{"slug": "porsche-pcm-and-audi-mmi-head-units-qnx6-a-read-only-explorer-for-porsche-pcm", "title": "Porsche PCM and Audi MMI head units (QNX6): A read-only explorer for Porsche PCM and Audi MMI head unit images, written with Claude", "summary": "Developer dspl1236 released PCM Explorer, a read-only Python tool that opens QNX6 and QNX4 filesystem images from Porsche PCM and Audi MMI Harman head units, which Windows and macOS cannot read. Claude Opus 5 appears on 32 of the project's 47 commits and Claude Opus 4.8 on 9, and the tool reads firmware IFS images, ISO update discs, persistence flash and .mmi HMI files, exports screens as SVG on an 800 by 480 display, diffs two firmware builds and verifies CRC32 on every update-disc payload. The author licenses it for research and personal use on hardware the user owns, and the standalone Windows build is unsigned with a published SHA256.", "body_md": "## Evidence at a glance\n\nBased on the linked sources. The author's reported result and independent confirmation are separate checks.\n\n- AI involvement\n- Reported models: Claude Opus 5, Claude Opus 4.8. Tools: Python, QNX6 filesystem reader. The writeup below describes the work attributed to AI.\n- Reported result\n- Works. This is the directory's source-based outcome classification.\n- Independent confirmation\n- Not reported.\n- Human work and limitations\n- The author (dspl1236) is credited as the only committer, and the README ties use to hardware the user owns. The standalone Windows build is described as unsigned, with a SHA256 provided.\n\n### Original sources\n\n## What was done\n\nPCM Explorer reads QNX6 and QNX4 filesystems from Harman head unit drives, plus firmware, update discs and the HMI files. Claude Opus 5 and 4.8 trailers appear on 41 of 47 commits.\n\nWhen a Porsche PCM or Audi MMI head unit dies and its drive is imaged, the result is a 40 GB file that Windows and macOS cannot read. These units run QNX and use the QNX6 power-safe filesystem, or QNX4 on older drives and on the navigation partition, and the README notes Linux's read-only qnx6 driver does not match the Harman variant these units use. PCM Explorer opens such images read-only.\n\nThe README then lists what else it learned to read: firmware images (IFS), update discs as ISO files, the persistence flash, and the HMI itself, which is data in .mmi files and not compiled code. It can list every string in nine languages, show screen elements with x, y, width and height on an 800 by 480 display, and export a screen as SVG. Other functions include content search in UTF-8 and UTF-16LE, a diff between two firmware builds, a stock comparison that finds what on a unit is not factory, a timeline grouped by write sessions, and a one-page HTML report. Update discs are checked by verifying CRC32 on every payload and by reporting which head units will accept them.\n\nThe author's license note limits use to research and personal use on hardware you own. Claude Opus 5 appears on 32 commits and Claude Opus 4.8 on 9.\n\n## Reproduce it\n\nRun python explorer.py with your own disk image, firmware file or update disc, for example python explorer.py disk.img for a summary. A standalone Windows exe is also offered. You must supply your own image; none are in the repository.\n\n## Community\n\nAsk a question, share what worked, or follow the next milestone.\n\n[Your library](https://reversedwithai.com/library)", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/porsche-pcm-and-audi-mmi-head-units-qnx6-a-read-only-explorer-for-porsche-pcm", "canonical_source": "https://reversedwithai.com/p/porsche-pcm-audi-mmi-image-explorer-claude", "published_at": "2026-11-10 08:57:04+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-11-10 10:23:05.534614+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-tools", "developer-tools"], "entities": ["Porsche PCM", "Audi MMI", "QNX6", "QNX4", "Harman", "Claude Opus 5", "Claude Opus 4.8", "dspl1236"], "also_reported_by": [], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/porsche-pcm-and-audi-mmi-head-units-qnx6-a-read-only-explorer-for-porsche-pcm", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/porsche-pcm-and-audi-mmi-head-units-qnx6-a-read-only-explorer-for-porsche-pcm.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/porsche-pcm-and-audi-mmi-head-units-qnx6-a-read-only-explorer-for-porsche-pcm.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/porsche-pcm-and-audi-mmi-head-units-qnx6-a-read-only-explorer-for-porsche-pcm.jsonld"}}