HEADLIGHT ADJUSTMENT FOR EUROPEAN TRAVEL

[stevegaskin]

Hi, I have a 2015 981 GTS which I believe has the PDSL system. I'm planning a road trip in Europe later in the year, will the lights adjust automatically or do I need to reset them, and if so how is this done?

Thanks in advance

 

[tjb]

I think you need to go into the vehicle settings and under the one for the lights is a setting for changing this.

 

[stevegaskin]

Thanks for your prompt reply; I'll take a look. I see you also have a 981 GTS; apparently there's less than 360 registered in the UK. If you're interested please check out my FB page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/885408059106226

 

[elstonc]

I don’t think you need to adjust them. Before I took my 981 on the continent for the first time I enquired about this at the dealership. They said it wasn’t necessary as it had a “flat beam“. I didn’t understand that (and still don’t) but I’ve driven on the continent several times without having made any adjustments and never had other drivers show any annoyance.

 

[tjb]

Switch on the PCM and press the Car button. Press the option tab at the top then choose Set Car>Vehicle Function>Exterior Lights and you will see the options there. The ignition has to be on to access this menu.

 

[stevegaskin]

That's interesting. I'm pretty sure that Matrix lighting (fitted to later models), automatically adjusts, but not sure about the PDSL system for this model.I don't want to fall foul of Police when travelling abroad.

 

[stevegaskin]

Excellent, thanks. I'll check that out .

 

[BrianJ]

It's in the Driver's Manual, but not very clearly. Bi-Xenon lights are indeed symmetrical - they don't need adjusting (strange but true). PDLS lights are adjusted via the settings menu as above. I think you need to select "Inverse" for driving in Europe, but check the manual.

 

[stevegaskin]

Thanks

 

[stevegaskin]

Unfortunately, I can't find anything in the CAR/OPTIONS menu for changing the orientation of the headlights. These seem to be the only options for Exterior Lights in the menu system.

[/url][/img]

 

[BrianJ]

I don’t have the manual in front of me but in Porsche’s “Good to know” app (free to download) it clearly says for PDLS and PDLS+ lights there is another option under Exterior Lights for “L/R Driving”. If you don’t have that, I would assume you don’t have PDLS but have the standard Bi-Xenon, which are symmetrical and don’t need adjusting. Another giveaway is if you don’t have headlamp washers (bullet-shaped chrome or painted nozzles protruding from the bumper just in front of the headlamps) you have standard Bi-Xenon. PDLS and PDLS+ have headlamp washers.

 

[AlistairF]

Use the rh display control stalk and scroll through the menus on the rh driver display. It’s in there on 2015 Boxster S.

Alistair

 

[tjb]

Use the rh display control stalk and scroll through the menus on the rh driver display. It’s in there on 2015 Boxster S.

Alistair

As Alistair says you need to look at menu that comes up on the right hand display next to the rev counter and page through this using the stalk on the steering wheel.

 

[stevegaskin]

Hi again, I'm still not getting any joy with this. This is my headlight, it does have the washer cleaning system, but how can I tell whether it has PDLS, or if they are just Bi-Xenon? I can't find any option in the settings to change to a different mode.

Thanks

 

[BrianJ]

Bizarre. Washers so presumably PDLS. PDLS lights very noticeably swing into corners on country roads, bi-Xenon don’t. Can’t take a pic of mine at present to compare with yours, sorry.

 

[AlistairF]

Do you have a camera up by the interior mirror ? PDLS+ uses this to autodip the lights, high beam assist. There is a Porsche video online that describes the operation…might narrow down what you have.

 

[BrianJ]

A VIN decoder should reveal the specification of your car, including the options. You can get the detail from here for £5 https://www.boxa.net/topic/88448-vin-lookup-full-options-of-your-car/ but plenty of others available. Or alternatively ask your friendly local OPC if they could look up the build spec for your car and tell you which headlights you have. Some will print out or email the detail to you. Then check the version of the Driver’s Manual that you should have with your car which should be specific to the options available and software functionality for the date your car was built.

As an example, I have had two 981S’s. I have seen lots of folks talk about displaying battery voltage on the dash. My 2013 car didn’t appear to have this capability, and like your lights it wasn’t in any menu I could find. Nor was it mentioned in the manual. However, my subsequent 2016 car has this facility and it is indeed included in the manual. Good luck.

 

[ralphmusic]

Bi-Xenon PDLS was standard on the GTS and Bi-Xenon PDLS+ was an option (Porsche Model Range Book 03/2015) - Boxster & Cayman. The see round corner feature with the upper light can be seen in the image below of a car with Bi-Xenon PDLS. My car below was an S which as standard would have had non-PDLS but was optioned with Bi-Xenon PDLS

It looks like the OP car should have Bi-Xenon PDLS which features switching lights for driving on the right via the Stalk and Menu on the Right Hand dash display - as explained in the owners manual.

 

[Chrisbuc]

Hi

I have a 2014 981S and it doesn't have the L/R exterior lighting option from the stalk.

Could anyone advise if I need the stick on convirter decals? In the thread I have seen mention of symmetric light setup, which doesn't need adjustment?

Thanks

Chris

 

[mr pg]

My 2013 981 CS had the L/R adjustment option, visible in the RH screen. I was also able to display battery voltage in that screen. Surprised newer cars do not have these options.