Successful Matrix headlight activation for US Taycan

[Calbears89]

What was the total cost for doing this, all up?

$800

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[prj]

For the pre-facelift it can be done for $50 by buying the VCI and downloading a free piwis image.

For facelift you need an actual PPN account to get past SFD2.

 

[KK34]

For the pre-facelift it can be done for $50 by buying the VCI and downloading a free piwis image.

For facelift you need an actual PPN account to get past SFD2.

Is there somewhere I could learn more about how to accomplish this? I have a 2020 turbo and would like to give it shot!

 

[MaxPlastix]

For the pre-facelift it can be done for $50 by buying the VCI and downloading a free piwis image.

For facelift you need an actual PPN account to get past SFD2.

Go on..

Very interested. I have a late J1.1 that seems like a fit. Putting $800 into coding a lease nah, but weekend hack, all in.

 

[prj]

The $50 is what the hardware costs. If you want to do it yourself search online how to do it, it's been posted even on this forum I believe. I'm certainly not going to do a writeup about it, since it's irrelevant to me, I am in Europe.

 

[W1NGE]

Derek, the hardware is the same US vs. EU. The matrix functionality is software based. This is directly from Porsche's J1.2 press release kit regarding this topic. As you know, the US configurator states that we do not get the matrix functionality with J1.1 lights having matrix able lights as an option, but with J1.2 both standard and HD version are matrix able, but disabled for US.

I have never been in a car to see matrix functionality in operation, so this is an example of how it works from Porsche press materials. The point of this photo is to help driver center in the construction narrow zone by projecting a light carpet equivalent to the car footprint - cool.

This is a feature of HD Matrix and the base matrix doesn't perform this feature.

I have HD on my 911 having had base matrix on my Taycans. The differences are literally night and day.

Already this is "old tech" with new animations (ice warning signs, other pedestrian related warnings projected on the road and so on) just being rolled out by Audi.

 

[mystermykee]

Having a PIWIS yourself is good to have. There are plenty of great resources out there to familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of it. I have three Pcars in the family, so having a PIWIS is worth it for me.

You can use Gemini/GhatGPT to assist you. Obviously, don't take everything it says word for word and code exactly as it says. For example, @whitex posted a great write up on how to code a U.S spec Taycan to get the rear amber blinkers to work correctly. I asked ChatGPT the same thing, but it wasn't entirely correct.

However, it is a good starting point to do further research in what you're trying to code. I've found AI very helpful in understanding what ECUs do what, their coding parameters, and how they all function together.

With a Taycan, you can explore to your heart's desire since you'll never have to worry about your 12v battery dying as you poke around. Although, I wouldn't code more than a few ECUs at a time if not hooked up to external power.

 

[RMB]

Apparently sometimes it slips through the cracks. I ordered my 2023 CT in November of 2021. When the DOT approved the adaptive beam matrix headlights on Feb 15. 2023 I added them to my order just in time. You typically have until 30 days prior to your production date to make changes. It was produced from March 23rd to March 30th 2023 and shipped to the Los Angeles Experience Center where I took delivery on June 21st 2023. I drove 1800 miles home during the long summer solstice daylight hours . When I arrived at my local NW Washington dealer I asked them to energize the Matrix headlights and they said they couldn't do that. Then I started driving at night and realized that it was enabled already. A vehicle in front of me was darkened and I have never had anyone flash their lights at me as the Matrix lights do the blanking out and curtain on and off thing even in rising hills and curves with the other driver approaching. Fortuitous and fabulous feature.

 

[whitex]

Apparently sometimes it slips through the cracks. I ordered my 2023 CT in November of 2021. When the DOT approved the adaptive beam matrix headlights on Feb 15. 2023 I added them to my order just in time. You typically have until 30 days prior to your production date to make changes. It was produced from March 23rd to March 30th 2023 and shipped to the Los Angeles Experience Center where I took delivery on June 21st 2023. I drove 1800 miles home during the long summer solstice daylight hours . When I arrived at my local NW Washington dealer I asked them to energize the Matrix headlights and they said they couldn't do that. Then I started driving at night and realized that it was enabled already. A vehicle in front of me was darkened and I have never had anyone flash their lights at me as the Matrix lights do the blanking out and curtain on and off thing even in rising hills and curves with the other driver approaching. Fortuitous and fabulous feature.

Be careful. This may get reverted during service with a Porsche campaign. There was a batch of matrix headlights that was incorrectly coded at the factory. I don't remember whether it was the complete or only partial matrix headlights enablement, but there was a workshop campaign that went out to correct "incorrectly programmed headlights controllers". Perhaps @Tooney might remember the exact campaign.

While most dealers are not out to revert your matrix function (my dealer knows I have it and they think it's cool - I did it myself shortly after I got my car 3 years ago - back in the day where all the other installers claimed you need PIWIS4 to do it, which you don't), if there is a Porsche campaign assigned to a VIN number, they will just perform the recoding without malicious intent to take your matrix away from you. If you know the campaign number, you can always decline it when servicing the car (I always ask exactly what they will be doing, and even which ECU's they will be recoding, so I know if I have to recode it back afterwards - I have other modified codings in my car beyond just matrix headlights. Some, like Euro tail lights would actually work really badly if my BCM2 got coded back to US region, since I swapped out the physical tail lights hardware for Euro version).

 

[Tooney]

Be careful. This may get reverted during service with a Porsche campaign. There was a batch of matrix headlights that was incorrectly coded at the factory. I don't remember whether it was the complete or only partial matrix headlights enablement, but there was a workshop campaign that went out to correct "incorrectly programmed headlights controllers". Perhaps @Tooney might remember the exact campaign.

WSH6-Re-Coding Control Unit for Left and Right Headlights (Workshop Campaign)
ARB4–Re-Coding Control Unit for Left and Right Headlights (Stop Delivery/Recall Campaign)

 

[Chiu]

For the pre-facelift it can be done for $50 by buying the VCI and downloading a free piwis image.

For facelift you need an actual PPN account to get past SFD2.

Besides the tools, I remember that the headlights also need to be unlocked, right?
The component protection needs to be removed as well.
Does this part also require a PPN account?

 

[whitex]

Besides the tools, I remember that the headlights also need to be unlocked, right?
The component protection needs to be removed as well.
Does this part also require a PPN account?

I did mine (J1.1 Taycan) with nothing but a PIWIS3, with Engineering Mode enabled.

 

[prj]

Besides the tools, I remember that the headlights also need to be unlocked, right?
The component protection needs to be removed as well.
Does this part also require a PPN account?

You are talking about changing headlights.

We are talking here about coding a US car that already has matrix headlights to activate the matrix function that is disabled in the US due to regulations.

Two completely different things. If you want to physically change the headlights, then you will need a PPN account, yes.

 

[Gkwan]

Interesting. I have noticed that when my high-beams kick in, they animate like opening curtains.

Exactly the same for me Derek, like an old cinema curtain opening from the center to the sides, but after that in my case it can also darken just one or more small zones (I mean without closing the whole "curtain" back), I suppose it's what the PDLS+ option means

 

[questionmillennium]

I did mine (J1.1 Taycan) with nothing but a PIWIS3, with Engineering Mode enabled.

Do you have a VM PIWIS?

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