First night drive of my 981 with PDLS

[mj2k]

Aside from some auto main beam, really did not detect much else going on. Not disappointed with visibility, but expected 'more' to happen.

Perhaps the M4 was a show pony vs the subtlety of the Porsche, but the BMW had lights dancing all over; illuminating the kerb side of the road / signs when there were cars coming towards me - you could clearly see the light pattern moving about & was impressive.

The 981 by comparison seemed to do little, just occasionally the blue main beam light illuminated.

Am I expecting too much coming from a very active BMW system? Regardless, was great to get out in it again & enjoy the car.

Thanks!

Matt

 

[Twinfan]

Yep, I think you're expecting a bit much from PDLS. It basically bends around corners a bit, although you mention high beam so have you got PDLS+?

 

[mj2k]

Full beam blue light certainly flicking on of its own accord, so guess it is the + version.

Still very low tech from what I expected. Oh well it drives much better, never mind fancy lights & idrive!

 

[Motorhead]

From internet chatter it looks as though you’re not the only one to notice the somewhat random behaviour of the main beam lamp:

https://www.planet-9.com/threads/pdls-auto-headlight-behaviour.201385/

I have the earliest version of PDLS on my 2009 987.2 CS which doesn’t have auto-dipping, etc., but I really appreciate it’s road-following capability.

Jeff

 

[ralphmusic]

Does PDLS auto dip, I thought it was only LED PDLS Plus (introduced with the 718) that had auto dip?

My old 981CS with PDLS swivelled but never dipped (or should that be hipped).

My 718 GT4 with PDLS Plus swivels and auto dips.

Ralph

 

[Twinfan]

Does PDLS auto dip, I thought it was only LED PDLS Plus (introduced with the 718) that had auto dip?

My old 981CS with PDLS swivelled but never dipped (or should that be hipped).

My 718 GT4 with PDLS Plus swivels and auto dips.

Ralph

PDLS+ was available on the 981. Like you Ralph, I had the regular PDLS on my 981 GTS but PDLS+ was an option when I ordered it.

 

[mj2k]

From internet chatter it looks as though you’re not the only one to notice the somewhat random behaviour of the main beam lamp:

https://www.planet-9.com/threads/pdls-auto-headlight-behaviour.201385/

I have the earliest version of PDLS on my 2009 987.2 CS which doesn’t have auto-dipping, etc., but I really appreciate it’s road-following capability.

Jeff

Thanks, interesting to read that - exactly what I was experiencing.

Clearly the BMW LED option was doing much more, although as my first attempt driving the M4 through lanes at night with it on. Saw the car lights coming around the corner, held off dipping manually to let the car do its work...which it did, plunging me into dipped darkness just as I entered the bend, think I prefer to decide when I lose visibility into a bend, so over-rode manually after that.

Looking forward to getting the GTS out again at night to see how it behaves with fewer cars. Still amazed how capable this car is, love driving it & just never seems to run out of talent.

 

[Gorsh]

I too have a BMW with adaptive lights and have had two Porsche’s with PDLS+, (present BGTS has PDLS). While the Porsche auto lights don’t dance around they do work very well as the beam raises and lowers almost imperceptibly keeping as high as it can without dazzling others, so there’re often much higher than dipped but lower than full beam, I was very happy with them and miss them on my present car - but its not a daily drive so rare to be out in the dark. Using the car on a normal road at night will show this better - also you will see the lights turning into bends with the steering.

 

[mj2k]

Interesting, thanks for that - need to experience it more.

BMW show pony as I mentioned lol, subtlety was too subtle for me on my first drive, clearly!