Went out tonight to see how good the PDLS are on my GT4 ... It was a typical North East Spring Evening where a Sea Harr had rolled in like a Mist ... the cornering lights are fantastic but the Main Beam does not drop when on coming traffic comes toward you, which i thought it did - is this correct..? Also the standard "level" of the lights seams slightly too low therefore not showing enough of the road ahead ... What is inside the beam is very visible but outside of say 80 Metres is quite dark by comparison, again the Harr may have something to do with this ... Your thoughts guys - Andrew
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PDLS and GT4
- Thread starter CarreraGTS
- Start date
They do not auto-dip.
You may need the headlights reset. The beam's forward throw is dependent on actual unladen ride height/rake and what the car thinks it is. My car was recently lowered and rake changed and now the dipped beam extends only about 1.5 car lengths and needs resetting.
You may need the headlights reset. The beam's forward throw is dependent on actual unladen ride height/rake and what the car thinks it is. My car was recently lowered and rake changed and now the dipped beam extends only about 1.5 car lengths and needs resetting.
My car is brand - am i to assume that Porsche may set the lights incorrectly ...? How would I or indeed Porsche validate that ..?
I am not entirely sure what you last post was saying about the brand but perhaps it would be best to get your Porsche Centre to fix it. They should know what to do as do mine.
ralphmusic said:I am not entirely sure what you last post was saying about the brand but perhaps it would be best to get your Porsche Centre to fix it. They should know what to do as do mine.
Sorry Ralph - It was supposed to say "Brand New" in other words, are the lights not set at the Factory or is that part of PDI ...?
PDI v factory, I assume latter. When I got my car they were too high and blinded oncoming drivers even on dipped, after first suspension/ride height change they had to be reset again. With latest suspension/ride height change they need to be reset a third time. It is just a 30/45 minute job.
Andrew,
I have the PDLS on my Gen2 987 CS and agree that they offer a significant enhancement over the standard lights but don't recognise the symptom you describe.
As Ralph says, since it's a brand new car I'd take up the matter with your supplying dealership, asking them to check the alignment and to confirm that the self-levelling mechanism is working correctly. One would hope that these checks would be part of the PDI but unfortunatley you never know if such things have actually been done by a technician under pressure to get the job done.
Jeff
I have the PDLS on my Gen2 987 CS and agree that they offer a significant enhancement over the standard lights but don't recognise the symptom you describe.
As Ralph says, since it's a brand new car I'd take up the matter with your supplying dealership, asking them to check the alignment and to confirm that the self-levelling mechanism is working correctly. One would hope that these checks would be part of the PDI but unfortunatley you never know if such things have actually been done by a technician under pressure to get the job done.
Jeff
The OP seemed to be complaining about high beam assistant. As far as I know only PDSL+ has that feature and not the standard PDSL. Anyone know for sure? If its anything like my daily driver, which has that feature, it's not that consistent and often operates too late.
PDLS is Bi-Xenon headlights (35 watts) with the following additional functions: dynamic headlight levelling, dynamic cornering light, speed-dependent driving light control and headlight cleaning system. Headlights and headlight cleaning system cover in Black
Intrigued to know what "speed-dependent driving light control" is, I checked online and could only find this in the VW Technical Glossary:
Dynamic headlight range control ensures the best headlight setting for illumination of the road ahead. It automatically adjusts the angle of the beam to compensate for your car’s load, stopping your lights dazzling oncoming traffic. The control function automatically adjusts the headlights’ angle of inclination depending on the current vehicle load. Dynamic headlight range control compensates for the extra weight of the passengers and their luggage and corrects the headlight setting when the vehicle is pulling away, accelerating and braking. The control unit processes information it receives from tilt sensors in addition to signals from the electronic speedometer and the ABS control unit. This enables the system to determine whether the vehicle is stationary or travelling at a constant speed. Its control unit also monitors changes in the speed signals as the vehicle accelerates or brakes. The headlight range is adjusted within a fraction of a second. Depending on the vehicle’s speed. the motors in the headlights ensure optimum light distribution, regardless of whether you are driving on the motorway, a country road or in the city. Automatic headlight range control is required by law with xenon headlights. Volkswagen also fits dynamic headlight range control as standard.
As Geoff says, in Porsche-speak only PDLS+ appears to have this feature and the GT4 configurator says PDLS.
Jeff
Dynamic headlight range control ensures the best headlight setting for illumination of the road ahead. It automatically adjusts the angle of the beam to compensate for your car’s load, stopping your lights dazzling oncoming traffic. The control function automatically adjusts the headlights’ angle of inclination depending on the current vehicle load. Dynamic headlight range control compensates for the extra weight of the passengers and their luggage and corrects the headlight setting when the vehicle is pulling away, accelerating and braking. The control unit processes information it receives from tilt sensors in addition to signals from the electronic speedometer and the ABS control unit. This enables the system to determine whether the vehicle is stationary or travelling at a constant speed. Its control unit also monitors changes in the speed signals as the vehicle accelerates or brakes. The headlight range is adjusted within a fraction of a second. Depending on the vehicle’s speed. the motors in the headlights ensure optimum light distribution, regardless of whether you are driving on the motorway, a country road or in the city. Automatic headlight range control is required by law with xenon headlights. Volkswagen also fits dynamic headlight range control as standard.
As Geoff says, in Porsche-speak only PDLS+ appears to have this feature and the GT4 configurator says PDLS.
Jeff
CarreraGTS said:...but the Main Beam does not drop when on coming traffic comes toward you, which i thought it did - is this correct..?
I think we are all saying no auto dipping.
PDLS option on the GT4 is explained here
[link=http://www.porscheownersmanuals.com/2014-cayman/vid/173-259/]http://www.porscheownersm...14-cayman/vid/173-259/[/link]
Been out again tonight for a Run and have to say the PDLS lights are the worst lights i have ver known on a car ... so dangerous - they light everything perfectly to 30 yards which makes beyond that point Jet Black ... Consequently i have to drive with Main beam on all the time on Back roads .... Total waste of money! ;(
So the supplying Centre was unable to adjust them?
Andrew,
Why are you using dipped headlights on back roads? Surely there's very little traffic on them.
As I said previously, I have PDLS on my 987.2 Cayman and they're fantastic on both dipped and main beam, particularly when cornering where the beam follows the bend and it's just like driving in daylight where you've looking round the bend rather than straight on.
Just take the car back to your PC and get them to readjust the set-up.
Jeff
Why are you using dipped headlights on back roads? Surely there's very little traffic on them.
As I said previously, I have PDLS on my 987.2 Cayman and they're fantastic on both dipped and main beam, particularly when cornering where the beam follows the bend and it's just like driving in daylight where you've looking round the bend rather than straight on.
Just take the car back to your PC and get them to readjust the set-up.
Jeff
Like Jeff I drive a 987.2 S with the PDLS and while one passenger has said the lights appear high she is used to a much higher car so her lights shine down more, I've had no one flashing as the cut off is below most vehicles screens and yet on dip I can see a good distance on main beams much further, take it to the OPC and get them to set the adjustment, they may find that you have a fault.
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