Adjusting Cayman xenons for the UK (from the Continent)

[halfpenny43]

Hi all - I did do a quick search here but couldn't find anything relevent - has anyone actually adjusted their headlamps - either UK cars when coming to mainland Europe or in my case vice-versa ??

Is it really as simple as the handbook suggests ?

I am going to a meeting close to Leeds and gave the local Porsche Centre a call who said they could help me but it's 30 mins labour charge ?!

Cheers
Steven

[mankey]

It's all in the handbook isn't it? You take out the headlights with that tool they supply, remove the screws from the back of the headlight and flip the small tab to the other position.

[halfpenny43]

mankey said:

It's all in the handbook isn't it? You take out the headlights with that tool they supply, remove the screws from the back of the headlight and flip the small tab to the other position.

It is in the book yes - am just enquiring if its as simple as it makes it out to be.

[mankey]

It's fiddly to get the headlights out the first time, but there's really only one way that lever's going to turn.

[craigjm]

Is it a gen1 or 2? AFAIK the procedure is different. On my gen2 the dealer has done it a couple of times for me and has never charged

[JW911]

If it's anything like the 996, it's dead easy but a faff.

[williaa68]

There's a fairly detailed thread on the Porscheclubgbforum if that helps

[halfpenny43]

craigjm said:

Is it a gen1 or 2? AFAIK the procedure is different. On my gen2 the dealer has done it a couple of times for me and has never charged

Hi - its a Gen 1 car from 2006

JW911 said:

If it's anything like the 996, it's dead easy but a faff.

Cheers - I will probably give it a go when I get to Hull in the morning

williaa68 said:

There's a fairly detailed thread on the Porscheclubgbforum if that helps

Thanks - will try and take a look at that also

Regards
Steven

[Scelto]

I did this for my wife's 2010 Boxster and had problems. The lights came out ok, but the switch on one of the lights was jammed solid - I couldn't actually do the adjustment.

Then I spent about 20 minutes trying to figure out how to get the light to sit properly again.

But then I'm totally ham-fisted, so I expect it's pretty easy for "normal" people

In the end my local OPC did it for free while I waited!

[CrazyTurboBeast]

Did this a few weeks ago on my way to Belgium from Scotland (fair drive, aye )

Suggest you practise at home first, because it is fiddly as fk and although the book explains as well as it can you really need to 'do it to see it'.

You basically do as the book says removing the rubber seal and inserting the rod, turning it through 180 degrees (arrow A I think) to release the catch, then back (Arrow B) 90 degrees to push the lamp assembly forward.
Replacing the assembly is the moving the catch back 90 degrees (arrow C) but the lamp will also move it back at same time - hard to explain. Plus its easy to knock so try to remember its position and hence why practise is required.

You remove the screws behind the lamp assembly and then you have to find the small silver switch and flick between T and O (I think O is UK and T is EU or vice versa). I found locating this quite difficult but just try to follow the diagram looking out for pointers. You should easily see the T and O markers inside the assembly.

Word of warning, I was very paranoid after refitting as it was hard to convince myself that they had fitted properly. It is not a positive enough lock for my liking but I've had no run aways!

When you have it sussed it should take around 5-10 mins each side. Easy to do while you are waiting on the channel tunnel or if you have time at either end.

Saying that though there was a guy in front of me that said he never bothers and keeps them on UK side! He has a house in France and drives there all the time.

Oh forgot to mention this is on a Cayman 2007 (gen 1), can't remember what you have in OP.

[CrazyTurboBeast]

You can check it in the dark against a distant wall or similar. there is a definate height difference on each side between the T and O settings.

Try it before and after to make sure.

[Car Mad Dave]

Out of interest, can you adjust the lights on a 997 gen II in a similar way to that described here for the cayman? CMD

[SDoran]

From my experience the trickiest bit was lining up the long adjuster tool with the 'hex' bolt in the recess, which releases the headlight unit. Initially I thought one side was jammed, but it turned out that the tool had just missed the bolt. I now get down to eye level with the recess and use a torch to help line things up.

Good Luck

[mankey]

SDoran said:

....... but it turned out that the tool had just missed the bolt........

I personally think that tool is designed to screw up the mechanism to generate more cash for your OPC. It IS fiddly but you get it after the first time.

[CrazyTurboBeast]

I was wondering that as well.
Bolt seemed to be more rounded after the first attempt.

[Magic919]

T is setting for touring. O is for 'ome.

[Spyder3400]

Ditto above, practice before you travel as its fiddly. I carry around a long thin flat blade driver and using it carefully you can short cut taking off the back of the zenon light cover as it will reach the 'switch'

HTH

Edited by Spyder3400 on Wednesday 16th November 11:18

[drpep]

Sod that, i'll just carry on using beam deflectors. Can't be arsed taking apart the car to go abroad. Happens to often for the faff.

[Spyder3400]

AFAIK the beam deflectors don't really work with xenons that are height adjustable and dynamic....(but you're right its a pain to swap them over and I've not bothered on occasion), I always feel guilty when I don't!

[nsm3]

Read this thread in disbelief - for converting the xenons on the Q5, you just tap into the MMI on the dash and set it there. 5 seconds flat!