Porsche PCM – all there is to know
The Porsche PCM is Porsche’s central control unit for its infotainment system. It is standard in all Porsche vehicles. And is responsible for controlling all infotainment-related applications.
Over the last two decades, Porsche’s PCM has gone through several upgrades and multiple changes. Through this article, we will learn about Porsche PCM and all there is to know about it. Including available PCM versions, PCM problems, and possible upgrades for your Porsche’s PCM model.
This article is for
- People who want to know their PCM version
- People facing PCM related problems or want to reset their PCM
- People looking for upgrading their PCM units
- Or people who are interested in learning more about Porsche’s PCM unit.
What is Porsche PCM?
Porsche’s PCM stands for Porsche Communication Management system. It is Porsche’s in-house control unit for its infotainment system. Meaning it is responsible for the proper functioning of all infotainment-related applications in every Porsche vehicle.
Or in other words, it is your centre console through which you control your audio, communication, and navigation system in your Porsche.
There is no information on the OEM or when it was made. We do know that the first-gen PCM was fitted in the 991 models of 996 gen and Boxster models of 986 gen. However, today the PCM is a standard feature in all Porsche’s vehicles.
Standard with a 12.3-inch multi-touch display, multi-touch gestures control, and voice control. The current-gen PCM is one of the most advanced infotainment technologies today.
Porsche PCM versions
The PCM has gone through several technological advancements. With the current being the 4th gen, Porsche PCM has three more gen that is still greatly in use today.
At the same time, Porsche has also introduced their PCCM for older Porsches with DIN-1 and DIN-2 slots. Which we will discuss later in the article.
Currently, the different available versions of PCM are-
Porsche PCM 2.0/2.1
The PCM 2.0/2.1 was the standard infotainment system in the early 2000s Porsche. It had a small screen, lots of buttons, DVD-based navigation, and the classic FM/Radio. The Porsche Cayenne, Boxster, Porsche 911, Carrera and Carrera GT all came with this PCM system.
Porsche PCM 3.0
The PCM 3.0 was Porsche’s next step in PCM technology. Compared to 2.1 the 3.0 was way ahead in terms of features. It had a touch-screen, Bluetooth, iPod support, USB compatibility, Radio/FM, along with HDD based navigation system.
Porsche PCM 3.1
The PCM 3.1 was not a major upgrade to the 3.0. However, it was way faster, had more upgradable options. Also, the PCM 3.0 had some issues such as iPod battery drain, issues with multimedia, PCM hard reboots, etc. All these issues were solved by PCM 3.1 which made it people’s favorite.
The cars that came with PCM 3.0 and 3.1 are-
- Porsche 991 (2011-2016)
- Panamera (2009-2013)
- Macan (2014-2016)
- Cayenne (2007-2010)
- Cayenne (2010-2014)
- Cayenne (2014-2017)
Porsche PCM 4.0
The PCM 4.0 is the current generation of PCM. It was introduced in 2016 and became standard in 2017. It was the first PCM with built-in voice control and sim card integration for the internet. The PCM 4.0 also had Porsche Connect that enabled you to remotely control your Porsche.
Porsche introduced their next-gen PCM with their new Panamera in 2016. It now featured an advanced cockpit with a 12.3-inch FHD touch screen display. Voice controls for performing digital functions, and proximity sensors for multi-touch gestures.
Other features included Porsche Connect plus for accessing online services, Navigation with real-time traffic info. Dual 7-inch display alongside analog tachometer with multiple profiles and settings.
Now that we have learned all about the PCM version and its features. How do we know which one is which?
How do I know what PCM Porsche I have?
Different Porsche PCM have different firmware and navigation versions. Knowing this would help you find the latest available firmware and possible upgrades you can make.
You can check your Porsche PCM version in two simple steps.
Step1- First, turn on your vehicle to get your PCM to start. You don’t have to start your car.
Step 2- Now, press the Source and Info button simultaneously. This will reveal your PCM system details.
Note- Another way you can do that is by going in the Info > Option > System Version.
Porsche PCM problems
Porsche PCM random reboot
The Porsche PCM has one major issue that is still not resolved today. That is the PCM random rebooting issue. The PCM just after a few minutes of starting randomly reboots itself over and over again.
You might be listening to some music that would suddenly stop and the Porsche logo would pop up. After 10-15 minutes it would happen again and keep on repeating. This is a problem seen in both Old Porsches to Porsches that are just bought.
Causes of PCM random rebooting problem:
Several Porsche owners have claimed multiple reasons for the PCM reboot issue. As per Callas Rennsport, the issue is caused due to incompatibility of aftermarket products. The upgraded iPod interface, Bluetooth, Satellite radio interferes with the MOST causing the issue.
According to Porsche Columbus, The reset problem was also caused after Sirius FM sent out a fresh update. This caused several functional issues in PCM.
The obvious answer to immediately fix the problem is to turn off your HD radio.
To turn off your radio-
Step 1- Press the Tuner button to select FM.
Step 2- Tap on Options > HD Radio.
Step 3- Uncheck the HD Radio section to turn it off.
To solve the PCM rebooting problem, sometimes resetting the PCM may help.
How to reset Porsche PCM?
Often when facing a PCM problem, it is better to reset your PCM. Also, if your PCM keeps rebooting over and over, hard resetting would solve the problem.
To perform a hard reset on your Porsche PCM-
Step1- Start by pressing and holding the Info button for about 10 secs for it to reboot.
Step2- Now navigate to PCM Car > Option > Set PCM system > Reset PCM >Vehicle Handover > Yes > Yes.
This will hard reset your PCM and resolve the reboot problem. However, If you are not facing that issue. You can reset your PCM by following these steps::
Step1- Scrolling down the left menu bar to the settings or SET menu. Now scroll down and click on Factory Settings.
Step2- A popup will appear. Click on Reset and Delete all.
Porsche PCM upgrade
The PCM has multiple upgrade options available to it. This includes both aftermarket products and Porsche’s new system for classic Porsche’s, the PCCM.
You do have to keep in mind that hardware upgrades are limited to particular firmware versions. So, you must check the compatibility before performing upgrades. You can also upgrade an old gen PCM to a modern one. Just remember that they are factory-coded and must match with the car’s VIN to work.
That said, if you have a PCM 2.1, you can upgrade your navigation and Bluetooth head unit. Aftermarket firmware update disks are also available for PCM 2.1.
In PCM 3.0 upgrades like LCD and GPS are available with firmware and map updates. SSD can be installed instead of HDD in the PCM 3.1. Apple Carplay and Android auto can also be installed along with Digital radio.
Porsche PCCM
For people that have old classic Porsches of the 60s or the 90s. Porsche has introduced the PCCM and PCCM Plus. The Porsche Classic Communication Management system is a modern infotainment system designed for old Porsches with DIN 1 and DIN 2 slots.
Available in two versions with a 3.5-inch /7-inch color touch display, the PCCM is available for all 996 and 986 models. They can also be installed on the 911 from the F models to type 993. The main features of the PCCM are touch display with DAB+, Apple car play, Bluetooth, iPhone interface, USB, AUX, and Google integration in the PCCM Plus.
You can buy the PCCM and PCCM plus at any third-party store.
Conclusion
In this post, we talked in-depth about Porsche’s PCM. We have also discussed different PCM versions, related PCM problems, and possible solutions. Through this post, we aimed to provide all relevant information on the Porsche Communication Management system. We hope that this post was able to satisfy your curiosity and resolve your confusion.
Comment (1)
Hello and thank you for the insightful post filled with hard-to-get info.
I am having the following issue with my PCM 3.1 (version 4.76) My PCM system onboard my 2013 Porsche Boxster S is now mostly dysfunctional as the following features no longer work:
– Pressing the ‘Source’ button multiple times, I cannot change the ‘source input’… no matter what I select between AM / FM / Satellite / Disc / Jukebox / Aux / Aux Bluetooth, it always returns to what was there before (radio)
– Similarly, pressing the ‘Tuner’ button to cycle between AM / FM / Sat or Disk / Jukebox / Aux / Aux BT does not change the input
– I can pair my phone but can no longer select ‘Aux Bluetooth’, so my phone controls the music.
– I can make a phone call with the PCM still managing the call, but the other person can’t hear me, and I can’t hear them.
– No sound is heard on the speakers regardless of input function or volume.
– Trying to scan for radio stations, but only one is found, and I cannot hear it anyways as there is no volume!
The following still appears to work:
– The map and navigation functions.
– I can pair / unpair Bluetooth devices
– Most other controls to configure the sound, the map options, the phone options, the car compass, etc
All of this happened about a half and a month ago, and I think all of the above symptoms all showed up at the same time (as opposed to increasing dysfunction over time)
I have tried resetting the PCM with the ‘Factory Reset’ and ‘Vehicle Handover’ several times, and no dice. Given that all the features broke in one go, perhaps one of the components, like the hard drive, has developed issues, and it can be fixed by replacing it with an SSD?
Have you heard of such issues before? What do you recommend? (I would like to upgrade to Android auto as well)
Thank you!