981 GTS headlight conversion for France
- Thread starter Motorhead
- Start date
Hi
I am going to France and think I will need to change the headlight beam direction but I cant work out which headlight unit I have. My car is a 2016 GTS with cornering headlights that also on start up go up and down so I thought they were PDSL, not listed in the build specification, but in the TFT menu according to the manual there is a menu to switch setting to enable the direction change, but I don't have this exterior light menu setting. It isn't clear to me if the cornering light unit is the one that you have to remove and flick the tab but seems to say they are one direction and don't ned adjusting. Any ideas are welcome because I am reluctant to remove the whole unit to see if there is a tab. Or maybe they don't need moving.
I am going to France and think I will need to change the headlight beam direction but I cant work out which headlight unit I have. My car is a 2016 GTS with cornering headlights that also on start up go up and down so I thought they were PDSL, not listed in the build specification, but in the TFT menu according to the manual there is a menu to switch setting to enable the direction change, but I don't have this exterior light menu setting. It isn't clear to me if the cornering light unit is the one that you have to remove and flick the tab but seems to say they are one direction and don't ned adjusting. Any ideas are welcome because I am reluctant to remove the whole unit to see if there is a tab. Or maybe they don't need moving.
Alistair,
I’m more than happy to stand corrected if I’m wrong but although the standard Bi-Xeon lights don’t require headlamp washers the PDLS Bi-Xenon’s are more powerful/brighter and legally require the fitment of headlamp washers. This certainly is the case on my 987.2 and I assume the same is true on the 981.
Hopefully we’re talking about the same thing here but the Bi-Xeon PDLS on my 987.2 has dynamic cornering lights which follow the road, e.g. on bends, although I believe that later Bi-Xeon versions (on the 981?) incorporate automatic and dynamic range control and speed-sensitive headlight range control, with high beam control on the latest LED version.
Jeff
I’m more than happy to stand corrected if I’m wrong but although the standard Bi-Xeon lights don’t require headlamp washers the PDLS Bi-Xenon’s are more powerful/brighter and legally require the fitment of headlamp washers. This certainly is the case on my 987.2 and I assume the same is true on the 981.
Hopefully we’re talking about the same thing here but the Bi-Xeon PDLS on my 987.2 has dynamic cornering lights which follow the road, e.g. on bends, although I believe that later Bi-Xeon versions (on the 981?) incorporate automatic and dynamic range control and speed-sensitive headlight range control, with high beam control on the latest LED version.
Jeff
AlistairF
PCGB Member
I actually have PDLS + The plus adds the dynamic high beam. No washers.
The menu to go to is Settings, lights & visibility, external lights. I’m not sure if non PDLS cars have the camera up by the internal mirror so that might be a clue. I also have speed limit display which uses the camera too.
A
The menu to go to is Settings, lights & visibility, external lights. I’m not sure if non PDLS cars have the camera up by the internal mirror so that might be a clue. I also have speed limit display which uses the camera too.
A
That’s weird Alistair, especially if they’re the high-power Bi-Xenons which should require the fitment of a headlight cleaning system. Never seen that before, and I assume that retrofitting PDSL isn’t possible on a car fitted with the standard Bi-Xenons?
If you look on the 718 configurator both PDLS options - Bi-Xenon and LED - include a headlight cleaning system and I’d be surprised if the 981’s Bi-Xenon option was any different … but hey-ho!
Jeff
If you look on the 718 configurator both PDLS options - Bi-Xenon and LED - include a headlight cleaning system and I’d be surprised if the 981’s Bi-Xenon option was any different … but hey-ho!
Jeff
Here’s the standard headlamp description from Porsche for the 981 GTS:
Lighting: Bi-Xenon headlights incl. Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS). With dynamic headlight levelling, cleaning system, dynamic cornering light and speed-sensitive driving light control. In GTS black design
Lighting: Bi-Xenon headlights incl. Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS). With dynamic headlight levelling, cleaning system, dynamic cornering light and speed-sensitive driving light control. In GTS black design
And here’s what the manual (or rather the “Good to know” app) says about switching the lights for foreign travel on 981 PDLS/PDLS+ cars. “Standard” is for UK driving for UK cars and for driving in Europe you need to set it to “Inverted”.
[h3]Converting headlights for left/right-hand traffic (adaptive light system)[/h3]On vehicles with the adaptive light system (PDLS/PDLS Plus), you can adjust the headlights for left or right-hand traffic.
Information: The headlights can only be adjusted for left or right-hand traffic when the vehicle is stationary.
Main menu “Vehicle” > “Settings” > “Light & Visibility” > “Exterior lights”Select “L/R driving” and confirm.Select the desired setting and confirm.
Available setting options:
[ul][*]“Standard” Headlight position optimised for right-hand traffic (on left-hand drive vehicles).[*]“Inverted” Headlight position optimised for left-hand traffic (on left-hand drive vehicles). Information: If the headlight position is set to “Inverted”, the message “Light left-hand / right-hand traffic converted” appears on the multi-function display each time the ignition is switched on.
[/ul]
[h3]Converting headlights for left/right-hand traffic (adaptive light system)[/h3]On vehicles with the adaptive light system (PDLS/PDLS Plus), you can adjust the headlights for left or right-hand traffic.
Information: The headlights can only be adjusted for left or right-hand traffic when the vehicle is stationary.
Main menu “Vehicle” > “Settings” > “Light & Visibility” > “Exterior lights”Select “L/R driving” and confirm.Select the desired setting and confirm.
Available setting options:
[ul][*]“Standard” Headlight position optimised for right-hand traffic (on left-hand drive vehicles).[*]“Inverted” Headlight position optimised for left-hand traffic (on left-hand drive vehicles). Information: If the headlight position is set to “Inverted”, the message “Light left-hand / right-hand traffic converted” appears on the multi-function display each time the ignition is switched on.
[/ul]
AlistairF
PCGB Member
Looks like the headlight washer fairies have been in my garage. Miraculously it looks like they have been fitted while I wasn't looking.
Or maybe I should just eat humble pie. Sorry I doubted you Jeff ! I have only had the car 4 years !
Now of course the first thing I did is to try and make them work. Manual operation makes them buzz and pop up on stalks...but no water. Maybe the clever people from Porsche won't let them work when stationary (headlights on)...so some experimentation is forthcoming.
Enjoy the sun.
Or maybe I should just eat humble pie. Sorry I doubted you Jeff ! I have only had the car 4 years !
Now of course the first thing I did is to try and make them work. Manual operation makes them buzz and pop up on stalks...but no water. Maybe the clever people from Porsche won't let them work when stationary (headlights on)...so some experimentation is forthcoming.
Enjoy the sun.
Ha,ha! Faith restored Alistair. 
I expanded the view of your avatar and I can just see the headlight washer “pimples” … didn’t think to do that before.
The headlight washers have a separate pump and system from the windscreen washers so if the pump’s working maybe there’s a blockage somewhere in the washer circuit due to lack of use? If I recall correctly the headlights need to be switched on for the washers to function … best to check your Driver’s Manual for instructions.
Jeff
I expanded the view of your avatar and I can just see the headlight washer “pimples” … didn’t think to do that before.
The headlight washers have a separate pump and system from the windscreen washers so if the pump’s working maybe there’s a blockage somewhere in the washer circuit due to lack of use? If I recall correctly the headlights need to be switched on for the washers to function … best to check your Driver’s Manual for instructions.
Jeff
The manual only says the headlights have to be on either dipped or main beam. Fo the avoidance of doubt I suggest you turn them on manually by turning the switch to the headlight position (ie not Off or Auto) with the engine running and use the headlight washer button on the underside of the stalk.Motorhead said:
AlistairF
PCGB Member
Yes. Tried that. Washer bottle is full as well. As the front has been off to replace the condensers i suspect the pipe might be trapped.
Having said that I have never noticed them working automatically probably because I have only occasionally driven in poor weather…and also unlikely to have reached the 10 windscreen washer activations.
Thanks
Having said that I have never noticed them working automatically probably because I have only occasionally driven in poor weather…and also unlikely to have reached the 10 windscreen washer activations.
Thanks
Posts made and opinions expressed are those of the individual forum members
Use of the Forum is subject to the Terms and Conditions
