Options Deleted - Is Retro-fit Possible?

[Richard_Hamilton]

I once activated PDLS+ on a 981 with sign recognition and PDLS. Both those options require the camera in the front screen, so maybe the problem is the supply of screens with cameras. LED headhights are available as a retrofit kit for 992, but not 982/718

 

[Southlands-Chris]

Hi

After waiting 18 months for my Boxster 4.0 GTS it went into spec lockdown at the end of July. Having finalized the spec Porsche now say they are removing the Speed Limit Indicator option and removing PDLS+ from the LED lights option (They can fit Bi-Xenon's with PDLS). Has anyone else had this experience and does anyone know if either of these options can be retro fitted?

Chris

 

[Southlands-Chris]

Thanks - that's helpful.

I've just checked on the configurator and these options have been removed from the available options for the 718 range so I guess the problem is with the supply of cameras.

Chris

 

[tjb]

How disappointing, assume the price has been changed to reflect the options they are not providing you?

 

[Southlands-Chris]

Hi

The order price has been reduced by the amount of the option changes and somewhat strangely the base cost of the car has also gone down £700 which is a small consolation!

Chris

 

[Scrounger]

I have the PDLS Bi-Xenon’s on mine and they are excellent. No need to worry if you choose to go down that route. I also have the speed limit display and it is very useful when on unknown roads.

inevitably the choice is yours but given the long lead times, I’d be tempted to accept the PDLS and the loss of SLD.

Sods law, when your car reaches it’s freeze point, the options then become available again.

Dan

 

[Southlands-Chris]

Thanks Dan

I have a 718 2.5 GTS at the moment with Bi-Xenons and PDLS so I know that works ok and not much of a downgrade. But I will miss the speed restriction indicator, as you say very useful on strange roads ad I find it useful when transiting roadworks with temporary limits or motorways with varaible limits.

I expect I will have to learn with out it as this seems a permanent change. I checked the 718 Configarator and both options have been removed. So it looks like a permanent change not just a temporary supply issue although you can still order on a 911.

Not sure what Porsche are playing at - guess they just like frustrating customers.

Chris

 

[keiththo]

I had a Cayman GTS due for October build and the salesman rang with the news re LED headlights and Speed limit indicator. He suggested it was a supply-line problem and both options would likely return in the future but it could obviously be a long wait.

I was given the option to cancel and did.

I've no experience with the different lights but don't want to pay £80k for a car with old tech. The speed limit indicator though was the deal breaker, so useful on variable speed motorways.

Keith

 

[Peter_Bull]

I didn't specify the speed limit indicator on my 992 for some reason (just missed it) - but I have found that there is a speed limit indicator on the sat nav map as standard.

I also use Waze maps via Apple Car Play which has speed limiter and also an audible speed trap warning too.

 

[Southlands-Chris]

Thanks Keith

Sorry to hear you have also suffered from the option deletion curse. However I decided not to cancel as I'm not convinced this is a temporary issue. Also my dealer said he was not confident of getting another GTS allocation until Q2 in 2023; as there will be a model update for 2023/24 (and it is rumored it could be electric) I decided to put up with the loss of a speed limit indicator.

To make sure Porsche are playing fair I looked at the German configurator and this confirms that the options have also been deleted from cars ordered in Germany. The good news from the German site is that the list price of the base Boxster GTS in Germany is 88,264 euros - at todays rate of exchange that is £74,730 which is £4,030 more than UK.

Chris

 

[DrG1970]

Hi Chris,

I posted on another thread that I had the LED PDSL+ lights on my Macan and to be honest I wasn’t impressed with them. They were nowhere near as good as the matrix lights I’ve had on the 992 / Panamera / RS3 / RS6 I’ve driven. I’m picking up my new (to me at least) Boxster 4.0 GTS next week with the standard bi-xenons, so it was great to see that both you and Scrounger reckon they are decent anyway… just as well since this will be my new daily!

 

[dan2301]

I have the same situation with my 718 GT4 build. LED headlights with PDLS+ & Speed limit indicator not available now (first world problems I know). My spec was actually frozen (October build slot but I have a PTS car so it needs to be locked early) so I thought I had escaped this issue but they have come back to the dealer saying even a locked spec cannot have these options. I was very tempted to cancel the car but after going back and forth with my dealer (who reminded me I need to look at the bigger picture down the line when it comes to being given GT3 allocations) I am going ahead with the car but with the upgraded Xenons with black surrounds & PDLS. I also have a Cayenne coupe platinum edition on order with them so the relationship with them is really positive in regards to getting some other GT cars in the future. He said he had no problem with me cancelling but that the likely hood was I wouldn't get another allocation as he thinks he may only have GT4 allocations up to March next year & even then the lights may still not be available nor could he guarantee other options would drop off. He also said I may not get another PTS slot as they have currently gone back on this being available for all builds. Another thing he reminded me of is that I am not being singled out - he said every single 718 in the world from boxster's to GT4RS's will not be able to have LED lights so its not like the vehicle will look out of place. Hope this helps anyones decisions in some way.

 

[T911UK]

Many Porsche control units are made in the Ukraine.............................or were

 

[Southlands-Chris]

Hi

Thanks for the post - it makes me feel a lot better to know that you weren't impressed with the LED's. I've got the Bi-Xenons and PDLS on my current car so I know they will be fine.

Chris

 

[Southlands-Chris]

Hi

My order was also locked for a September build when I was told the options were withdrawn. My dealer was also concerned that if I cancelled I might not get another build slot before mid 2023 and who knows what will be on offer then.

The Bi-Xenons and PDLS are not really mch of a downgrade and other posters seem to think they are better than LED's. The speed limit indicator however is a neat piece of kit.

Chris

 

[Wollemi]

Having had both the LED PDLS+ and now the Bi Xenon PDLS on my GTS4.0 I can say that the LED lights were better, brighter, whiter and with a greater spread. But the BiXenon PDLS are good enough, they are up to the job.

it should be noted the the optional PDLS Bi-Xenons are different and considerably better than the standard Bi-Xenons which are a low powered xenon light and no better than halogen. they are dim enough to be below the legal threshold required for headlight washers to be fitted.

The camera based speed limit display was useful on my first car, as it reads actual road signs. In my view the GPS display of speed limit on a sat nav is worse than useless as it’s often out of dat, and we’re you to rely on that your often be travelling well in excess of the current speed limit.

Have to rely on good old observation