987.2 Cayman Build Part 2.

987.2 Cayman Build Part 2.

By:MarkMiller

I hope you enjoyed the first part of the journey in the upgrades to my 2009 Cayman. Part two will focus on technology and audio upgrades along with the window film. I hope you enjoy it.

Before Tint and Graphics

We begin this section by talking about the window film. I apply film on all my vehicles for several reasons. First and foremost, it eliminates the sun’s damaging UV rays that damage the interior of my vehicles. It also protects my skin and eyes from that same harm. 3M film was applied to all the windows, including the front windshield. Ceramic IR tint in a 70% (or virtually clear) was applied up front. It reduces glare from the sun and oncoming headlights, making it easier to see, while also reducing incoming heat by 51%, making the interior a lot cooler. On the side and rear windows, 3M’s Crystalline film was installed in a 50% darkness level. It slightly darkens the glass and I really like that look on a coupe. This film reduces glare by 30% and heat by 98%, which is pretty astounding. I can tell you that I never want to drive a vehicle without it, not that I have personally experienced the benefits.

After Tint and Graphics

Next up was upgrading the technology. Since this car is now 14 years old, it was seriously lacking compared to a new model. The good news is that our upgrades got us technology that is more ad- vanced than my 2023 718 Spyder. We began by replacing the in-dash stereo system with a new model from JVC. It gives the driver wireless CarPlay and wireless Android Auto in a touch screen design that is much more responsive than the original unit. Of course, we added a backup camera, but we also added a front view camera. In situations where you need to park facing in, you can imagine how helpful it can be. We sourced a Porsche escutcheon for the dash trim panel, so the result is a new radio that looks like a factory option. I am not a SiriusXM user, but it can be added to this model if so desired. The center console saw us repurpose that factory power port spot as a USB port. It can charge the phone as well as allow you to play music through a thumb drive.

JVC Head

Front Camera

Rear Camera

If you know me, then you know I LOVE music and my favorite place to play it is in my car. So of course, the factory Bose system needed an update. Just being 13 years old meant it was tired…lol. Helix(a German company) makes an amplified digital signal processor called the V8DSP that fits into the spot under the passenger seat where the Bose amp was located. As you can see in the picture, we kept the Bose plug intact so the original amp could be reinstalled if a future owner wanted it to be 100% original. The amplifier powers a total of six new speakers in the Cayman with vastly improved output potential. You may be wondering what I mean by a digital signal processor, great question. If you had ever been to a concert at the Baltimore Arena in decades past, you may have remembered that the sound was horrible. But in the last decade or so, concerts have the capability to sound fabulous. A big part of that is DSP technology. The sound engineers can fine tune the sound coming out of every speaker and introduce digital delay so that sound arrives at the proper time, making it sound a ton better. That technology now exists in the world of car audio. Our technician sits in my Cayman when done and takes audio measurements with a sophisticated microphone array. He then uses that info to fine tune the sound coming out of each of the new speakers. The end result is nothing short of incredible. Imagine a Burmeister system times 2 or 3. It really is that good.

Now it was time to start on the speakers themselves. The first step was to install sound damping material to the inside of the outer door skin as well as the inner door skin. The benefits are lower road noise, eliminating rattling or buzzing that could occur from the better speakers, and giving the speakers themselves better performance. After that, Blam Audio speakers (a French company) were installed in the factory spots in the doors and dash. An 8” woofer and 3” midrange went in the doors on custom composite mounts and their ¾” tweeter went in the factory spots in the corners of the dash. Each speaker is powered by a dedicated channel from the amplifier, giving us that fine control and tuning capability. Once everything was installed and tuned, we moved onto the radar and laser defense.

Another popular item I don’t ever leave home without is a custom installed radar and laser detector. In the Cayman, I chose a hybrid system. Escort’s Redline 360 was installed on a Blendmount underneath the rearview mirror along with a hardwired power cable that integrates with the Escort ZR5 laser shifting system. A total of three front shifters were installed in the front bumper with a plain view of the road ahead. They are amazing pieces of technology. When this car is shot by a laser-based radar gun or LIDAR, these shifters immediately fire back a powerful beam of light, so no speed shows up on the laser gun itself. It is technically not jamming the signal, so it is legal in 45 states, including Maryland. If you are driving with just a portable radar

detector, you have no protection from this increasingly popular technology. Larger police departments are moving towards it as they never get the wrong person’s speed, dramatically improving their odds of a conviction. These shifters get integrated with the Redline detector and the info shows up in that display. A master controller for the ZR5 system along with a master volume control for the audio were installed in a custom panel at the bottom of the dash. I mentioned earlier that the factory Bose amp could be reinstalled. The same goes for the in-dash head unit and all the original speakers.

In closing, if anyone would ever like to sit in the car and experience the audio, or talk about radar, tint, or anything else I did on the car, just ask. Please know you won’t get a sales pitch from me. I am here for the cars and the relationships. It is just a bonus that some of you choose to use our services. My email address is mark@westminsterspeed.com if you prefer to email any questions about this project.