Becker Silverstone 7860 cd changer install

[p.smith78]

I have a 99 Boxster. I will be trying to mount a Becker 7860 cd changer as Becker stopped making the 2660 changer for this car. I have heard the 7860 does not fit easily and requires modifications to the brackets or a whole new special bracket. Apparently the 7860 is a smaller unit. Does anyone have experience with this before I make the purchase? Thanx for any help.

[Tool Pants]

I have not experience other than what I have been told from several sources.

The 7860 is a smaller unit and the mounting holes do not line up with the oem mounting bracket. Contentinal Imports told me over a year ago the have an adapter but they have not sent me a picture after 2 requests. You could use the universal bracket that comes with the 7860.

You could check with Becker and see if they have any refurbished 2660 units left, or I see used 2660/CDC-3 on ebay once in a while. You might check with stereo shops and see if they have removed one. Jeff

[p.smith78]

Thank you. I did as you suggested regarding Becker. I will see if they give me a reply.

PJ

[JonnyBGood]

You can check with ebay, and once in a while one will come up. I bought my CDC-3 from a guy on ebay. Cost me around 200 which was a good deal considering how much they run for.

The install was pretty straight forward but make sure that you get the right hardware for mounting the bracket into the holes in the front of the car.

Good luck.

[p.smith78]

Thanks...I'll keep a close watch on ebay and see what comes up. Have seen lots of the 7860 units there. I'll just have to be patient.

[Alienz]

I would suggest using http://www.car-part.com/ . I just made a quick search and came up with 3 cd changers that cost around $500. First select year, make/'model then "CD PLayer/Radio.

[p.smith78]

Great site.

Thanx

[Tool Pants]

When we had group buys for the 2660 it was about $325 from Contentinal.

[JonnyBGood]

P.Smith,

Check out this link and keep an eye on it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43948&item=2457683452

Its a CDC-3 that you're looking for.

[Alienz]

Calassic supply and demand. They are not being made anymore that's why they are expnsive (duh) lol.

[p.smith78]

Thanks JohnnyB

A quick question....are those wiring harnesses easy to come by? I see this one is missing it. A standard Porsche part maybe????

Thanks

[JonnyBGood]

Actually, you're not going to like it. It is a harness that goes from the CD to the head unit, and I was lucky that my car already had one in there. (I suspect that I had a CD changer in my car before it went from dealer to dealer and someone ripped it off)

But when I first bought the CDC-3, I was looking for the harness as well. The quotes I got were in the 140-170 range. I would check with beckerautosound.com. They apparently are the Becker dealer here in the US. Sometimes, they're hard to get in touch with, but they have decent prices for their products. (I didn't contact them as I found the wires hiding in my battery compartment relatively quickly)

Its not going to be cheap. Good luck.

JBG

[Tool Pants]

The seller of the ebay changer is a guy on Rennlist and it is already up to $250 with 5 days left.

For future reference. You can buy the cable from Becker or Porsche. The Becker one is longer than it needs to be since it is for a universal install, but we coil up the excess cable and hide it next to the battery.

[JonnyBGood]

I saw another one on ebay, but it's up to 200

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43948&item=2458315018

Like I said, I bought mine from someone on ebay. I was the 2nd highest bidder, and the 1st highest bidder bailed on him, so he sold it to me for $250 including shipping.

Tool Pants, isn't the cable like 140?

[Tool Pants]

Full suggested retail as of November for the one sold by Porsche was $104. One of our local guys bought the changer on ebay for about the same price, $250, and was all excited. Then he wanted me to put it in. My first question was did the changer come with the cable. He had to ask the seller as it had not been shipped yet. No cable. Told him the deal was not that great. Lucky another local owner had an extra cable at a good price.

People pull the changer out of the car when they get rid of the car but they do not know how to remove the cable. That is why so many of them on ebay are missing the cable.

[JonnyBGood]

And lucky me that I had the cable dangling there. What I need now is the CDR-220 instead of the CR-220 and upgrade my speaker system.

I got my new iPod loaded and the aux cable bought. I've heard that there is a problem with ground loop on the aux. I guess I'll see when I put the cable in.

[Alienz]

here is another one with zero bids!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43948&item=2458505103

[JonnyBGood]

Look closely now. There are like 5 or 6 on ebay right now closing within the next week. Good luck

[p.smith78]

I see them all for sale there. Some decent prices at this point. Only problem....no wiring harnesses and I cant get anybody from the parts companies to even tell me if they have a harness or can even get one....ie..Becker/Atlanta/Pelican/Eagleday. Our Porsche dealer out here in Vancouver has its e-mail shut down for some reason, so I cant even ask without a days travel into the city which I cant do at this time.

kind of scared to buy one even at a good price if I have to go through hell to get the parts to hook it up, if ya know what I mean.

[Tool Pants]

You will have no problem buying the harness.

The Porsche part number is 993 645 453 00. Prices that were given to me in April. $85 from Suncoast in Florida. $74.90 from Sunset in Oregon.

The Becker one is a bit longer than the one sold by Porsche. $75.90 from Continental Imports.