Headlights - what do you do when you go abroad?

[Nick981]

I'm planning to spend some time touring Europe with my wife when I get my new Boxster. In a previous BMW I used to have, there was a lever behind the headlights that enabled me to switch the beam over easily for European driving, but according to the dealer Porsche don't offer this, not even in the massive list of ludicrously over-priced options!
What does everyone else do - fit those crap stickers on?!!!

[Magic919]

Nothing.

[Orangecurry]

Drive faster.

[jkh112]

Use main beam.

[robj4]

Nick981 said:

I'm planning to spend some time touring Europe with my wife when I get my new Boxster. In a previous BMW I used to have, there was a lever behind the headlights that enabled me to switch the beam over easily for European driving, but according to the dealer Porsche don't offer this, not even in the massive list of ludicrously over-priced options!
What does everyone else do - fit those crap stickers on?!!!

I think it depends on what spec. lights you have gone for. The manual for mine (CGTS) instructs that you can change the orientation in a menu accessible in the dash display. But I didn't order the extra for PDLS, and even though as standard the car came with Bi-Xenon and cornering lights the option to change the lights did not come up. (When I was on the chunnel having not checked beforehand).

Still, at least it managed to get on the train without scraping.

[JB8]

Nothing.

The rules are something along the lines of 'headlights must not dazzle oncoming drivers'.

There's nothing specific about fitting beam converters.

[Hoady]

robj4 said:

Nick981 said:

I'm planning to spend some time touring Europe with my wife when I get my new Boxster. In a previous BMW I used to have, there was a lever behind the headlights that enabled me to switch the beam over easily for European driving, but according to the dealer Porsche don't offer this, not even in the massive list of ludicrously over-priced options!
What does everyone else do - fit those crap stickers on?!!!

I think it depends on what spec. lights you have gone for. The manual for mine (CGTS) instructs that you can change the orientation in a menu accessible in the dash display. But I didn't order the extra for PDLS, and even though as standard the car came with Bi-Xenon and cornering lights the option to change the lights did not come up. (When I was on the chunnel having not checked beforehand).

Still, at least it managed to get on the train without scraping.

I've got a CGTS without the PDLS+ and was able to change sides from the dash menu when I went to France in October. From memory you can't do it unless the engine is on and the lights set to 'on' (rather than auto). Could be wrong about that but was definitely able to change them over electronically.

[bcr5784]

Nick981 said:

I'm planning to spend some time touring Europe with my wife when I get my new Boxster. In a previous BMW I used to have, there was a lever behind the headlights that enabled me to switch the beam over easily for European driving, but according to the dealer Porsche don't offer this, not even in the massive list of ludicrously over-priced options!
What does everyone else do - fit those crap stickers on?!!!

The book says of the 981S (Xenon headlights but no PDLS) that they dip vertically (or words to that effect) so you need do nothing. Putting sticky tape on the headlights is bad news for the life of the covers, so I wouldn't contemplate beam deflectors.

[robj4]

Hoady said:

robj4 said:

Nick981 said:

I'm planning to spend some time touring Europe with my wife when I get my new Boxster. In a previous BMW I used to have, there was a lever behind the headlights that enabled me to switch the beam over easily for European driving, but according to the dealer Porsche don't offer this, not even in the massive list of ludicrously over-priced options!
What does everyone else do - fit those crap stickers on?!!!

I think it depends on what spec. lights you have gone for. The manual for mine (CGTS) instructs that you can change the orientation in a menu accessible in the dash display. But I didn't order the extra for PDLS, and even though as standard the car came with Bi-Xenon and cornering lights the option to change the lights did not come up. (When I was on the chunnel having not checked beforehand).

Still, at least it managed to get on the train without scraping.

I've got a CGTS without the PDLS+ and was able to change sides from the dash menu when I went to France in October. From memory you can't do it unless the engine is on and the lights set to 'on' (rather than auto). Could be wrong about that but was definitely able to change them over electronically.

Thanks Hoady! I did try it with the engine off. Durghhh. Irrespective of whether you 'have to' change the lights or not personally I like to do it out of consideration for others.

[dreamcar]

Hoady said:

I've got a CGTS without the PDLS+ and was able to change sides from the dash menu when I went to France in October. From memory you can't do it unless the engine is on and the lights set to 'on' (rather than auto). Could be wrong about that but was definitely able to change them over electronically.

Correct you don't need PDLS+ to have the option to change the lights over in the on board computer. However on my BGTS the option wasn't available in the menu (even though I have PDLS+) and had to get my OPC to reprogramme the factory settings which were in error to be able to do it.

[dreamcar]

Hoady said:

I've got a CGTS without the PDLS+ and was able to change sides from the dash menu when I went to France in October. From memory you can't do it unless the engine is on and the lights set to 'on' (rather than auto). Could be wrong about that but was definitely able to change them over electronically.

Correct you don't need PDLS+ to have the option to change the lights over in the on board computer. However on my BGTS the option wasn't available in the menu (even though I have PDLS+) and had to get my OPC to reprogramme the factory settings which were in error to be able to do it.

[Hoady]

The other thing I just remembered is that the car must be stationary - if you try and do it when moving the option will be greyed out.