981 Boxster Headlight replacement advise please - Page 2 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Hi Guys and Gals, I purchased a 2012 981 'S' back in July and have been extremely pleased with it. Unfortunately one of the headlamps is suffering with the 'dreaded' delamination issue. I have argued my case with Porsche but as expected they are not in the slightest bit interested. I have resorted to trying to find a 'good' secondhand replacement. I have been looking for months and have just found one, unfortunately it has come off a 2015 Cayman and although it looks identical the part number is different to mine. I have spoken to 2 dealerships and neither could find the code which is rather strange? Do you think it would be a huge gamble, is there any real differences between a Boxster or Cayman lens? The code for my Boxster 'S' is 981.631.224.08 The code for the Cayman is 981. 631.134.14 Both vehicles are Xenon's. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Kevin.

Have you tried wet sanding the headlight lens and applying spray lacquer afterwards. Lots of kits online and videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG54xt56uZo Google: restore porsche 981 headlamp https://www.3m.co.uk/3M/en_GB/p/d/b40069623/ You have very little to lose IMHO! Good luck.

Hi Andy, Thanks for the reply. I have looked at several videos but to be honest I wouldn't be that confident! I'd rather just live with the cracking around the edge of the lens, I could end up buggering it entirely and have to fork out £1100 which I haven't got at the moment. Thanks again for taking the time to reply though. Regards, Kevin.

It's surely exactly the same headlight units on Boxster and Cayman and with the same part numbers. There are obviously different versions of the headlights - standard incandescent, xenon, PDLS etc. But they will be the same whether Boxster or Cayman. You just need to get the right spec unit for your car.

The headlamp in question is a 'Xenon' the same as mine. My only concern is if it was also a PDLS version. Mine isn't and I'm not sure how that would work out? Unfortunately the seller is selling on behalf of an uncle who no longer owns the car doh.

If your car isn't PDLS, don't buy a PDLS unit!

Fair comment, should have seen that coming haha.

wingate said: Hi Andy, Thanks for the reply. I have looked at several videos but to be honest I wouldn't be that confident! I'd rather just live with the cracking around the edge of the lens, I could end up buggering it entirely and have to fork out £1100 which I haven't got at the moment. Thanks again for taking the time to reply though. Regards, Kevin. I appreciate its a bit of a leap of faith to take sandpaper to a healight, but it's actually ok and easy to do. If it all goes downhill, just buy the headlamp unit as you were going to do. I did the restoration on a Golf GTI hedlamp a few years ago a few years ago and its literally a poiece of cake! Try it on just a little bit first.

...sorry to drop in as I don't have a 981... but are these headlamps 'plastic'? If so can you post up a photo of your headlight? I have polished out the yellowing/scratches on various different car 'plastic' headlights using a DAS polisher. As you are a Wessussexian I would be happy to have a go on your P&J. What could possibly go wrong?

There are companies that will breathe life back in to your headlights. Might be worth a try, and certainly is IMHO rather than forking out £1100...

Fnumber1user said: There are companies that will breathe life back in to your headlights. Might be worth a try, and certainly is IMHO rather than forking out £1100... Apply Arm and Hammer toothpaste with a toothbrush to the headlight, and agitate. Leave it to solidify overnight. Wash away, good a new.

Fnumber1user said: There are companies that will breathe life back in to your headlights. Might be worth a try, and certainly is IMHO rather than forking out £1100... This Absolutely no need to buy a replacement headlight just because the lense needs some fettling. Edited by ATM on Thursday 10th November 22:40

Thanks for all the comments chaps! Not sure it would be possible to polish out cracks that are 'inside' the plastic opposed to 'outside' the lens. Attached a picture of the offending headlight, please note that the cracks you can see 'are not' on the surface, the surface is smooth to the touch.

wingate said: Thanks for all the comments chaps! Not sure it would be possible to polish out cracks that are 'inside' the plastic opposed to 'outside' the lens. Attached a picture of the offending headlight, please note that the cracks you can see 'are not' on the surface, the surface is smooth to the touch. Bizarre If that is smooth to touch then I am confused. Looks like some form of failure at the join where the lense or cover attaches to the rest of the light. Lots of people remove these covers using heat to soften the bond and then applying pressure. Once removed you could try to affect a repair to the inside edge. I would just leave it as is but my OCD is a lot more palatable with stuff like this than other Porsche owners.

Correct the cracking is inside the lens itself and NOT on the outside. It is completely smooth on the surface, furthermore there is no evidence that the lens has been hit by a foreign object as the surrounding bodywork is perfect. I may just have to live with it and hope it doesn't get any worse, unfortunately my OCD may get the better of me before then. For a so called premium brand Porsche's attitude to what clearly is a manufacturing issue is appalling quite honestly. Never had this problem with my previous 987 owned for six years.

Maybe if the glue or bonding has been breached by a tiny bit of moisture then this is freezing and causing havoc to the seal itself. It could just be the sealant we see there ripping or breaking down or coming away. You could go and see a reputable OCD type car detailing outfit who might be willing to split the lens from the light and then affect a repair to it. I can't understand how it can be cracking. Why would the inside of the lens just start cracking all by itself. This makes no sense.

This issue is quite common in the states, if you google it you will find examples on various websites. A few examples of other unfortunate 981 owners below.

According to Porsche, common reasons for this occurring range from changes in temperature to using incorrect cleaning products on the lens. If truth be known they do not have a clue or more likely they DO but will not own up to the fact it is a fault with their manufacturer of the lens.

no.... that's not going to polish out. And we presume the other side lamp is perfect?

How much is the one you’ve found?

The other lamp (nearside) is better but even that one exhibits a crack in the 'exact' same place as picture 4 above!

The one I found was £350 however having spoken to someone else on eBay it is 'imperative' that you 'only' buy a replacement with the 'exact' same part number otherwise fault codes will appear on the dash after fitting. Very honest of him as the one he was selling, although looking identical the code was different.

wingate said: The one I found was £350 however having spoken to someone else on eBay it is 'imperative' that you 'only' buy a replacement with the 'exact' same part number otherwise fault codes will appear on the dash after fitting. Very honest of him as the one he was selling, although looking identical the code was different. Are the electronics in the unit are ‘removable? ’…. The plastic parts swappable? Or is there stuff in the sealed unit that would talk back to the vehicle?

I have not removed the headlight, no idea if anything is swappable or what part communicates with the car unfortunately.

I would do a 'saved search' on the unfortunately-all-devouring auction website for the part number you need, and be patient. I'd also look for a very cheap/damaged version, either side, so I could do some testing deconstruction and evaluation alongside interweb searches on rebonding etc etc. If it's been happening stateside, then Rennlist will be the place to find the answers.

Ideally we need an aftermarket solution. You can buy 996 headlights [and rear lamps] complete but with modern looking innards which are not very period and look a bit naff if you ask me but they do come with new lenses / covers.

Orangecurry said: I would do a 'saved search' on the unfortunately-all-devouring auction website for the part number you need, and be patient. Or just search for 981 breaking. That's what I did when I needed some parts. If sellers dont list all the parts separately you have to enquire if they have the headlamps available. Ouch look at the state of this one. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354291654890

The crumple zone did it's designers proud that day.

Orangecurry said: The crumple zone did it's designers proud that day. Right Screen looks fine If roof is fine then it could be a simple repair that But most people will look at it and just see a turd These mid engined cars are a lot easier to fix

I’m having the same issue as the OP on my 981 Boxster. Reading through the US forums (it seems to be a much more common issue there) replacing the entire headlight unit might be a bit drastic. It is possible to buy and replace just the headlight lens. There are threads on Rennlist with peoples experiences doing it. The lenses and materials are around £150-200. Quite an involved DIY, but it’s potentially £1000 saved!

Hi Neil, Sorry that you are experiencing the same problem as me. I too have read those forums, unfortunately I don't have the confidence to undertake such extreme measures. Keep in touch maybe between use we may find a less invasive solution to this problem. Have a good weekend.

wingate said: Hi Neil, Sorry that you are experiencing the same problem as me. I too have read those forums, unfortunately I don't have the confidence to undertake such extreme measures. Keep in touch maybe between use we may find a less invasive solution to this problem. Have a good weekend. I have found this place which provides a lens replacement service in the U.K. £250 per light though, excluding the cost of the lenses themselves. I would probably want to see an example of their work beforehand. https://www.keepyourcarsafe.co.uk/products/porsche...

Don't think I would trust them working on mine after reading the following... 'If we are carrying out this lens replacement service on a damaged headlight, the headlight will have zero value - if we cannot repair the headlight due to the damage being too excessive (for example), unable to complete the lens replacement or the headlight sustains further damage whilst within our care due to existing damage, we will not contribute to the purchase of a new or used headlight'. Would definitely wan't to see a 'before' and 'after' example from them first!

wingate said: Don't think I would trust them working on mine after reading the following... 'If we are carrying out this lens replacement service on a damaged headlight, the headlight will have zero value - if we cannot repair the headlight due to the damage being too excessive (for example), unable to complete the lens replacement or the headlight sustains further damage whilst within our care due to existing damage, we will not contribute to the purchase of a new or used headlight'. Would definitely wan't to see a 'before' and 'after' example from them first! Pretty much the same as any garage I think..

Another Porsche owner discovering how crap Porsche customer service is, join the queue. My lights are also delaminating and I did look at these as I saw on a US forum theyre not difficult to replace. Various videos on other makes on how to replace the covers. US $34.24 28%OFF | For Porsche Cayman 981 2013-2016 Headlight Len Cover Headlight Lampshade Replacement Front Light Auto Shell https://a.aliexpress.com/_mN8KEMo

22 plus taxes plus 11 shipping Cheap as chips https://a.aliexpress.com/_m0QWuXO

I've seen these covers advertised before but was never sure how they are applied? Do you simply glue them on top of the original headlamps or do you have to take the old lens off first? If they stick on then surely the additional thickness would look weird?

Description says Replace the original lampshade....

wingate said: I've seen these covers advertised before but was never sure how they are applied? Do you simply glue them on top of the original headlamps or do you have to take the old lens off first? If they stick on then surely the additional thickness would look weird? You remove the original lens. Cut it off and replace. Difficult to get right, you’d want to practice. You don’t get to practice.

Thought as much, not for me unfortunately. Thanks for the info though.