Go Back   986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners > Porsche Boxster & Cayman Forums > Boxster General Discussions

Post Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-12-2009, 02:30 PM   #1
Registered User
 
ChrisZang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: San Carlos, CA 94070
Posts: 1,450
AVIC F700BT installed

I replaced my aged CDR-220 with a Pioneer AVIC F700BT.
The main reason was that I got tired of all the clutter in my car: GPS hanging from the windshield, XM receiver hanging off the center console, iPod in the center console.

Now everything is neat, the iPod is tucked away in the storage compartment and the system looks absolutely stock (if anyone is interested I'll post some pics over the weekend). The installation (for which I took my time) took about one day.

Total cost (all from eBay)
AVIC F700BT $380
installation kit $160
XM receiver $60
iPod cable $35

sold old CDR-220 on eBay -$170
sold old GPS on eBay $-75

Total cost $390 - 100% happy with it

__________________
I still wave at Boxsters, but they no longer wave back :-(
2002 Boxster S "Violet" (sold but not forgotten)
2009 Carrera 4S "Kelsey" (current ride)
2015 FIAT 500e "Nikki" my commuter car
ChrisZang is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2009, 06:15 AM   #2
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Chuck Town, SC
Posts: 31
Pics would be great!!
ocdbilly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2009, 08:34 AM   #3
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 207
Subscribed. Eagerly waiting for pix.
nefarious986 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2009, 02:00 PM   #4
Registered User
 
ChrisZang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: San Carlos, CA 94070
Posts: 1,450
pics attached

i just snapped two pics with my phone, not the greatest quality...
__________________
I still wave at Boxsters, but they no longer wave back :-(
2002 Boxster S "Violet" (sold but not forgotten)
2009 Carrera 4S "Kelsey" (current ride)
2015 FIAT 500e "Nikki" my commuter car
ChrisZang is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2009, 03:01 PM   #5
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: PA
Posts: 51
Nice look

That fits very nicely in there. Did you install it yourself or have it professionally installed? If professionally installed, about how much did it cost? If you did, how difficult was it?
icedude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2009, 03:22 PM   #6
Registered User
 
ChrisZang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: San Carlos, CA 94070
Posts: 1,450
I installed it myself, on a scale of 1 to 10, maybe a 5, the biggest problems were:
a) to route the iPod cable to the center cubby as you have to take the center console out
b) to get the head unit back in the hole with tons of cables hanging from the back
c) to do a nice job with the dremel tool
d) placement of the GPS and XM antennas

Here is a list of links I used to get the job done:
http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=19074&hl=double%20din
DIY Instructions - Avic D3 Installation
Best place for GPS antena
http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=20442&st=0&p=105137&#entry105137
http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/996/84794-finished-kenwood-dvd-nav-install-ac-control-mod-pics-some-diy-stuff.html

by the way the guy who posted the first thread (trieullionaire) is also the guy who sells the mounting harness on eBay, I HIGHLY recommend to get the harness
w/o the harness it would have been a 9 or 10
__________________
I still wave at Boxsters, but they no longer wave back :-(
2002 Boxster S "Violet" (sold but not forgotten)
2009 Carrera 4S "Kelsey" (current ride)
2015 FIAT 500e "Nikki" my commuter car
ChrisZang is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2009, 04:10 PM   #7
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: PA
Posts: 51
dremmel

I'm very handy but the thought of a power tool to do a radio install scares me. What was that needed for? I saw the install kit here as well: http://stores.ebay.com/Euromotorspeed

Also was the wiring pretty straight forward?Thanks again It looks great
icedude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2009, 04:11 PM   #8
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: PA
Posts: 51
PS - XM and nav antennas

Where did you put each of those? I'm very picky to have a clean look with no exposed cables. I want it to look stock or as close to possible.
icedude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2009, 04:33 PM   #9
Registered User
 
TriGem2k's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 1,431
Send a message via AIM to TriGem2k
Nice work I have the same install with an Avic-F90BT. I love it.
__________________
http://i46.tinypic.com/2qx0rqs.jpg
2001 Boxster Artic Silver / Black Interior
-GT3 Front Bumper w/ Lip
-Side Skirts
-Gemballa Exhuast and Cats
-O.Z. Racing 18" Wheels
--18X8.5Front 18X10 Rears
-Michilen PS Tires 225/40/18 & 285/30/18
-5mm Rear Spacers
-Porsche Door Sills
-H&R Springs
-Powerflow Intake
-B&M Short Shifter
-Pioneer Avic-F90BT Navigation
-Focal Polyglass 165VR3
-Alpine PDX 5 Amp
-Bose OEM Subwoofer & Midrange
-Audio Controld DQXS (DSP)
TriGem2k is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2009, 08:44 PM   #10
Registered User
 
ChrisZang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: San Carlos, CA 94070
Posts: 1,450
You need the dremel to cut the little plastic bridge which separates the cup holders from the CDR-220
With the install kit the wiring is totally easy, all connectors/adapters are included


Quote:
Originally Posted by icedude
I'm very handy but the thought of a power tool to do a radio install scares me. What was that needed for? I saw the install kit here as well: http://stores.ebay.com/Euromotorspeed

Also was the wiring pretty straight forward?Thanks again It looks great
__________________
I still wave at Boxsters, but they no longer wave back :-(
2002 Boxster S "Violet" (sold but not forgotten)
2009 Carrera 4S "Kelsey" (current ride)
2015 FIAT 500e "Nikki" my commuter car
ChrisZang is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2009, 08:49 PM   #11
Registered User
 
ChrisZang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: San Carlos, CA 94070
Posts: 1,450
Quote:
Originally Posted by icedude
Where did you put each of those? I'm very picky to have a clean look with no exposed cables. I want it to look stock or as close to possible.
Right, same here, that was one of my main drivers for this installation.

Currently both antennas are below the cabin air filter, see this link:
Best place for GPS antena
this works great for the GPS, unfortunately not so great for the XM.

So I am planning to relocate the XM antenna where the OEM GPS antenna would be, next to the alarm indicator:
http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/996/84794-finished-kenwood-dvd-nav-install-ac-control-mod-pics-some-diy-stuff.html

I hope that this will work better....
__________________
I still wave at Boxsters, but they no longer wave back :-(
2002 Boxster S "Violet" (sold but not forgotten)
2009 Carrera 4S "Kelsey" (current ride)
2015 FIAT 500e "Nikki" my commuter car
ChrisZang is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2009, 01:33 AM   #12
Registered User
 
edevlin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Virginia
Posts: 916
Looks cool, the clutter of the GPS is what drove me to do a similar install, enjoy.

Ed

__________________
My Car Webpage

2000 2.7L Boxster 102K; TTP intake, headers, high-flow cats; Dansk high-flow muffler; Autothority ECU chip; TechnoTorque 2; Bilstein coilovers; Racing Dynamics strut brace; stress-bar suspension kit; Aasco lightweight flywheel, B&M short shiftkit; 18" wheels; spare tire delete; OEM GT3 seats; JL audio speakers and subwoofer; Alpine PDX-5/PDX-2 amps; Kenwood DNX8120 CD/DVD/Nav; litronics, deambered
edevlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2009, 07:30 AM   #13
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: PA
Posts: 51
Talking Where did you put the XM receiver?

I plan on doing what you did with the GPS antenna next to the filter and the XM antenna on the dash under the alarm light cover as mentioned on the posts. I'll have to do the same with the Ipod adapter as you. Where did the XM receiver go?
icedude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2009, 08:03 PM   #14
Registered User
 
ChrisZang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: San Carlos, CA 94070
Posts: 1,450
Quote:
Originally Posted by icedude
I plan on doing what you did with the GPS antenna next to the filter and the XM antenna on the dash under the alarm light cover as mentioned on the posts. I'll have to do the same with the Ipod adapter as you. Where did the XM receiver go?
First of all if I compare the size of the Pioneer XM receiver with the size of the unit I had from XM before I must say this is a joke: the Pioneer XM receiver is almost the size of a small laptop, so hiding this is indeed a challenge.

Fortunately the cables are long enough so I found that if I remove the styrofoam covering above the passenger's footspace there is enough space on the very right side to squeeze in the XM receiver, hard to describe, open it up and try and then it's pretty obvious. I have wrapped the XM receiver in thin styrofoam packing material so that it doesn't rattle against the metal of the right fender
__________________
I still wave at Boxsters, but they no longer wave back :-(
2002 Boxster S "Violet" (sold but not forgotten)
2009 Carrera 4S "Kelsey" (current ride)
2015 FIAT 500e "Nikki" my commuter car
ChrisZang is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-2009, 09:26 AM   #15
Registered User
 
ChrisZang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: San Carlos, CA 94070
Posts: 1,450
XM antenna placement

Quick update:

I relocated the XM antenna under the OEM cover (by the alarm sensor), but the improvements are marginal compared to the location I had it before (cabin air filter).
So I guess the best location would be on the rear trunk by the 3rd brake light.

Does anyone have a better recommendation for placing the XM antenna. Just as a reminder XM is much more receptible to short losses of signal than GPS.
Meaning a location which is great for placing the GPS antenna might be not-so-great for XM
__________________
I still wave at Boxsters, but they no longer wave back :-(
2002 Boxster S "Violet" (sold but not forgotten)
2009 Carrera 4S "Kelsey" (current ride)
2015 FIAT 500e "Nikki" my commuter car
ChrisZang is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2009, 03:02 PM   #16
Registered User
 
ChrisZang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: San Carlos, CA 94070
Posts: 1,450
One more observation/caution:

I kept the Porsche OEM amp which was in the car (well actually it's a 6-channel amp from a 996, but otherwise it's identical). In any case: the level from the line outputs from the AVIC is not high enough to drive this amp, so the volume is kind of low. It's just loud enough in the highest volume setting. So I will need to install a Line Driver Signal Amplifier (a.k.a. "pre-amp").
This would not have been an issue had I bought the (more expensive) AVIC F90BT as this has 4 Volt line outputs
__________________
I still wave at Boxsters, but they no longer wave back :-(
2002 Boxster S "Violet" (sold but not forgotten)
2009 Carrera 4S "Kelsey" (current ride)
2015 FIAT 500e "Nikki" my commuter car
ChrisZang is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2009, 08:51 PM   #17
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 207
Amp

Hey Chris,

I recommend bypassing the factory amp and use the built in amp of the headunit. I found that using the line level speaker wires from the headunit direct to the speakers was by far the best option if you don't want to spend money on an aftermarket amp. When I had the cdr220 with the stock amp (HAES 4x40 watt), the sound wasn't quite loud enough (mouse squeek when your on the highway)..when I installed the Avic D3, the output level was still horrible. Sound inhibitor imho.

Anyhow, I remembered in my previous car I had a set of polk audio speakers that was wired direct to my Pioneer and it sounded awesome. So I applied the same logic here and am much happy with this set up than using the factory amp. You just need the color codes for the wires so you can tap into it instead of cutting the amp harness up...which if I look hard I'm sure I can find it again somewhere...otherwise, if you look at the actual speakers in your car, you'll see the colors of the wires as well.

My current set up, I have the dash and rear speakers driven by the Avic D3. And the door subs, I have it hooked to a Kicker 2 Channel amp.

Other than this, replace the factory speakers with something descent and you should be pretty satisfied with the results it produces.
trieullionaire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-21-2009, 07:39 AM   #18
Registered User
 
ChrisZang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: San Carlos, CA 94070
Posts: 1,450
Hi,

thanks for the advise. I started with the rear speakers (as this was the easiest to do, I still had the matching harness lying around from a different project) and it's a huge improvement. But now I am facing the dilemma that I have two pair of speakers (dash and doors) left and only one pair of amp outputs on the AVIC ....
So my plan is to drive the dash speakers via the built in amp from the AVIC and drive the door speakers with the OEM amp plus line driver pre-amp

__________________
I still wave at Boxsters, but they no longer wave back :-(
2002 Boxster S "Violet" (sold but not forgotten)
2009 Carrera 4S "Kelsey" (current ride)
2015 FIAT 500e "Nikki" my commuter car
ChrisZang is offline   Reply With Quote
Post Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:21 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page