The Factory Navigation Was No Longer Usable

I replaced the navigation system in our Porsche Boxster Spyder 987. Japanese-market 987 Spyders came with an outdated Clarion unit, and by today’s standards, it was barely usable. I had no hesitation about replacing it.

My first thought was Porsche’s own PCCM. There’s a version for the 987, too, as I covered in Porsche’s New-Generation PCCM Plus Arrives. But the Spyder came standard without a stereo, and even the air conditioning and PCM were optional on this stripped-back car. A luxurious PCCM just didn’t feel like the right fit. A simple display audio system suits the Spyder better. That’s why I chose the KENWOOD DMX5523S.

Why I Chose KENWOOD Over the Pioneer SZ700 and SZ500

Pioneer was another option. I’d installed the Carrozzeria DMH-SZ700 in both my 981 Boxster GTS and the 991 Carrera 4 GTS I’ve since sold. I wrote about that setup in Replacing a Boxster’s Factory Navigation with a Display Audio System: DMH-SZ700 Review, and I was happy with it. This time, though, I wanted something different and newer.

So I looked at the DMH-SZ500, a newer model than the SZ700. It supports wireless CarPlay, but the display gave me pause. The SZ500 has a VGA resolution of 800 × 480, which felt a little underwhelming. By comparison, the DMX5523S has a WSVGA display at 1024 × 600, so KENWOOD wins on resolution. I also liked the idea of trying a KENWOOD unit for a change.

Wireless CarPlay and a Weight Under 1 kg Sealed the Deal

Two things clinched it for me: wireless Apple CarPlay and the unit’s weight. The DMX5523S weighs just 0.99 kg, which means it comes in under 1 kg. Pioneer’s unit is also light, at around 0.9 kg, so there’s little between them. A PCCM, on the other hand, would likely weigh more.

The factory Clarion unit I removed weighed around 3.4–3.5 kg, so the swap shaved roughly 2.4–2.5 kg off the car. That matters in a Spyder, where saving weight is part of the whole point. Its light weight was another reason I decided to make the change.

The DMX5523S, viewed over the steering wheel.

Fast, Smooth Performance: A Big Step Up from the SZ700

The first thing I noticed after installation was how quick and responsive it felt. The DMH-SZ700 wasn’t frustrating to use, but it wasn’t especially smooth or fast, either. The DMX5523S feels noticeably snappier, and the controls are well laid out. The SZ700’s buttons were on the left and awkward to press; on the KENWOOD, the volume and other buttons run along the bottom of the screen, making them easy to reach and responsive.

The wireless Apple CarPlay home screen

The display is bright and looks good even from an angle, with pleasing resolution and color. CarPlay responds well, and the wireless connection comes up quickly, so there’s no need to plug in a cable before setting off. With this kind of responsiveness over a wireless connection, I have no complaints.

CarPlay connected wirelessly, with a quick response

The Only Annoyance: A Warning Message at Startup

I found just one thing irritating. The unit takes a little while to start up, and every time it does, a warning appears: “For your safety, do not operate this system while driving. Always obey actual traffic regulations when driving.” It gets old.

The warning that appears at every startup. I’ve checked “Automatically remove this message after 10 seconds.”

It’s the sort of warning you often see on products from Japanese manufacturers. You don’t come across this kind of message as often on overseas models. I wish manufacturers would make things easier for users: once you’ve agreed, the warning shouldn’t appear again. At least there’s a checkbox that says, “Automatically remove this message after 10 seconds.” I’ve enabled it so the warning clears on its own.

Installed by BESPOKE, Along with a New ETC Unit and Backup Camera

I had the work done by BESPOKE in Osaka, the same shop I used for my 981 and 991. They specialize in comprehensive customization and audio for imported cars. The factory amplifier was bypassed, with the new unit’s built-in amplifier powering the speakers. The Spyder’s speakers weren’t great to begin with, though, so the sound quality didn’t change much.

I also replaced the ETC unit, since the Clarion-specific model wouldn’t work with the new head unit—just as with my 981 and 991. The backup camera was replaced, too. The 987’s factory camera sat off-center and had poor image quality, so I had a modern, compact camera installed in the middle. The old opening has been neatly sealed from the inside, and I’m very happy with the clean finish.

The new backup camera mounted in the center. The old camera opening, now sealed from the inside, is on the right.

Light, simple, and modern—that’s what I wanted. I hope this helps anyone considering a navigation upgrade for a 987 or 997-generation Porsche.