Adjusting headlights for driving on the right

[Brian Halling]

The 986 headlight masks for driving on the right comprised two pieces of sticky-backed plastic, and cost a silly price from an OPC. However, they did provide a useful template for making your own.

No such part is currently available for the 987, whose headlights are so different from the 986 that the old masks are almost certainly unsuitable. My OPC referred me to Porsche GB who confirmed the absence of such a mask, siting the newness of the model as an excuse. Adjusting the lights mechanically might be a solution, but potentially expensive and impractical if you cross the Channel at night.

I might conclude "who cares anyway" if it were not for the notoriously picky police in some mainland European countries! Any suggestions - before Easter please?

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Non-litronic lights I take it?

 

[Brian Halling]

Correct - litronic lights were an extra too far for me!

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Shame. They're great (you don't want to hear that![])
Plus the early ones had a switch to flick from L to R dip. Later ones have no switch because the beam is flat and controlled enough (according to a GT3 MK2 owner who asked Porsche because there was no switch). - No use to you but useful for anyone who finds this thread when searching for the same answer...


Anyone know?
What about those who did Factory Collection? Any ideas?

 

[topturn]

I collected my car from the factory last week and the lights were set for European roads and the OPC re-set them to UK spec on my return. It took about 10 minutes & I believe there are two adjustmtents to make, 1 Height & the other L/R you gain access via the front bonnet - Although I'm leaving well alone.

I have litronic lights & they are rather good.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Topturn,

The original Boxsters Litronics were a doddle to change - don't be worried. The manual will explain all....[]



So, anyone without Litronics who knows?

 

[Brian Halling]

Porsche GB have come back to me with a solution - as detailed in the Driver's Manual [:-]

On page 207/217 (of 243, that's why I hadn't reached it!) this is all you have to do:
- lift bonnet
- unpack socket wrench from toolkit
- remove side carpeting on one side
- remove rubber plugs from unlocking opening
- unlock headlight with socket wrench
- push down and remove headlight from wing
- unscrew four screws holding headlight housing
- lift release tab while pushing down on two others to remove lid
- set lever to position T (this is the change)
- reassemble all the above in reverse order (except T)
- repeat all the above for the other headlight (except unpacking wrench)
and when you get back to the UK, repeat all the above to revert to setting O ...
I hope it's not raining!

Simple really - sorry I asked.

 

[Guest]

Or alternatively park car outside garage, turn on lights (shining on garage door), get a piece of black masking tape and move it around until it starts to cut out the "raised to show the kerb" part of the beam. You will very quickly see which part of the headlight you need to cover.

Naturally this is not as elegant as the proper solution, but it's much quicker and easier - I've used it for years on various different cars.

Mike.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Brian. Hate to say it - but that sounds like the instructions for changing Litronic lights over...

 

[Brian Halling]

Mark, these instructions apply to both Halogen and Bi-Xenon headlights. The only difference according to the manual is the precise location of the O/T lever.

I like your solution best, Mike. Not only is it simple, but also visible to Les Flic! Thanks.

 

[Buzz]

Hi all,

I recently took my new 987 to France and did exactly what is explained above to change the lights' direction over.It took about 15 mins to do both lights in the car park at Portsmouth... and even less in the snow at Le Havre on the return....with frozen fingers at night.

Def worth a go at home to see what's to be done but once done its a doddle,works well and I was'nt flashed once....no jokes svp.Mind you the AA guy who crept up to help me in the car park in Portsmouth after I was looking for a dropped screw might have added some new expletives to his vocabulary.Sacre B****cks!

A bientot,

Buzz.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

ORIGINAL: Brian Halling

Mark, these instructions apply to both Halogen and Bi-Xenon headlights. The only difference according to the manual is the precise location of the O/T lever.

Well that is great news! It used to only be the Litronics that could be adjusted.
If it is as easy as the old cars litronics are, then it really IS an easy job. Even Nic Doczi knows how to do it[]

 

[Buzz]

Guys,

Not sure if you had to remove/replace screws on your other cars.My 1996 993 just needed the lights popped out and a flick of a switch.....no screwdriver req'd.Even so its no more than a couple more mins...if you dont drop the screws.

Buzz.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Buzz, you are correct - no screws before.

I don't bother keeping the hex tool thingy in the toolkit anymore - I keep it handy in the rear console. (Mind you, it is more awkward to get to on the 986 - the toolkit is inside and behind the spare wheel, which means removing that first!)

 

[Guest]

I drive quite a lot in France and have never been stopped for lights. Years ago the French police used to have regular roadside light checks but I haven's seen one for over 20 years.

I decided to be good on my last trip and had a look at the manual as I remembered that the ltronics could be switched. I assumed it would just involve throwing a switch. The manual seemed to say that you needed to slide out the whole light unit from the front , which seemed a bit extreme to me. I took the car to the OPC in Antibes where I had taken my wifes Cayenne to get the lights adjusted. They told me it could not be done on the Boxster as they had tlod me about the KN.

I showed the service manager the manual and he got an English speaking mechanic to take a look. Lo and behold , it does involve taking out the whole litronic unit. Once its out you have to release a clip and push a switch to the desired position. It's not something I would fancy doing in the tunnel on a moving train.

My advice would be to do what I did. Take your car to the OPC and ask them to show you how to do it. A mistake could be very expensive.

I'm picking my car up tomorrow after nearly a month without it. My keys were stolen and it has taken over a week to get new keys and codes. meanwhile I had to return to London. Looking on the bright side my car is now in the South of France and I'm looking forward to some interesting (fast) top down motoring over some nice twisty roads.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

It really is not that difficult...[&o]

Here are some Instructions I knocked up years ago (it relates to pre-2005MY cars - I have not tried on the new one yet[]:

Iinstructions for changing the Litronic headlights from left to right dip (or vice-versa!)

You can use these to remove/replace the headlight units to change bulbs, just substitute swapping the bulbs for switching over the little switch!

Firstly, it IS best to look in the handbook the first time - much
easier to get yourself familiar with where everything is.

Here we go:

(From memory)

1. Open front boot
2. Get toolkit out from behind spare wheel
3. Find the little tool to take the headlights out. It is a tube
about 100mm long by, ohh, about 8mm diameter. It has a lever that
swivels at one end, and a hex socket moulded in to the other.
4. Undo the plastic screw retaining the top of the carpet on one side
of the boot (twist twist), and pull the carpet away (only a little,
in the area of the headlights).
5. Locate a little rubber plug in the inner wing - it is surrounded
by 3 rubber flaps, but sticks out from these.
6. Pull rubber plug out (twist and pull). Don't lose it!
7. Insert previously mentioned tool and fit onto the hex shaped
thingy in the wing.
8. Turn tool about 90 degrees (can't remember which way, you'll find
out it if it moves or not).
9. There will be an almighty bang! You will think "I've killed my
Boxster!", but don't worry it always does this - and is the light
housing unlatching.
10. Gently slide the housing out from the front of the car. Don't
scratch anything!
11. Part way out you will need to unlatch a wiring harness plug from
the headlight housing. (Litronics only).
12. Continue removing housing all the way out.
13. Put the housing down somewhere safe - I usually rest it indicator-
down on the boot floor (you need to get at the rear of the housing)

(Litronics only from this point to step 18)
14. Unlatch the rear of the housing, there is a little clip on one
side, and a matching latch on the other.
15. Pull rear of housing to one side (it has a harness attached if I
remember) and peek in the back.
16. It will not be obvious (it took me a few goes though this process
to remember where it was), but there is a little switch (more a metal
tab) that moves between two settings, O and T. Flick this switch with
a finger to the other setting than that it is already set to.
17. In the best Haynes Manual tradition, Assembly is the reverse of
the above...



Alright then, here's how to put it back together again...
First, fit the rear cover back on,
18. Slide the headlight housing back in to the wing, locating the
plastic guides in the runners.
19. Remember to re-attach the harness plug half way. (Litronics only)
Gently push housing home, and ensure it seats nicely with the rubber
gasket neatly seated.
20. Turn the funny little tool the other way, BANG! as the housing
latches again!
21. Remove tool and (I usually forget!) replace the rubber plug in
the hole.
22. Place carpet back, tuck under sealing rubber and then push the
retaining screw back (no need to twist this time, it pushes on.

Repeat for other side.
Replace tool kit in spare wheel and replace wheel.

I don't bother putting the tool back in the tool kit as I do this so
much - I keep it in the glove box.

This takes far less time to do than it sounds, very easy![]

 

[David Marsh]

Hi Brian,

I'm trying my hardest to find a way of adjusting the lights on my 1999 986 to dip to the right as the car is here with me in spain and will be here until November. Although we return back to the Uk a few times the car will stay in the garage when we're not here. I've tried the sticky back Heath Robinson/Blue Peter approach but would prefer to have them reset. Otherwise it looks like a set of lights.

Thanks though for your advise.

 

[peterlightbown]

take my 987 abroad every year my instruction is....

attend Halfords
purchase stickie adjusters
attach at Ferry port
Remove on return

no tools required........never been stopped in Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria or Switzerland

 

[David Marsh]

Thanks for that information Peter. I've made up some beam deflectors, Heath Robinson/Blue Peter specials out of 'Sticky Backed Plastic. I'll see how they work.
Regards and a Happy New Year.
David.

 

[Fred Hindle]

986 headlights cannot be swapped from left to right and vice versa.
I went to Europe for two months last year so invested in some right dipping ones.
I will lend them to you but there would have to be a £500 cash security on collection. You get that back on their return.
I would also ask that you make a donation to the Rosemere Cancer Charity by way of payment.
I don't have a licence so you have two journeys.
PM if interested.
I'm near Blackpool.
Cheers,