997 Nav Upgrade

blackcabby · blackcabby's Garage

Has anyone upgraded their PCM with the Porsche Navigation system? If so, could you please let me know how difficult an upgrade, did you do it yourself, any tips?

I just got a new Carrera - it had everything I was looking for except the Nav. Thanks for the help! Looking forward to being a part of this forum!

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Do you mean a software upgrade, or the installation / retrofit of a internal NAV system?

-Wayne

blackcabby · blackcabby's Garage

Thanks for the reply!

No, not retrofitting. The car did not come with a NAV system. However, it appears to have some of the necessary hardware - 6.5in screen, face unit with nav/map buttons. There appears to be an antena on the rear deck lid (convertible top cover). I'm hoping in the spirit of build simplification, that Porsche perhaps included the wiring, antena, etc... and all I need to do is buy the software and get it activated?? Probably too wishful... It already has XM, so I know it can talk to the satelites!

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

I could be wrong, but I believe then that the NAV system might be a simple "turn on" or software upgrade / retrofit from the dealer. I would ask them, they might have a part number for it.

Guaranteed not to be cheap though!

-Wayne

blackcabby · blackcabby's Garage

Thanks, Wayne!

I have a two Porsche dealers in the area with whom I'll inquire.

Now that it's a little clearer what I'm trying to do, I'd love to hear if anyone else has been through a similar "upgrade."

blackcabby · blackcabby's Garage

Wow! Maybe I've been away from the Marque too long, but the one dealer quoted me $4300!!! HELP!! I gotta believe there's a better way to do this upgrade. The're saying that my unit (because it has XM and the Bose upgrade) cannot be reused, and must be changed out entirely. On 997-1's they report this to be a $1500 upgrade??? - high, but more in line with my thinking.

This is making TomTom look better all the time.

Jamikest · Jamikest's Garage

997-2 requires replacement of the PCM head unit to activate NAV.

It is not a simple software feature. It requires a hard drive internally in the unit plus activation codes, currently of which- available only from Porsche in Germany. The price tag isn't crazy high because of the dealer- It is crazy high because of the entire new head unit that must be installed.

blackcabby · blackcabby's Garage

Some hope - I spoke to the Service Dept. this afternoon. They are holding out some hope that this may be dealt with by Porsche when the newness of the 997.2 passes. He indicated that this was the case with the 997.1 - We'll see!

Thanks for the replies and help!

tyspoon · tyspoon's Garage

Did you guys ever totally figure this out. I was looking at some of the newer 997s and saw that they upgrade the Navigation system with a touch screen and some added futures. I was wonder if it was an easy upgrade.

I currently have an 06 CarreraS and the Nav unit is kind of outdated. Blue tooth is does work without sim card, etc .... The 997.2 I assume are is the upgrade one with new/better version??

Thanks

blackcabby · blackcabby's Garage

Nope. Gave up on Porsche due to their greed - way too expensive. I'm just using the iphone as a nav tool. You can even plug it in to the dash unit and instructions are broadcast across the car speakers. Not worth upgrading for the thousands it would cost...