[Hoops]

Gibbo - its actually tiptronic - i chose this as i do most of my driving in traffic on 406 or m25 car parks - i also drove 2 manuals and felt the clutch a tad heavy after a few stop/starts - i fully appreciate manuals are more desirable but im really impressed with the tip box and change and driving it in manual mode is pretty impressive etc.

[Gibbo]

Originally Posted by bmwbailey

Gibbo - its actually tiptronic - i chose this as i do most of my driving in traffic on 406 or m25 car parks - i also drove 2 manuals and felt the clutch a tad heavy after a few stop/starts - i fully appreciate manuals are more desirable but im really impressed with the tip box and change and driving it in manual mode is pretty impressive etc.

My Dad's was Tip and I really liked it also. I would have tip anyday on a 997 as it suits the car nicely. It is a fab box even in auto mode and can play cruiser or toy as required. Your car sounds a really nice spec look forward to the pics if you go for the GT3 kit. Dare I ask how much one is fitted?

[dxb335d]

does it have paddles steve?

[willhollin]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

does it have paddles steve?

I don't think it's designed for going on water mate.

[gIzzE]

Originally Posted by bmwbailey

Also, for whatever reason, if i went with Alpine ive been told that the Bose amp that is in my 997 will have to be bypassed and thus made redundant??

Hold on, this is quite important.

If the connection from the head unit to the amp is optical then you may have a lot of work on your hands.

Have you got any links to forums where people with the Bose amps have swapped the oem head unit out??

[biscuits]

GizzE, the Bose amplifier does use the MOST optical bus, along with the OEM CD Changer. The only headunit that doesn't use the MOST optical bus is the bog standard non amplified installation (that I had in the 996).

Nightmare to upgrade !

[gIzzE]

In that case adding anything other than an OEM unit will require bypassing that amp.

Does anyone make an adapter that you can plug into the harness on the amp side giving you line level in from a head unit and then using the speaker cables that were coming from the original amp??


I think I would put a PCM unit in the car, if you have bose and therefor the mostbus system in your car it will be dead easy, and it will add £2k to the cars value unlike an after market unit.

[Hoops]

Now i am completely LOST!!!! I dont remember the Pioneer guy saying the Bose amp had to be bypassed. The only person that mentioned this was the Alpine guy. Do i assume that regardless of whether i go for Pioneer or Alpine the Bose amp is redundant??? If this is the case then surely i need to factor in the cost of an additional amp, right??? I just dont recall the Pioneer option mentioning this - is this because the Pioneer uses a different set up or something?? Im confused. I have to say i am still liking the Pioneer option much more than the Alpine, mainly due to its aesthetics.

[Hoops]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

does it have paddles steve?

It doesnt have paddles matey - it has "buttons" on the steering wheel. Have to say they are no where near as nice to use or functional as paddles - and if you put the car in manual you do find yourself catching the buttons accidentally which is annoying. To be honest i rarely drive in manual and rarely use the buttons - auto mode and kick down is really very effective.

Ps; you will get to experience it tomorrow night at the Ace cafe!!!!

[E92 LeMans]

I only live ten mins from ace cafe !

[gIzzE]

Originally Posted by bmwbailey

Now i am completely LOST!!!! I dont remember the Pioneer guy saying the Bose amp had to be bypassed. The only person that mentioned this was the Alpine guy. Do i assume that regardless of whether i go for Pioneer or Alpine the Bose amp is redundant??? If this is the case then surely i need to factor in the cost of an additional amp, right??? I just dont recall the Pioneer option mentioning this - is this because the Pioneer uses a different set up or something?? Im confused. I have to say i am still liking the Pioneer option much more than the Alpine, mainly due to its aesthetics.

Your head unit is connected to an amp somewhere in the car via and optical connection, the amp then feeds your speakers.
Now there is no aftermarket head unit that will talk to your amp and send the sound optically, whether it is Pioneer, Alpine, ODR, Nakamichi or whoever. Harman/Becker make the factory kit and even using one of their units will not talk to the Porsche spec amp.

Now to put a different head unit in you will need to run new cables to the speakers, or a phono cable from the head unit to an amp and then new cables to the speakers from the new amp.

Or, someone may have designed a harness that gives you the connectors you need to bypass the amp or bypass it while also adding another amp.
Worth searching all the 997 forums for info on this.
This will make it all plug and play without having to butcher the factory harness.

One other thing to bare in mind, if the OEM speakers are say a 2ohm load you will need an amp that can drive a 2ohm load alright, using the head unit to drive the speakers will not be enough.
Also search for info on the 'Bose speaker impedance', it may well be 4ohm or 8 ohm and not too heavy a load for a head unit on its own.

[Hoops]

Originally Posted by E92 LeMans

I only live ten mins from ace cafe !

Carlos is coming to mine for around 7pm tomorrow and then we are heading up to the Ace Cafe on the A406 - you are more than welcome to meet us there for a cuppa and chat!!!

[Hoops]

Gizze - you are obviously very knowledgeable about this - i genuinely appreciate your info and advice. I know think i understand. Im fairly confident that the guy thats suggested the Pioneer must know the Porsche/Bose set up as he had apparently done quite a few and a local OPC refer any customers that want ICE info onto him. So, assuming that ANY make i choose means my Bose amp (which is in the front bonnet btw) will be made redundant - does this mean that i have to buy a new amp or will i be able to do without an amp - im guessing this will reduce the sound quality if i dont have an amp???

[Speedtrap]

Originally Posted by bmwbailey

Carlos is coming to mine for around 7pm tomorrow and then we are heading up to the Ace Cafe on the A406 - you are more than welcome to meet us there for a cuppa and chat!!!

Damn shame its not tonite I have to head out to Malta tommorow (kick off), and I just live 20 mins from the Ace Cafe in Barnet.