Ger's 2003 Porsche Boxster S

[geraintthomas]

Originally Posted by particlewave

Nice!

I'll get to your diagram ASAP...been a madhouse over here and my clutch died today.

Thanks again for the help with this, appreciate it very much!

That's no worries, no rush hope the clutch change goes alright!

[geraintthomas]

So I've had my DRL's, and they've actually come with a DRL box that gives three wires. White, red and black. The white attaches to the headlights, red attaches to a switched 12v, and black to a ground. When the car's turned on, the DRL's turn on, then when the headlights are on the DRL's turn off.

I do like that feature, so I'm wondering if I could just wire that red wire onto the courtesy light feed too? So if the switched 12v OR courtesy light is on, the DRL's come on, and if the headlights are on they turn off.

From the instructions, they're meant to be this:



But would this work:



Thanks for the help bud I owe you a PayPal Pint!

[TrumpyAl]

Wouldn't you have no need for the extra Earth? Only the 12v feed from the Courtesy circuit.

And wouldn't a Diode be required to stop your courtesy circuit feeding power to whatever supplies the Switched 12v? Otherwise something like your ignition would stay on until the courtesy light goes out. Which may, in turn, stop the courtesy lights going out!?!?!

[particlewave]

The parking lights have a switched positive and the courtesy lights have a switched ground, so its a bit more complex.

[geraintthomas]

Perfect, thank you

The 4 pin relay, what's that called officially? A make-and-break relay? Just so I can search for one and order one!

[geraintthomas]

One of the things I've been meaning to do is to lower and space it. Lower it with the H&R 10mm springs, and space it using hubcentric spacers - most likely 12mm front, 18mm rear (or something similar).

Using an old photo, I've done a rough photoshop of the drop and space.

Before:



After:



Love the look. Considering it's only around £250 for springs and spacers, and as I'd do the work myself, it'll be well worth it.

[particlewave]

4 pin "make or break" NO (normally open) SPST (single pole, single throw) relay.

[geraintthomas]

Originally Posted by particlewave

4 pin "make or break" NO (normally open) SPST (single pole, single throw) relay.

Spot on

[geraintthomas]

Alcantara wasn't working on the ash tray - got dirty too quickly with bits and the door kept rubbing.

Decided to spray it metallic silver instead to match the gearknob and door handles.





Turned out great - sorry for the bad photos, it's dark and raining here so will take a better photograph in the morning.

[fridsten]

Originally Posted by geraintthomas

Alcantara wasn't working on the ash tray - got dirty too quickly with bits and the door kept rubbing.

I removed my ashtray and replaced it with one of these.
GENUINE PORSCHE 986 BOXSTER CENTRE CONSOLE SHELF & MAT TO REPLACE ASHTRAY - NEW | eBay
Much better! Aat least for me, since I don't smoke.

[geraintthomas]

Originally Posted by fridsten

I removed my ashtray and replaced it with one of these.
GENUINE PORSCHE 986 BOXSTER CENTRE CONSOLE SHELF & MAT TO REPLACE ASHTRAY - NEW | eBay
Much better! Aat least for me, since I don't smoke.

Been meaning to do that nice idea bud, will add it to my list.

Just recorded a new video showing the bypass exhaust. If anyone's in doubt whether to get it or not, just give my video a watch...

[geraintthomas]

Gave it a thorough clean today, along with sealant and wax for the winter.



First proper photo with those headlights too. Ignore the condensation, that appeared after fiddling with the HID's with no back cover on. Will have to hair dryer it off!

[TrumpyAl]

It's too late now, and may not be what you were wanting to do anyway, but FWIW...

Some time ago I found the colour code for the Alumalook paint used in the Boxster S: L4W9 (sometimes just referred to as 4W9?). The pic is of the end of a pencil, painted in L4W9, compared to the factory finished shift knob.



It was surprisingly difficult to find so I thought I'd mention it.

[geraintthomas]

Appreciate it thank you

[geraintthomas]

Worked on the front DRL's today. I wired them up to the sidelights as the projectors are covering the old sidelight bulbs (as explained before), so these will be the new sidelights. The kit comes with a relay with three wires (ground, 12v, and headlight), and if you plug the extra headlight wire into the headlights, it'll turn them off when the headlights are turned on. Haven't used that for now, but I may wire it in at a later date.

I'm a bit picky with colours of lights, don't want them to clash if there's a drastic difference in kelvin temperature between the DRL's and the headlights. If it is, I'll just have them turn off when I turn the headlights on.

I was going to drill two holes in the fins or up under the bumper in the grill, but I used very small but strong cable ties instead to attach the fixture on which the DRL's attach to, so it's very secure without it permanently altering the car. The wires are fed along the bumper, and if you pop the headlight out you can see the grills, so they go up through there and into the headlight through a hole in the back of the headlight cover (already existing for HID ballasts). They then plug into the sidelight bulb socket instead of an actual bulb. The beauty of this is that I don't need to take the front bumper off to do it.

Started work on it:



And voila!



And off.



They look great****

[TrumpyAl]

[BruceH]

Looks great

[geraintthomas]

Many thanks!

[particlewave]

They look nice!
Not like some that look very tacked-on and cheap.

[geraintthomas]

Originally Posted by particlewave

They look nice!
Not like some that look very tacked-on and cheap.

Thanking you

Us guys in the UK forum went for a drive to mid-wales today (some of the best roads in the UK), and it was fantastic.

Some photos: