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I recently installed aftermarket Porsche “ghost” projector lights on my 997.1. The “Porsche” logo projection on the floor looks fantastic and elegant when you open the door. This is a fun and inexpensive “mod”. It takes about 45 minutes and is 100% reversible, because there are no wire taps or permanent modifications necessary.
I purchased the “LED Courtesy Car Door Laser Projector Logo lamp ghost Shadow Welcome Light Kit For For Porsche 997” from Amazon. The description says "not for 911", but I can confirm it fits the 997.1 perfectly. Be sure to get the product that includes the adapter with wires. The description does not specify that the wires are included, so check purchaser reviews or comments to confirm.
(2) 4 Male Wire Crimp-on Terminal Connectors, 8mm, 16-14 AWE
Tools
(1) Needle nose pliers
(2) Wire crimping tool
(3) Auto trim removal tool
(4) Mini flat-head screwdriver (the kind used for eyeglasses)
Last edited by PSPorsche; Nov 10, 2019 at 08:07 PM.
1a. Work at the front of the light. Pry the front edge of the light up with your fingernails just enough so you can wedge the trim removal tool between the light housing and the carpet. Using the tool, pop the light housing off.
1b. Disconnect the existing light from the plug, and put aside.
1c. Perform this for both doors.
Last edited by PSPorsche; Nov 10, 2019 at 08:11 PM.
2a. Use a mini screwdriver to pry up the tab securing the red wire in the black connector, included with courtesy-light. Slide the red wire and pin out of the connector. Do the same for the black wire, and then repeat this procedure for the second connector.
2b. Use the needle nose pliers to snip off the long thin part of the pin, leaving the thicker metal portion connected to the wire. Perform this step for all four wires.
2c. Slide a wire into a Crimp-on Terminal Connector. Make sure the wire is inserted up to the edge of the opening near the tab. Using the crimping tool, crimp the Terminal Connector to secure the wire in place. Check that the wire does not slide or jiggle inside the crimp. If it does, reapply the crimping tool to ensure a secure connection. Perform this step for all four wires.
2d. Insert the finished adapter into the courtesy-light. The side of the white plug with two raised arrows should face the light dome, while the flat side of the plug should face away from the light dome. Be sure to align the pins on the courtesy-light so they fit into the corresponding sockets in white connector. The alignment of these parts from the factory is very poor, so be careful not to bend the pins as you do this. Perform this step for both courtesy-lights.
Last edited by PSPorsche; Nov 10, 2019 at 08:08 PM.
3a. To attach the new courtesy-light, there is no need to modify or trim the tabs of the courtesy-light, as some online reviewers have mentioned. The lights fit perfectly in the 997, as long as you follow this procedure.
3b. When plugging in the new courtesy-lights, be sure to connect the left courtesy-light on the left door, and the right courtesy-light on the right door. To ensure correct placement, notice that the clear lens of the light dome should be towards the front of your car, and the red lens and projector dome should be towards the rear of your car.
3c. Test the courtesy-light by partially inserting the metal tabs into the existing female plug in the door. If the light does not turn on while your door is open, there may be something wrong with your unit. I noticed that the light worked regardless of which wires I connected. (Possibly, the bulbs aren't true LEDs, because polarity is important for LEDs).
3d. Push the male connector tabs of the new courtesy-light into the existing female plug in the door; you will hear a click when the metal tab is securely inserted. For consistency, I connected the red courtesy-light wire to the red/black wire of the door plug, and I connected the black courtesy-light wire to the brown wire on the the door plug. Tuck the wires and the plug into the door opening.
3e. Insert the new courtesy-light from the front (the side with the red and black wires) into the opening in the door. (Note, this is opposite to the way you had removed it in step 1).
3f. You will notice there are two rounded triangular white tabs at the back of the courtesy-light. Use your trim removal tool and push one of these tabs forward; it will flex slightly into the white housing of the courtesy-light. As you do this, firmly press the the courtesy-light dome into the door with your other hand, and the tab will catch into the opening. Then use your trim removal tool and push the other white tab forward, also. As you do this, continue pressing the the courtesy-light dome into the door with your other hand. Once the second tab catches into the opening, the courtesy-light will snap securely against the door/carpet.
(Note: The 1st picture above is of the passenger door, while using trim removal tool to push on one of the rounded triangular white tabs. The 2nd picture is of the driver's door, with the new courtesy-light securely installed.)
3g. Perform steps 3c thru 3f for the other door.
Last edited by PSPorsche; Nov 10, 2019 at 09:04 PM.
The projection of the Porsche logo onto the floor when the door is opened is bight and crisp. You can clearly read the words "Porsche" and "Stuttgart". The projection is bright enough to be visible in the early evening.
The light inside the cabin from the clear portion lens is a bit too "white" for my tastes. I preferred the more "yellow" tone of the OEM courtesy-light.
With the doors closed, and the interior lights on, you can see the warped miniaturized projection on the door sill near the seat adjustment buttons. I don't think it is anything your passengers will notice.
There is an obvious quality difference between this aftermarket lens and the original Porsche lens. The original Porsche part is made of very high quality plastic, and is smoked. The red section of the original Porsche part is very clearly defined, and looks like it is made of opaque red plastic. On the aftermarket projector courtesy-light, the red section is just painted on, inside surface of the lens. This will flake off in time.
The surface of my units were lightly scratched, because both units are packaged together, and scrape against each other during shipping. It is nothing someone else will notice, but I mention this to highlight the quality difference between this part and the original Porsche light.
Last edited by PSPorsche; Nov 10, 2019 at 08:24 PM.
Yea, they're cool, but unfortunately they only last about 6 months until all the red is almost gone and they're just black and white. After another 6 months you can barely make out the crest
Yea, they're cool, but unfortunately, they only last about 6 months until all the red is almost gone and they're just black and white. After another 6 months you can barely make out the crest
You are right, most car courtesy door lights are using plastic films, which will gradually fade and whiten when it is baked at a high temperature in the car. Install quartz glass lens door lights will be longer lifespan
