Bought my car today!!

[geraintthomas]

Originally Posted by PaulE

2003 and 2004 Boxsters have the M.O.S.T. (is the least) fiber optic bus for the stereo. I don't know what that means, I just know my 2003 has it and I believe there is more re-wiring to replace the head unit. It has been done though. Crutchfield stereo may have some good info on their website.

Basically, you've got a M.O.S.T. system (fibre optic setup) rather than a conventional setup, which doesn't allow retrofitting of normal stereos as the wiring is completely different. Normal wiring adapters won't work either due to the wiring being fibre optic.

You've got a few choices:

All new setup:
One of them is to rip out the amp, speakers and head unit, and replace them all with aftermarket kit. New speakers, connected to a new amp, connected to a new headunit. It's basically a full overhaul but it'll be completely doable. Speakers have come on since the Bose system in the Boxster. This would require quite a bit of work.


Adapter (very expensive)
I've heard that here is a company called NavTV that makes an adapter for the Bose setup so that you can plug in your new headunit and it'll be plug and play with your existing amp and speakers, but it's something silly like $700. It sucks, but it's a unique piece of kit that was developed to work between fibre optic and copper wires, so it's not your average wire adapter - it's quite a complicated bit of kit, but it does allow you to plug in your old connections and plug in your new head unit, albeit for a huge price. This is the easier option.


AUX Input
If you have anything other than the CDR23 unit, just plug an AUX adapter into the back of it for very cheap from Ebay. It plugs into the CD changer port in the back of the radio so at least you can play your own music. If I had the Bose system, that would be my choice as I wouldn't spend $700 on an adapter, and I sure as hell wouldn't spend days ripping out an original Bose system. Yes speakers have improved since, but it's a good selling point to the car in the future and a real nice originality part. This is the easiest and cheapest option, but you wouldn't get a touch screen.

Sorry to put a downer on it, but there's your options

[boxxster]

I have the bose system and I just bought a $10 fm transmitter from amazon. The sound quality is as good as the radio. I'm not a huge audiophile so all I really cared about was being able to listen to music on my phone. Plus it just plugs into the cigarette lighter. No need to fuss with anything.

[barkinfool]

Originally Posted by boxxster

I have the bose system and I just bought a $10 fm transmitter from amazon. The sound quality is as good as the radio. I'm not a huge audiophile so all I really cared about was being able to listen to music on my phone. Plus it just plugs into the cigarette lighter. No need to fuss with anything.

Contrarian view, I have tried the FM transmitter route with a name brand and the sound was awful, so proceed with caution if you decide to go this route. I have a direct connection lead into the auxiliary plug and that works well imo. Mine is a '02, so perhaps that is a difference, but I am doubtful on that....

[boxxster]

Originally Posted by barkinfool

Contrarian view, I have tried the FM transmitter route with a name brand and the sound was awful, so proceed with caution if you decide to go this route. I have a direct connection lead into the auxiliary plug and that works well imo. Mine is a '02, so perhaps that is a difference, but I am doubtful on that....

Agreed, from what I've read the transmitters can be pretty hit or miss. I figured it was worth the $10 risk though. It turned out to be no better or worse than the radio in my case but I might have gotten lucky. I would have went the aux route but it is a bit more complex with the CDR23 from what I can recall when I looked into it.