Question about PDLS+ headlights

[TaycanPhene]

Before I purchased my 2021 4S, I rented a 2022 base Taycan on Turo and it had optioned the premium package. I'm assuming it had the upgraded lights because I was blown away at the performance of the lights. They swiveled when I made turns and just looked really bright. I could noticeably tell the lights were better than any other lights I had ever seen on a vehicle.

When I found my CPO 2021, I was ecstatic to see that the car also had the premium package which included LED-Matrix Design Headlights incl. Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS+)


My observation after having the car for a month now is that these lights are NOT the same as the 2022 base Taycan I rented on Turo. They do not swivel when I turn and look like normal lights. Overall nothing special at all.

Am I missing something here? Is there a button that needs to be switched on? Does the dealership need to activate some features on the car? Hoping someone on the forum understands what I am talking about.

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[whitex]

There is a setting in the PCM which enables the adaptive matrix headlights functionality. We do not get the full functionality due to US regulations, but it works for turns, and works really well if you don’t have any cars in front of you (facing you or not).

 

[W1NGE]

Also, check the headlight unit to determine if matrix or not - it will have a matrix legend and the design of the headlight interior is different.

All Taycans have led headlights.

Also check that PDLS+ Iis enabled via the lighting stalk.

 

[f1eng]

When I placed my order I selected matrix lights and the sales manager at the dealer told me he thought it pointless since the car had PDLS+ as standard.
I kept the selection until they stopped being available for a while due to shortages and ended up without matrix.
The standard PDLS+ are very good but I miss the matrix ones, the Toyota version was standard on our Prius PHEV and I like them.
I'd be more disappointed to have missed them before I retired, far fewer high speed drives home from the airport in the early hours nowadays (actually none)

 

[Ross]

I will do a ‘Frank echo’

Base lights, PDLS without
Main Beam Assist is ok but very basic.

I always forget to dip lights and get flashed.

PDLS+ is much better, Main Beam Assist and more adaptivity round corners and stuff. A minimum requirement for me.
I was quite happy with PDLS+ on my 4S for 18 months and I was, and I still am, too tight to pay for upgrade to MATRIX.

Then I got MATRIX as standard on my GTS.
It is absolutely amazing. It is uncannily adaptive, almost futuristic. I have never driven a car with headlights anything like as good.
The 4S with PDLS+ was a distant second best.

The salesman who didn’t recommend Matrix I rank alongside the salesman who told my mate:
1/ the 22kw AC upgrade is essential
2/ Basic PDLS lights don’t adapt to driving on other side of the road.
3/ His car did not have Launch Control as he didn’t get Sport Chrono.

 

[Jayyvr890]

Sorry but you'll have to ignore all the posts from outside of North America lol. Thanks to your law makers, until very recently Matrix headlights are not legal in the US. As a result, PCNA disabled Matrix functionality for all cars in NA on the Taycan.

Your rental had standard LED PDLS+ which includes auto-high beam and cornering swivel. These lights are quite bright.

Your car has PDLS+ Matrix with matrix function disabled. For some reason, Porsche does not allow matrix LEDs to swivel. Some report the matrix technology can increase lighting at the corners dynamically so the lights don't need to physically swivel. Pretty awesome if true but unfortunately we can't verify this in NA as the all the matrix LEDs must function like one unit.

Yes our "upgrade" is actually a downgrade lol

The only reported benefit is that the Matrix LEDs are EVEN brighter than standard and a couple degrees more white.

 

[whitex]

Sorry but you'll have to ignore all the posts from outside of North America lol. Thanks to your law makers, until very recently Matrix headlights are not legal in the US. As a result, PCNA disabled Matrix functionality for all cars in NA on the Taycan.

Your rental had standard LED PDLS+ which includes auto-high beam and cornering swivel. These lights are quite bright.

Your car has PDLS+ Matrix with matrix function disabled. For some reason, Porsche does not allow matrix LEDs to swivel. Some report the matrix technology can increase lighting at the corners dynamically so the lights don't need to physically swivel. Pretty awesome if true but unfortunately we can't verify this in NA as the all the matrix LEDs must function like one unit.

Yes our "upgrade" is actually a downgrade lol

The only reported benefit is that the Matrix LEDs are EVEN brighter than standard and a couple degrees more white.

Actually they don't have to, nor do they operate as one in the US. You can enable dynamic high beam, and the automatic high beams expand slowly, a little bit at a time, plus they appear to hug the curves nicely, as long as there is no car in front of you (either going in same of opposite direction). This is clearly observable. Sadly, when your car detects another car ahead, it instantly lowers the beams , rather than just blank out the other car. There is some adaptation happening with low beams too, but it's not as clearly noticeable.

 

[Jayyvr890]

Actually they don't have to, nor do they operate as one in the US. You can enable dynamic high beam, and the automatic high beams expand slowly, a little bit at a time, plus they appear to hug the curves nicely, as long as there is no car in front of you (either going in same of opposite direction). This is clearly observable. Sadly, when your car detects another car ahead, it instantly lowers the beams , rather than just blank out the other car. There is some adaptation happening with low beams too, but it's not as clearly noticeable.

 

[whitex]

Maybe they operate as a single light source which virtually swivels? I'll try to remember to pull the dashcam footage next time I'm driving along in the middle of the night (probably next weekend) to show you how it works. Also note, when the car powers on, the headlights do virtually move up and down.

 

[W1NGE]

I will do a ‘Frank echo’

Base lights, PDLS without
Main Beam Assist is ok but very basic.

I always forget to dip lights and get flashed.

PDLS+ is much better, Main Beam Assist and more adaptivity round corners and stuff. A minimum requirement for me.
I was quite happy with PDLS+ on my 4S for 18 months and I was, and I still am, too tight to pay for upgrade to MATRIX.

Then I got MATRIX as standard on my GTS.
It is absolutely amazing. It is uncannily adaptive, almost futuristic. I have never driven a car with headlights anything like as good.
The 4S with PDLS+ was a distant second best.

The salesman who didn’t recommend Matrix I rank alongside the salesman who told my mate:
1/ the 22kw AC upgrade is essential
2/ Basic PDLS lights don’t adapt to driving on other side of the road.
3/ His car did not have Launch Control as he didn’t get Sport Chrono.

Agreed but suspect the matrix v2 fitted to the new Cayenne are better again - 64K pixels and even more fancy lighting arrangements (can't believe they've also gone animated :-( )

 

[Moonstone]

Also note, when the car powers on, the headlights do virtually move up and down.

Pretty much every modern headlight from halogen bulbs/xenon’s through to static LED does this. It’s part of the automatic levelling system.

 

[whitex]

Pretty much every modern headlight from halogen bulbs/xenon’s through to static LED does this. It’s part of the automatic levelling system.

I never said it was anything revolutionary, but proof that matrix LEDs in USA are not all-or-nothing (i.e. acting as one LED).

 

[Moonstone]

I never said it was anything revolutionary, but proof that matrix LEDs in USA are not all-or-nothing (i.e. acting as one LED).

But it's not proof of that at all. That's my point. Non-matrix and non-LED systems have always done this. It's not a part of the matrix technology.

 

[Raphie]

Matrix is selective dimming 256 leds, matrix HD is selective dimming 4096 leds.
all major car brands have them at premium price.

 

[annieland]

I'm still getting used to how the light system works as it's so different from anything I've ever driven before. All these years I thought my poor night vision was just age... I can finally see again! However, I'm not sure what the 2021 option list was like, but on my new '23 4S, I had to option the matrix headlights with PDLS+ separately from the Premium Package. It wasn't included. It appears NOW it is on the 2024's (with an increase in premium package price to match), but maybe double check the options from the 2021 MY to see if those lights are specifically included in the Premium Package, or were optioned by the previous owner separately.

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