A very noticeable difference difference between the first and 2nd generation Porsche 911 type 997 is the clear LED light units used on the 2nd generation in the front and rear light clusters. There is a way to upgrade your Gen.1 to the Gen.2 look. Porsche redesigned the rear lights and upgraded to LED with the introduction of the Gen.2. Because of the change in shape the Gen.2 lights will not fit the Gen.1 997. The only way to fit these would be to replace your rear bumper with a Gen.2 version or have the body shop customize yours. If you go this route you will also need a software module to make the Gen2 lights work with the Gen1 system. The other option is to use aftermarket LED taillights. There are many suppliers of these aftermarket units but they all come from the same factory in the Far-East. Prices range between 鈧?350-500 euro.
Beware of cheap sub 鈧?200 knockoffs as they will throw error codes. Installation is very straightforward and plug-and-play, just a philips screwdriver and the ability to open the engine lid is enough. Swap plugs and connectors and you are good to go. If you bought the correct units the fitment will be factory-like. There is one issue with these lights. Google "Porsche 997 LED condensation" and you will get the picture. Yes, these lights have issues with condensation inside the light clusters. Will you get these condensation problems? Depends on many variables like climat, daily driver or garage queen etc and you may not have any problems at all. But it is a fact that these lights are more vulnerable to condensation than original Porsche units, something to keep in mind. Just like the rear you can also upgrade the front with LED Gen.2. We are just talking about the indcator/fog light units and not about the main headlights. There is a difference in shape and light pattern between Gen1 and Gen2 lights so Gen2 DRL do not fit the Gen1 bumper.
The aftermarket DRL units are offered by many suppliers. And yes, just like the taillights all units come from the same few asian factories with some cheaper versions available on the interweb as well. Prices range between 鈧?350-500 euro for good quality units. Anything cheaper and you can expect trouble. Installation is easy, a bit fiddly to get the old units out because the latch/clip that hold the lights can be hard to reach. Use a hard plastic card to unclip the units. The connectors should be plug and play. There are some video's on youtube for guidance. The way the DRL will light up when you switch on your lights is not the same for every Porsche 997. In certain countries the lights are programmed in a specific way to conform with local legislation. For instance in some countries you are not allowed to have your DRL on when the headlights are on. Also, the lights will behave differently depending on your options, Sports Chrono has an effect on the behavior of the HOME lights for instance, don't ask me why.
The Porsche dealer can change the light settings via the diagnostics software. Important note for EU drivers: The consequence of the above is that when you use your headlights in any other position than HOME the LED DRL strip will be illuminated ( left situation ). In most EU countries the LED DRL lights must either be off or dim when using driving lights ( the normal setting for nighttime driving ). To make the LED DRL strip DIM when the headlights are ON you will need to buy an extra module. Expect to pay around 鈧?300-450 euro extra if you want to have this option. Thank you for reading this article. This article is based on own research and installation of these lights on many customers' Porsche 911 997 cars. As with all my articles I do not claim to be 100% correct and welcome any comments or correction. Please contact me via email.
We鈥檇 probably settle for the look of 19-inch wheels in return for a teeny bit more tolerance over big potholes, but image-focused Evoque buyers will be gifted more comfort on the larger alloys than they鈥檝e experienced previously. The roads get quieter as we head into the wilds of Wales and Cross begins to show off the Evoque鈥檚 capability when the speeds rise. This car has Active Driveline - a similar system to that offered on the Jaguar E-Pace and Ford Focus RS, which uses a rear-mounted double-clutch to offer torque vectoring on the rear axle, helping turn-in. But with Cross at the wheel, and even on sinuous Welsh B-roads, there鈥檚 no drama; progress is rapid, but serene. And that鈥檚 the same in Dynamic mode, which delivers added punch in throttle responses, pushing more torque towards the rear and tightening up body control. But it never comes close to making Cross look like he鈥檚 hustling along a hot hatch. Would it be fair, we ask, to say an E-Pace would be dancing around a bit more along the same route? 鈥淧robably a little,鈥?Cross replies. It鈥檚 genuinely hard to feel the mild-hybrid tech doing its work from the passenger seat, and Cross says it鈥檚 not much more evident from behind the wheel. Even so, this is far from the cleanest new Evoque. You鈥檒l need a diesel example (鈥淭ry the mid-spec one; it鈥檚 plenty quick enough,鈥?Cross suggests) if you want to dip under 150g/km of CO2 emissions. Market forces and possibly legislation will determine if Land Rover鈥檚 engineers have succeeded in making the Evoque more environmentally acceptable, while retaining off-road capability that is authentic, even if it鈥檚 rarely used. But on the basis of this short exposure to the Mk2 Evoque, this already feels like a car that delivers where it counts.