It took a little longer than planned, but I got there in the end - OEM puddle lights now wired in and working on my 2015 Boxster GTS. 😀 [EDITED] A few folk have quite reasonably asked about the wiring ‘diagram’. The answer is that I followed the instructions that came with the wiring harness. Alternatively, an experienced auto electrician can likely help you. I appreciate that an incomplete ‘How To’ guide isn’t a great look - though I believe it’s only fair to respect the efforts that suppliers have taken to figure this stuff out. Thanks for your understanding. 🙏 You can find extra links and details in the description.
Progressively more complex stuff going on and adding ownership value to the car - Great stuff. 👌 I just avoid doing anything that involves trim removal as I'm too clumsy to do that properly; bound to end up with something on the piss.
Thank you. Trim stuff makes me itch too. Always a risk of breaking or snapping something (ask me how I know...) But it's also how to make progress - albeit that's easier on an older, less complicated car.
Hi Christian, thanks for replying to my post in your other video. Watched the video as soon as I got home… For some reason my 2015 981 has the footwell lights but not the puddle lights. I will order all the parts and follow your as usual excellent guidance.
@@renesteenhart796 Hey Rene. Delighted that you’re going ahead with the install - and how curious that you already have the footwell lights. Perhaps that’s a local market variation? If you have any questions by all means reach me on the channel email - details in ‘About’ on the home page. Good luck!
There are at least two purveyors of rechargeable battery-powered puddle lights that snap into the door card and don't require any wiring or rewiring to make them illuminate when the door is opened. They are said to last several months before the internal battery needs to be recharged with the charging connecting wire that's included with the lights. They also different styles of the light pattern.
I think my desire to hack the original loom/controllers kicked in. But yes, a quicker way to achieve the same would be aftermarket battery-based lights, it’s true.
Hello and thank you for another terrific video. I'm guessing you got your wiring harnesses from Robin at rocketwires? I purchased his harness is also, but went for the full LED version that adds the light design LEDs behind the door pulls and in the storage pockets. The pieces were very easy to install and add a nice luxury accent to the interior
Hello Derek. Rocketwires - yes indeed! I somehow managed to overlook the extended LED kit, and kinda regret not installing it. Glad to hear it's as good as I thought it would be. (I may yet do it all over again, but enough's enough for now!). Appreciate the comment. 🙏
@@christianpratt also, if you're interested, I found that the light design package overhead console is also a plug-and-play for these cars. The unit from a 718, or a 991 with light design will work for these cars. For a Boxster just get the 718 Boxster or 991 Cabrio unit. For a Cayman, the 991 coupe unit. I found a unit on eBay for about 90 USD. Plugged it in and just head to tick one box for overhead light package in coding, and everything works terrifically. It gives you accent LEDs on either side of the console, along with a master interior light shut off switch which the non-light design cars don't have.
Great Video, Thumps up. I have no paddle light but ordered aftermarket ones with logo. Can you Tell me where the red and Brown cable are sticked in the socket?
Hi Marcel. Glad you enjoyed it - thanks for the Like. Best to follow the instructions that come with the harness - see my pinned comment / the description for more details. Thank you.
Hi Christian, thanks for the video. Now that I have all the components, I noticed the cable plug you have has 3 wires. So when you run the cables from the blue switch shown, where do you plug the cables inside the blue switch and what happens to the 3rd wire. You mention the brown and red cable required, what size cable do you need and how long do you need. Also, what the black outer strapping did you use to strap the cables? Did you use any particular cable connectors.
Hello Dennis Thanks for commenting, as always. Appreciated. This is a tricky one for me, since the short answer to your questions is ‘I bought the after market wiring loom which came with instructions’, and I feel it only fair to defer to Rocket Wires on the specifics. More significantly, if you freeze the video at around the 4 minute 15 seconds mark you’ll see the VW group-specific connectors on each end of the loom - the male socket for the light itself and the other three cable ends that are specific to the wiring block. Rocket Wires checked with me as to which OEM parts I’d bought before making up the looms, to be certain it all matched. Overall, the reason I bought the looms rather than made them up myself is because Rocket Wires have done all of the hard work in figuring out what goes where, and then making up the looms accordingly. As to length - I can’t be sure. Possibly around 50cm? Better to leave it longer, since it’s easy enough to tuck away the excess within the back of the door card. I used some insulating tape to cover the connecting pins of the two brown wires; heat shrink would be equally suitable. I’m sorry that’s not more helpful. Perhaps drop the team at Rocket Wires a message and see what details they’re able to share?
Hi Chris. This is off subject - Im not sure if youll be able to help - i have a 991.2 and want to remove the cup holders. This is a different fixing to that of the 991.1. Ive looked everywhere on the webb but no information so far. Hoping youll be able to direct.
Hi there. Thanks for the comment/question. I don't know from experience how this works, but a quick bit of web research throws up plenty of 991.1 guides - which you already know. Then it occured to me that perhaps the 991.2 is the same as the 718.982 - so perhaps this is thread/guide will work for you? www.718forum.com/threads/retrofitting-aluminium-dash-strip-set-with-cup-holder.21281/
@@Trophy_R Glad you enjoyed it. There seem to be quite a lot of variation across cars in what lights up and what doesn’t! My car definitely doesn’t have the lighting package (as you’ve seen) which meant the puddle lights were definitely reflectors. Checking the (UK market 2015 edition) brochure, it says: “The optional light design package comprises dimmable LEDs in the overhead console, in the area of the door handles, in the door storage compartments and in the footwells. LED illumination of the luggage compartments and in the vanity mirrors of the sun visors is also included with the light design package.” In fairness, no mention of puddle lights! Do you definitely have the lights (clear lens underneath?) rather than the reflector? If you do then perhaps the original filament bulbs have failed? Fascinated to know… 🤔😀
Hi Wayne. The loom I used was from Rocketwires - an aftermarket supplier, so there’s no OEM part number for it. But it’s easy enough to find on their website.
@@liangzhang8706 If you’re replacing the reflector with a battery-powered (self-contained) light then you’re right - there’s no need to remove the panel. But to hard wire a light requires adding the new wiring, and access to the plug. Which is best done with the panel/card removed.
@@viperx220racing3 No, it doesn’t. (Nor do they fold automatically.) There seems to be a whole variety of lighting combinations on our cars - I’m now not sure it’s as simple as Standard or Lighting Package. Lots of inter-market variations it seems…
@ Ah ok, mine has lighted & folding mirrors and I’m hoping they are linked to the puddle lights below the door. Porsche really are crazy how they sell their cars. Mine is a base Boxster but started out life as a demonstrator. So it’s got many of the quality of life items speced. Just waiting on the puddle lights cables to arrive to see, 🤔
@@viperx220racing3 You might indeed get lucky and find that the puddle lights will power up without any additional PIWIS coding. Hope it all goes smoothly, whichever which way!
It took a little longer than planned, but I got there in the end - OEM puddle lights now wired in and working on my 2015 Boxster GTS. 😀
[EDITED] A few folk have quite reasonably asked about the wiring ‘diagram’. The answer is that I followed the instructions that came with the wiring harness. Alternatively, an experienced auto electrician can likely help you. I appreciate that an incomplete ‘How To’ guide isn’t a great look - though I believe it’s only fair to respect the efforts that suppliers have taken to figure this stuff out. Thanks for your understanding. 🙏
You can find extra links and details in the description.
Progressively more complex stuff going on and adding ownership value to the car - Great stuff. 👌 I just avoid doing anything that involves trim removal as I'm too clumsy to do that properly; bound to end up with something on the piss.
Thank you.
Trim stuff makes me itch too. Always a risk of breaking or snapping something (ask me how I know...) But it's also how to make progress - albeit that's easier on an older, less complicated car.
Nice job. 👍👌 Changed my puddle lights to Porsche-logo + Porsche-text lights....even way more cool and elegant. 🤩🙃
@@JoakimPorscheCaymanS Thank you.
Yeah - I may yet upgrade to the logo lights! 😀
Hi Christian, thanks for replying to my post in your other video. Watched the video as soon as I got home… For some reason my 2015 981 has the footwell lights but not the puddle lights. I will order all the parts and follow your as usual excellent guidance.
@@renesteenhart796 Hey Rene.
Delighted that you’re going ahead with the install - and how curious that you already have the footwell lights. Perhaps that’s a local market variation?
If you have any questions by all means reach me on the channel email - details in ‘About’ on the home page.
Good luck!
There are at least two purveyors of rechargeable battery-powered puddle lights that snap into the door card and don't require any wiring or rewiring to make them illuminate when the door is opened. They are said to last several months before the internal battery needs to be recharged with the charging connecting wire that's included with the lights. They also different styles of the light pattern.
I think my desire to hack the original loom/controllers kicked in. But yes, a quicker way to achieve the same would be aftermarket battery-based lights, it’s true.
Great details as always.
@@justinmc722 Many thanks Justin.
Slowly slowly the car is being improved! 👍
Hello and thank you for another terrific video. I'm guessing you got your wiring harnesses from Robin at rocketwires? I purchased his harness is also, but went for the full LED version that adds the light design LEDs behind the door pulls and in the storage pockets. The pieces were very easy to install and add a nice luxury accent to the interior
Hello Derek. Rocketwires - yes indeed! I somehow managed to overlook the extended LED kit, and kinda regret not installing it. Glad to hear it's as good as I thought it would be. (I may yet do it all over again, but enough's enough for now!). Appreciate the comment. 🙏
@@christianpratt also, if you're interested, I found that the light design package overhead console is also a plug-and-play for these cars. The unit from a 718, or a 991 with light design will work for these cars. For a Boxster just get the 718 Boxster or 991 Cabrio unit. For a Cayman, the 991 coupe unit. I found a unit on eBay for about 90 USD. Plugged it in and just head to tick one box for overhead light package in coding, and everything works terrifically. It gives you accent LEDs on either side of the console, along with a master interior light shut off switch which the non-light design cars don't have.
Great Video, Thumps up. I have no paddle light but ordered aftermarket ones with logo. Can you Tell me where the red and Brown cable are sticked in the socket?
Hi Marcel. Glad you enjoyed it - thanks for the Like. Best to follow the instructions that come with the harness - see my pinned comment / the description for more details. Thank you.
Hi Christian, thanks for the video. Now that I have all the components, I noticed the cable plug you have has 3 wires. So when you run the cables from the blue switch shown, where do you plug the cables inside the blue switch and what happens to the 3rd wire. You mention the brown and red cable required, what size cable do you need and how long do you need. Also, what the black outer strapping did you use to strap the cables? Did you use any particular cable connectors.
Hello Dennis
Thanks for commenting, as always. Appreciated.
This is a tricky one for me, since the short answer to your questions is ‘I bought the after market wiring loom which came with instructions’, and I feel it only fair to defer to Rocket Wires on the specifics.
More significantly, if you freeze the video at around the 4 minute 15 seconds mark you’ll see the VW group-specific connectors on each end of the loom - the male socket for the light itself and the other three cable ends that are specific to the wiring block. Rocket Wires checked with me as to which OEM parts I’d bought before making up the looms, to be certain it all matched.
Overall, the reason I bought the looms rather than made them up myself is because Rocket Wires have done all of the hard work in figuring out what goes where, and then making up the looms accordingly.
As to length - I can’t be sure. Possibly around 50cm? Better to leave it longer, since it’s easy enough to tuck away the excess within the back of the door card. I used some insulating tape to cover the connecting pins of the two brown wires; heat shrink would be equally suitable.
I’m sorry that’s not more helpful. Perhaps drop the team at Rocket Wires a message and see what details they’re able to share?
Hi Chris. This is off subject - Im not sure if youll be able to help - i have a 991.2 and want to remove the cup holders. This is a different fixing to that of the 991.1. Ive looked everywhere on the webb but no information so far. Hoping youll be able to direct.
Hi there. Thanks for the comment/question. I don't know from experience how this works, but a quick bit of web research throws up plenty of 991.1 guides - which you already know. Then it occured to me that perhaps the 991.2 is the same as the 718.982 - so perhaps this is thread/guide will work for you?
www.718forum.com/threads/retrofitting-aluminium-dash-strip-set-with-cup-holder.21281/
Great video again, mine has the interior light design package but my doors don’t have the puddle lights, am I correct in saying they should light up ?
@@Trophy_R Glad you enjoyed it.
There seem to be quite a lot of variation across cars in what lights up and what doesn’t!
My car definitely doesn’t have the lighting package (as you’ve seen) which meant the puddle lights were definitely reflectors.
Checking the (UK market 2015 edition) brochure, it says:
“The optional light design package comprises dimmable LEDs in the overhead console, in the area of the door handles, in the door storage compartments and in the footwells. LED illumination of the luggage compartments and in the vanity mirrors of the sun visors is also included with the light design package.”
In fairness, no mention of puddle lights!
Do you definitely have the lights (clear lens underneath?) rather than the reflector? If you do then perhaps the original filament bulbs have failed?
Fascinated to know… 🤔😀
@ I’ll take a look tomorrow I’m pretty sure they don’t light up but I’ll pop the reflector out
Did you have the part number for loom for puddle lights
Hi Wayne. The loom I used was from Rocketwires - an aftermarket supplier, so there’s no OEM part number for it. But it’s easy enough to find on their website.
Do you really need to move the door panel? I mean can you just use the trim removal tool to pry the lights out?
@@liangzhang8706 If you’re replacing the reflector with a battery-powered (self-contained) light then you’re right - there’s no need to remove the panel.
But to hard wire a light requires adding the new wiring, and access to the plug. Which is best done with the panel/card removed.
Ahh I see. I guess it’s easier to work with the Cayenne. You just pry the old lights out and plug the new ones in and you’re done
@@liangzhang8706 That sounds far easier! 😀
Hi Christian, does your car also have the puddle lights underneath the mirrors ?
@@viperx220racing3 No, it doesn’t. (Nor do they fold automatically.)
There seems to be a whole variety of lighting combinations on our cars - I’m now not sure it’s as simple as Standard or Lighting Package. Lots of inter-market variations it seems…
@ Ah ok, mine has lighted & folding mirrors and I’m hoping they are linked to the puddle lights below the door. Porsche really are crazy how they sell their cars. Mine is a base Boxster but started out life as a demonstrator. So it’s got many of the quality of life items speced. Just waiting on the puddle lights cables to arrive to see, 🤔
@@viperx220racing3 You might indeed get lucky and find that the puddle lights will power up without any additional PIWIS coding. Hope it all goes smoothly, whichever which way!
I mean really Christian, you are clearly a clever guy but compared with what you do with Piwis 2 coding, you are def barking up the wrong tree
Happy to have barked up the cabin lighting tree! But don’t worry, there are a couple more videos to come - we put the PIWIS 3 to good use…
Power steering update now available... 😀