What do people do when going outside the UK? 987.2

[911hillclimber]

We have been abroad all over Europe many times in out 987.2 Fabulous.

Normally, i apply the black triangle headlamp stickers to my BiXenon lamps to comply with the LH to RH roads.

This has damaged the surface of the plastic lenses in the past 9removing the backing adhesive of the triangle) so I have looked at the way Porsche have 'designed' the lamps.

Scenario is we drive down to Dover. No lamp converters of course fitted. Before getting on the train apply converters in the holding lane, embark.
Driver the nuts off the car and remove when on the UK shores. No police hassle anywhere!

Removed the one headlamp today with a view to seeing how involved to convert the headlamp to the same purpose.

What a game!

The flimsy long socket head split open. What a weak design.
Removed the lamp with a 1/4" drive socket set. Tight action thought something else was going to break.

Then you have to reove 4 screws to expose the rear of the lamp then remove a bit more and flick the lever. Rebuild the lot and get it back in.

And then repeat.
Then repeat again when back on UK shores.

Who 'designed' this?
Does anyone actually do this lot just before embarking, or while waiting somewhere in the hope the socket will not break?

Or do you just not bother?

It is very unlikely we will drive at night while away, so doubt I will bother.

Rant over, but what a naff design. I can't imagine any none-techie type of driver doing all this, so why make it so difficult?

 

[malarcy]

You aren't converting the headlights - you are just internally masking off the nearside flick up - that's what dazzles oncoming traffic when on the "wrong" side of the road. So, by flicking the switch, you aren't going to suddenly dazzle uk road users.

Based on that - I do it the day before I leave - as part of the same "pre trip" walkthrough - fluids, tyre pressures etc. Last time I did it took about 5 mins per side - I didn't have any issue with the headlight removal tool - but when I did it the 1st time I made sure to lubricate the mechanisms so it was easier subsequently.

When I get home and go over the car - cleaning the insects off etc. I revert it.

Never had an issue with it and personally I much prefer it to the guessing game of stickers.

 

[JurassicGTS]

I thought Xenons were a flat beam so no need to adjust or put on sticky bits?

 

[malarcy]

Not on a 987.2 - that has the O/T lever.

There was a brilliant write up on here before the “upgrade”

 

[911hillclimber]

My handbook shows the O/T lever buried under the module and the general cover.

Why the designers did not simply make access through a rubber grommet, but I cannot see the general owner doing all this removal etc for this change over.

I guess Porsche think few Europeans go to the UK, so it is not really an issue.

 

[Robin M]

When I had them I just opened the lights up and changed them. I broke the rear plastic panel the first time I did them and learned two lessons. 1/ be gentle in Unclipping them
2/ the cheapest Porsche OPC supplied part I have ever bought was a replacement rear plastic panel at around £7.