;
2 - The in-dash microphone may be used with the Clarion, but the factory gain setting must be lowered. To do that, pry the speaker cover out, and on the right side of the microphone housing you will find a little hole with a screw just visible inside. There's a label on top, with 3 positions. Factory setting is 3, reduce it to 2. This way it will work fine with both the phone and voice recognition features;
3- To bypass the parking brake feature, simply ground the light green Clarion wire;
4 The VSS wire may be found in two places: black PCM1 plug: grey/pink cable and in the nav/CD drive unit, also grey/pink cable in its single plug;
5 The microphone cables to tap to reuse it are found in the PCM1 headunit blue plug: brown/white (ground) and white (signal);
6 Remote amplifier turn-on cable is the red/black cable in the PCM1 small yellow plug. Since the Clarion has no dedicated amplifier turn-on cable I simply used switched power to interface with the Bose amplifier;
7 - I removed the 2-Din cage of the PCM1 and replaced it with Clarion's own, relatively easy job. I attached the Clarion cage to the plastic housing with self tapping screws, PC variety.
8 - The Clarion bog-standard dash trim is useable, just add a 13 mm plastic bar on top and it's a done deal. I had bought trillieunaire's kit off ebay, and this plastic bit came off his bezel (his kit is NOT very useable in case of PCM cars). That and the FM antenna adapter were the only things I used from his kit.
9 - This unit has the permanent power and switched power connected à la VW/Audi/Porsche, so no need to switch the yellow with the red power wires.
BTW using an iPhone 3G:
1 - Bluetooth is brilliant, the whole phonebook got uploaded, as well as last/missed calls list;
2 - iPOD interface is lightning fast, one doesn't notice any delay in uploading anything, sees playlists, albums, etc. Does not show album art nor does it do video with the iPhone. In the book it says it will play video with "normal" iPODs;
3 - It does NOT charge..... meaning Clarion went the easy way charging via Firewire pins, 12V instead of USB pins, 5V. But I found a neat solution: http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=171079. I have confirmed with tech support @ carcomm and they confirmed this craddle will convert 12V Firewire to 5V USB! As soon as it is available, I'll get one to install in the OEM bracket.
Don't usually post much here but I decide for a full overhaul of my car's OEM system, which was the proverbial Bose. I love my car, and at first I even liked the sound, but after a while, noticed it was typical Bose: bloated overblown bass and not much else, very compressed and little midrange. The only good thing going for it was that it didn't distort at max level, which was too low, anyway.
So, in a couple of episodes, here's a description of what I did:
The Clarion episode
My 911 Turbo had the PCM1 system, with 16bit navigation, CD changer and Bose option, non MOST.
1 - The PCM1 16bit nav unit has the same GPS antenna plug/socket as the Clarion, meaning this was a direct plug and play deal with Porsche GPS antenna. Saved me a load of work;
2 - The in-dash microphone may be used with the Clarion, but the factory gain setting must be lowered. To do that, pry the speaker cover out, and on the right side of the microphone housing you will find a little hole with a screw just visible inside. There's a label on top, with 3 positions. Factory setting is 3, reduce it to 2. This way it will work fine with both the phone and voice recognition features;
3- To bypass the parking brake feature, simply ground the light green Clarion wire;
4 The VSS wire may be found in two places: black PCM1 plug: grey/pink cable and in the nav/CD drive unit, also grey/pink cable in its single plug;
5 The microphone cables to tap to reuse it are found in the PCM1 headunit blue plug: brown/white (ground) and white (signal);
6 Remote amplifier turn-on cable is the red/black cable in the PCM1 small yellow plug. Since the Clarion has no dedicated amplifier turn-on cable I simply used switched power to interface with the Bose amplifier;
7 - I removed the 2-Din cage of the PCM1 and replaced it with Clarion's own, relatively easy job. I attached the Clarion cage to the plastic housing with self tapping screws, PC variety.
8 - The Clarion bog-standard dash trim is useable, just add a 13 mm plastic bar on top and it's a done deal. I had bought trillieunaire's kit off ebay, and this plastic bit came off his bezel (his kit is NOT very useable in case of PCM cars). That and the FM antenna adapter were the only things I used from his kit.
9 - This unit has the permanent power and switched power connected à la VW/Audi/Porsche, so no need to switch the yellow with the red power wires.
BTW using an iPhone 3G:
1 - Bluetooth is brilliant, the whole phonebook got uploaded, as well as last/missed calls list;
2 - iPOD interface is lightning fast, one doesn't notice any delay in uploading anything, sees playlists, albums, etc. Does not show album art nor does it do video with the iPhone. In the book it says it will play video with "normal" iPODs;
3 - It does NOT charge..... meaning Clarion went the easy way charging via Firewire pins, 12V instead of USB pins, 5V. But I found a neat solution: http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=171079. I have confirmed with tech support @ carcomm and they confirmed this craddle will convert 12V Firewire to 5V USB! As soon as it is available, I'll get one to install in the OEM bracket.
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