I need to look into the PDLS black changes a bit more, but until then...

Is it possible to somehow mod, paint, change, etc., the normal PDLS package with the chrome housing to look like PDLS black? The dealer charges way too much for a conversion. I know a few people who have done similar mods on M5s and M3s, so I'm assuming that it's *possible.*

 

The headlight units are sealed. I have never heard of anyone cutting them open to paint them. It's a big can of worms there. The "kit" comes with the black lower lights too to match. Not cheap, but nothing is with these cars. I went for it myself and love them!

 

Hi- I am not suggesting this, but there is a process known as "baking" whereby you are able to heat the headlight assembly, to the point where you can release the plastic bubble from the rest of the housing, to be able to modify the inner parts. I have seen this done with other cars, including MB and BMW. You can google the topic, or search on YouTube.

Here's an example:

Ricers have been doing this for years....

NOTE: I am not condoning you do this, but if you do I am aware that you should likely use a dedicated "oven" for baking, NOT one that you would use for cooking meals, etc. In my own case, I simply bought a set of the PDLS in black to install replacing my non-black PDLS housings.

 

The fact that they're $2700 without labor is reason enough to keep looking! I'm in the market for a GTS, and I've found an amazing one with the perfect spec sheet, *except* that it has the normal, chrome PDLS.


Yeah, baking! I knew I remembered something like this from the old days. Not sure I'd want to do this on a P-car.


Thanks guys.

 

Don't all the GTS's come with the black version anyway?

Why not just order a GTS, that way you can get the exact build you want?

 

Stock, yes. They come with the black housing (non-PDLS).

There is a GTS that I have been looking at; options sheet literally has every single option I'd want, save the PDLS (non-black) option that was added.

Seeing that I'd keep this car for a long time (if I pull the trigger), I'd like it to be perfect. Once I see some pictures, I'll make a decision. If it's a no go, then ordering is the next plan.

 

If the car is to your liking other than the headlights, here's what I'd do. You can avoid waiting for a custom one too.

Since it's in dealer inventory, negotiate a nice discount. 5-7%

Buy the $2,700 headlight kit. After all, what's the car 130K?

Since the current lights are new, sell them on eBay. People always looking for replacements. You can recoup at least 1K from this.

So, a small price to pay to have the car right away versus ordering one. You'll most likely make up for the cost of the lights with an additional discount anyway. They probably won't discount a custom car as much as one on the lot.

 

Good suggestion; I'll think about this.

Re your second point, though... I'm noticing that most dealers are offering more off of a custom order as opposed to a car on their lot (or via a dealer trade). I have no idea why.

An LA dealer offered 4% off a lot GTS, but 6% off an order.

 

As long as you do it right, there's no reason not to do it on any make of car if that's the look you're going for.

 

Interesting. Very good for a Los Angeles discount. Push them for 6% for the in stock car. Hit them up the last day or two of this month. That way you can enjoy the car this summer of it matters to you. Ordering you'll get the 2016 though, correct? Versus a 2015 on the lot?

Don't mess with crazy tactics, just get the right ones. You'll sell those new ones eventually. Sell them separately. Did the same swap on my old Cayenne GTS, and sold the used ones pretty quick.

 

Correct; 2015s are on the lot, while an order will be a 2016.

I'm going to shop around a bit and see what I can get in terms of typical MF/Residual numbers, coupled with discounts. It'll give me a good starting point for negotiations.

And yes, I agree. I can always do the swap. For now, though, I'd rather wait a few months and custom order the car if it means I'll get *all* of the options I want.

 

Having a 2016 GTS, last year of the NA's will be sweet. Get that order in!!

 

Thanks! Believe me, I'm trying. I keep running into great deals that have a single sour element, throwing it all off.

I have yet to find a dealer that will let me order a car with a nice discount, in combination with Porsche Conquest cash from our other leases. Or, they honor Conquest, but refuse to give me even 1% off the car. Or, they can't "open" an allocation for another 5 months because GTS cars are "all sold out buddy."

Every single dealer rep plays a different game. I can't wait to find the one non-BS salesperson who will make it happen.

 

It's not a perfect solution, but you could apply a tint film to the chrome lights. I have the black lights along with clear tail lights on my GTS, and the tail lights stuck out something awful till I tinted them. Now they match the headlights. Not perfect, like I said, but much cheaper than getting new lights!

 

Thanks! I thought about this, too, but tinting them gives the lights a different look. It is another option, though.

What color GTS do you have? I have never been a fan of the clear taillights, but I saw a white GTS with the glass sunroof and clear taillights yesterday. It really, really did it for me.