Porsche Macan Forum banner

Retrofit 2015 with Carplay

34K views 40 replies 18 participants last post by  carsly  
#1 ·
Has anyone done this on the 2015 or 2016 cars? Is it worth it or are you just better off getting a third party radio?
 
#11 ·
Hello, new boy on this forum, happy owner of a macan S 2015.
I just installed a carplay module Unichip, works but a lot of bug.
-When we start the carplay, if we have not before selected Aux, no sound ..
-Apple music only outputs sound on the front speakers. (Bose system)
-By time Apple music freeze and rebbot carplay.
-The most strange in all this, engine off, door closed, system off, after a few minutes, the radio is restarted by itself and the PCM screen remains off.
Apart from all these problems the system is functional, I hope that an update will solve these problems.
 
#12 ·
This looks easier than anything I've seen thus far. Vcmfrance, is that what you are referring to? Wonder if it's similar in a Macan:
 
#15 ·
Hello wizard263789, have you installed the same carplay UNICHIP, you have encountered the same problems, are they all resolved?
On the UNICHIP website there is no way to retrieve the latest firmware and the procedure to follow, I was contact yesterday and I await their response.
thank you !!
 
#16 ·
#18 · (Edited)
Did it myself. It is a bit hard to take the left trim off (passenger side), because it needs to come out completely (both air diffusers with the piano black panel will come off as a single unit). But other than that, it was not bad. You need to be comfortable working with connecting/disconnecting electronics (I used to build my own computers 20 years ago, so I don't have any issues dismantling these things and putting them back together, I'm also an engineer by training).

See additional photos, you can see the detached trims. You'll have to pull that passenger side hard, but with care not to damage vents (as you need to pull through the vents with a hook).

I also added a USB port to the center console.

There are always some nuisances with 3rd party systems, like in this case I always need to ensure the system is in AUX, otherwise it will cause issues, but they are minor once you get used to it. I'm enjoying it quite much actually. As an added bonus, this system has an equalizer which allows me to better tune the audio system. In addition, this system added the capability of voice recognition, which I didn't have in my Macan build.

Installation took about 4 hours.

I'm still very pleased.


227250

227251

227252
 
#19 · (Edited)
There is a good video in YouTube, made by "Auto Amateur" that shows the installation of the CarPlay module retrofit to his 911-991.1 PCM 3.1. It is somewhat similar to the Macan PCM 3.1, with some slight differences. I don't think the 991.1 have optical cable, but the rest is similar.

See video here:

Additional information on my install (tips - things that I had to solve and things I did slightly different from video).

Although the instructions state that XM module must be removed, I left the XM module installed, by installing stacked screw extension standoffs. I purchased a kit from Amazon and installed the provided board on top of the XM module with these standoffs. I used two of them in each of the three locations, one on top of the other. I selected the two that would allow the board to clear the XM board. The installation came out very sturdy. Auto Amateur installation shows him attaching the board with only one screw. Go to: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072N84VM3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

See Photo Here: https://flic.kr/p/2ig224C

Auto Amateur drilled a hole on the PCM casing to pass thru the cable from the board. I didn't drilled this hole. What I did is that I removed the XM connector on the back, pass through the cable and then reattached the XM connector the best I could. Best solution so that you don't have to do unwanted perforations.

See Photo Here: https://flic.kr/p/2ifYyum

Auto Amateur goes through a series of things that went wrong for him and how he solved them. There were a few things that didn't go well the first time during the installation for me, which Auto Amateur didn't mention:

1. While installing the board inside the PCM, I inadvertently disconnected the fiber optic cable from the tuner. When I reinstalled everything, I could hear sound from everywhere, except the tuner. It took me hours to figure out what I had done, which also required me to disassemble everything again. Therefore, be careful when you are inside the PCM and check and reseat all connections, even if you think you didn't touched them.

2. When installing harness on the back of the radio, make sure you remove the fiber optic cable from the car harness and reinstall it on the provided harness in the appropriate location. I didn't do this initially and while testing no sound would come out. I figured this out fairly quick, but this hint can save you time.

3. I couldn't control the Apple CarPlay module with steering wheel controls, only volume would work, but the phone control buttons were useless. This happened because I unpaired the PCM bluetooth while trying to connect everything, thinking that I didn't need the PCM bluetooth connection, since I was connecting via Apple Carplay module. Leave the PCM bluetooth paired and you will have phone control from your steering wheel. The only control you will lose is with the special configurable button, if you have the button configured to advance or replay a song, which you will not be able to do from steering wheel while using Carplay.

4. If you are using Wireless Carplay, deactivate the PCM AUX BT. This one took me weeks to figure out. Every time I would turn my car on, I intermittently had connections issues that would prevent Apple Carplay to activate or play any sound, and it would require me 4 to 5 minutes (sometimes unpairing and pairing the whole thing again) for it to work. I came to the realization that AUX BT and the Carplay module bluetooth were fighting for which could connect first. If the Carplay module connected first, no issues. If the PCM AUX BT connected first, it created a significant connection issue. Apparently the AUX BT and the AUX share the same channel, and you can use one or the other. To deactivate AUX BT in PCM 3.1 see,
. This video shows how to activate AUX BT, but you can follow steps to deactivate.

I hope this helps others with some additional information during installation.

Additional Photos:
1. https://flic.kr/p/2ig25jR
2. https://flic.kr/p/2ifYBuK
3. https://flic.kr/p/2ig34Rq (I use Wireless Carplay, but I still installed the Hardwire as a backup in the center console)
4. https://flic.kr/p/2ig222i
5. https://flic.kr/p/2ifYyrF

The system is working now flawlessly and the installation had been well worth it.
 
#20 ·
There is a good video in YouTube, made by "Auto Amateur" that shows the installation of the CarPlay module retrofit to his 911-991.1 PCM 3.1. It is somewhat similar to the Macan PCM 3.1, with some slight differences. I don't think the 991.1 have optical cable, but the rest is similar.

See video here:

Additional information on my install (tips - things that I had to solve and things I did slightly different from video).

Although the instructions state that XM module must be removed, I left the XM module installed, by installing stacked screw extension standoffs. I purchased a kit from Amazon and installed the provided board on top of the XM module with these standoffs. I used two of them in each of the three locations, one on top of the other. I selected the two that would allow the board to clear the XM board. The installation came out very sturdy. Auto Amateur installation shows him attaching the board with only one screw. Go to: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072N84VM3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

See Photo Here: https://flic.kr/p/2ig224C

Auto Amateur drilled a hole on the PCM casing to pass thru the cable from the board. I didn't drilled this hole. What I did is that I removed the XM connector on the back, pass through the cable and then reattached the XM connector the best I could. Best solution so that you don't have to do unwanted perforations.

See Photo Here: https://flic.kr/p/2ifYyum

Auto Amateur goes through a series of things that went wrong for him and how he solved them. There were a few things that didn't go well the first time during the installation for me, which Auto Amateur didn't mention:

1. While installing the board inside the PCM, I inadvertently disconnected the fiber optic cable from the tuner. When I reinstalled everything, I could hear sound from everywhere, except the tuner. It took me hours to figure out what I had done, which also required me to disassemble everything again. Therefore, be careful when you are inside the PCM and check and reseat all connections, even if you think you didn't touched them.

2. When installing harness on the back of the radio, make sure you remove the fiber optic cable from the car harness and reinstall it on the provided harness in the appropriate location. I didn't do this initially and while testing no sound would come out. I figured this out fairly quick, but this hint can save you time.

3. I couldn't control the Apple CarPlay module with steering wheel controls, only volume would work, but the phone control buttons were useless. This happened because I unpaired the PCM bluetooth while trying to connect everything, thinking that I didn't need the PCM bluetooth connection, since I was connecting via Apple Carplay module. Leave the PCM bluetooth paired and you will have phone control from your steering wheel. The only control you will lose is with the special configurable button, if you have the button configured to advance or replay a song, which you will not be able to do from steering wheel while using Carplay.

4. If you are using Wireless Carplay, deactivate the PCM AUX BT. This one took me weeks to figure out. Every time I would turn my car on, I intermittently had connections issues that would prevent Apple Carplay to activate or play any sound, and it would require me 4 to 5 minutes (sometimes unpairing and pairing the whole thing again) for it to work. I came to the realization that AUX BT and the Carplay module bluetooth where fighting for which could connect first. If the Carplay module connected first, no issues. If the PCM AUX BT connected first, it created a significant connection issue. Apparently the AUX BT and the AUX share the same channel, and you can use one or the other. To deactivate AUX BT in PCM 3.1 see,
. This video shows how to activate AUX BT, but you can follow steps to deactivate.

I hope this helps others with some additional information during installation.

Additional Photos:
1. https://flic.kr/p/2ig25jR
2. https://flic.kr/p/2ifYBuK
3. https://flic.kr/p/2ig34Rq (I use Wireless Carplay, but I still installed the Hardwire as a backup in the center console)
4. https://flic.kr/p/2ig222i
5. https://flic.kr/p/2ifYyrF

The system is working now flawlessly and the installation had been well worth it.
Very helpful, thanks!

My kit arrives tomorrow. I think I have most steps well understood. Actually bummed the custom button for next track doesn’t work, as I thought this would have been retained.

Where did you mount the additional box? Behind the glovebox or directly behind the pcm unit?
 
#32 · (Edited)
After a while with this solution for CarPlay, I started to do a speaker upgrade on my Bose system. Because I had the crappy Bose speakers, I really didn’t notice any significant difference in sound when I connected my phone through this CarPlay module initially as compared to the PCM native connection. Audio was still crappy after I installed the system.

As I started upgrading the speakers (have done all tweeters with the Burmester tweeters, the sub with an an 8” Rockford Fosgate retrofit to the Bose box, the center with the Burmester full range speaker and door midranges with a pair of Audison AP4), I noticed a nice improvement in audio quality, but still there was something missing. That fullness of sound was still not there.

My USB cable was connected through the CarPlay module. Apparently there is either no full passthru of sound or the AUX input, which this thing use as the input, does not render the same quality as the PCM direct USB (iPod) connection.

I changed my USB cable to the iPod input and there it was, the fullness I was missing. Apparently the DAC in this system converts to analog signal and there is a significant audio quality degradation. I also think that this module does not fully take advantage of all speakers (as I move the module fader/balance around, sounds disappears as I fade to the back, and gets a lot lower when I balance right it left). I only noticed this when I upgraded the speakers I have replaced so far.

So, there is a compromised way to continue to use the CarPlay module, but there is a drawback as some functionality is lost. I’m connecting the iPhone through native USB PCM iPod USB port. Then I connect the phone also to CarPlay via wireless Carplay. With this, I’m able to retain audio sound quality (which I’m not willing to compromise) and retain the video side of CarPlay. Unfortunately, some of the sounds from some apps are directed through Carplay. I can still interact with Siri... But some map apps direct turn by turn direction through CarPlay rather than the connected audio. I figured that the only map app that I can select audio output is Google Maps, so this one works well because I set the sound to not go through wireless audio, then it goes through the wired USB connection. But you will not hear turn by turn direction from Waze and Apple Maps as there is no way to do the same.

Since I prefer the increased quality in audio sound, I can accept the limited CarPlay functionality I’m losing...
 
#33 ·
Santirx, does this appear to be the same kit you installed, just marketed by someone else?
 
#37 ·
Porsche is offering Car Play retroactively for 993's and many of the previous 911's as well as the 996 and 986. So what happened to those of us having 3.1 PCM's? Wonder if it's coming.

The new Porsche Classic Communication Management systems PCCM and PCCM Plus are here. Two versions are available – one with a 3.5-inch display for classic cars with smaller radio slots and one with a 7-inch display for all 996 and 986 models. Both systems now also feature DAB+ and Apple CarPlay. The PCCM Plus also offers GOOGLE® Android Auto. The design blends seamlessly into the interior of classic Porsche models.

Stylish and a perfect fit. Even though you like to travel in classic style, sometimes blissfully unaware of the time, you still want an easy and comfortable journey that avoids any traffic jams. The two Porsche Classic Communication Management systems PCCM and PCCM Plus will help you achieve this. They are compatible with all classic Porsche cars with a DIN-1 or DIN-2 slot: The PCCM is suitable for all 911 vehicles from the F model up to the type-993 model and for transaxle vehicles, while the PCCM Plus can be fitted in type-996 911 models and type-986 Boxster models. These products are therefore suitable for all standard vehicles supported by Porsche Classic, excluding the Porsche 356 and Carrera GT. Both systems can be seamlessly integrated into the dashboard. They combine a classic design with a whole range of new functions that were not available when the original devices were included in series production.
 
#38 ·
Porsche is offering Car Play retroactively for 993's and many of the previous 911's as well as the 996 and 986. So what happened to those of us having 3.1 PCM's? Wonder if it's coming.

The new Porsche Classic Communication Management systems PCCM and PCCM Plus are here. Two versions are available – one with a 3.5-inch display for classic cars with smaller radio slots and one with a 7-inch display for all 996 and 986 models. Both systems now also feature DAB+ and Apple CarPlay. The PCCM Plus also offers GOOGLE® Android Auto. The design blends seamlessly into the interior of classic Porsche models.

Stylish and a perfect fit. Even though you like to travel in classic style, sometimes blissfully unaware of the time, you still want an easy and comfortable journey that avoids any traffic jams. The two Porsche Classic Communication Management systems PCCM and PCCM Plus will help you achieve this. They are compatible with all classic Porsche cars with a DIN-1 or DIN-2 slot: The PCCM is suitable for all 911 vehicles from the F model up to the type-993 model and for transaxle vehicles, while the PCCM Plus can be fitted in type-996 911 models and type-986 Boxster models. These products are therefore suitable for all standard vehicles supported by Porsche Classic, excluding the Porsche 356 and Carrera GT. Both systems can be seamlessly integrated into the dashboard. They combine a classic design with a whole range of new functions that were not available when the original devices were included in series production.
At what cost? I would imagine this is probably a very expensive upgrade.
 
#39 ·
I emailed Porsche NA....they brushed it off. I told them i was not happy that this was not available for their most popular car EVER......but it is now for cars 20 years old !! ?? Really ?

I would encourage others to do so as well.

The Macan segment is huge for them.....they should not ignore it.
 
#40 ·
It's not going to happen at least anytime soon. I don't think it's in their interests to offer one for the first gen Macans. They don't want you to spend $1K for the PCM upgrade if there's $60K - $100K sitting on the table. It's called the new car upgrade cycle.
 
#41 ·
single DIN and double DIN are industry-wide standards. some manufacturers, including Porsche, abandoned the sizes so they could kill off the custom head unit market and force new buyers into upgrades at point of sale only. You bought a car with a non-standard sized head unit - as almost all new cars are - which is frustrating.

My last new car was a 2008 Honda Pilot, still have it. One of the many reasons I bought it was a double DIN slot. I’ve had Carplay via an aftermarket Pioneer head unit I wired in myself for a few years now. Pretty much plug and play. Has built in Navi, DVD player and other niceties. Cost $500 and a couple hours of time for install.