Turbo not what it used to be....
 

Picked up my Turbo S from the dealer 11-14-13! Excited! drive down the street and hit the brakes....headlight plops out....take it back to the dealer, we are all in dismay, they give me a panamera rental, speechless.....still waiting for the headlight....eta...11-26-13. What should I do? Hope the wheel doesn't fall off next...

Holy cr@p!!!!! What a Buzzkill that must have been. I hope they get you fixed up soon. How is the paint around the headlight opening? Any damage there? I hope it is just the light unit.

No damage to the body whatsoever...clean launch. I'm just depressed, give a kid a lollipop, then snatch it away. I understand Porsche, they could easily fed ex me a headlight from the assembly floor, but that would push back their delivery date and profits of the other turbos. Why should they care about me, they already got my $200k.

They should get you one right away. Major f-up on the assembly line. How should the unit attach? Are there snap in tabs, screws?

How about the Dealer softening up any rough edges on the original light (so it doesn't scratch the paint) and reinstalling it until a replacement arrives, then at least you can drive it? Or is the one that fell out toast?

Love your blue color choice. Mine is GT Silver.

That metal bar you see in the pic somehow clamps the headlight in. Not sure exactly how it is supposed to hold it in place, didn't see any screws, then again, it could have launched and I didn't see it. I don't know if the launched headlight functions, but I will wait for the new one. If I don't get the headlight by next Tuesday, I'll just drive it without. Thanks for your support, I appreciate.

You'll be up and running in no time. Best of luck getting the light replaced in a timely fashion. I would hope Porsche would see the significance of taking care of someone that drops $200K on one of their products, let alone all the great publicity that parts falling off their new flagship will generate.

Only 200K? Damn I wish you guys wouldn't keep reminding me how lucky you are. I'd be happy with two headlights launching out for that price (JK). Sorry to hear it and it must be a bitch bit i'm sure it is an isolated case. Hang in there..

I would be livid. Sorry to hear this. I would make them go over every nut and bolt now.

Sorry to hear that, but I have to comment that your sapphire blue is gorgeous. More pics when you are made whole please. :)

It is very easy to get the headlights in and out with the supplied tool that comes with the car in the tool kit. I'd be willing to bet the dealer took the headlight out during delivery inspection/unwrapping and didn't get it back in properly. I have a hard time believing it happened at the factory, but anything is possible. Either way, major bummer, but somewhat minor in the end.

First of all I'm so sorry for this stupid quality check from Porsche


A jag I think the color is dark blue metallic

Looks like the LED version. Can't the dealership just scavange a new light off of one of their cars in the lot, just to plug the hole, so you can drive it (during the day)?

Sorry this happened.

Is it possible there was something done at the port of entry and the fault happened there? It's easy to say QC is going downhill but it may have been fine at the factory. They do touch up work at the ports all the time.

I had to stop at the same dealer this week, and heard the story after I asked if their first 991 TTS customer was actually enjoying his/her car. I expected a sound yes, but... Regardless of whose fault it was, someone somewhere needed to bring the part to you asap - 2 weeks for that is not acceptable imho. Sorry about the cold shower on delivery day. I hope you have by the time you have your turkey, so that you can enjoy both even more . Good luck.

Incredible brakes!

Hey hang in there. But I have to say that Love the color of your new TT. She looks great.

Jay

The lights have never fallen out of my 930! :icon107:

I just had the same issue with my brand new Turbo S. I’m driving down the road Saturday taking the first real spin in my car since picking it up. About 50 miles in, I step on the brakes and the entire front right headlight assembly flies out of its housing, dangles on the bumper before breaking off and tumbling down the side of the car.

The car had been clear wrappped a few days before. The dealer is laying the responsibilty on the wrapper but it appears this may be a Porsche issue? My car needs anew headlight which will probably take two weeks to get here. I was offered a loaner car but not a Porsche by the dealer! The car is great but I'm not pleased to be dealing with this.

C:\Users\bbulli\Desktop\Old Pics\headlight

Same here... sorry for your car, but it sure does look beautiful. I'm sure you'll be enjoying the car and forgetting about this incident in no time! :)

Typical dealer BS, blaming others... Like the guys installing clear bra take the time to remove the headlights. Yeah right!

This is troubling. Thounsands of hours of development, and in the same week, two cars get their headlights poping off! WTF?

This is the first thing I thought of when I read the posting,....clear bra install. Many of the installers remove lights to "wrap" the bra around corners for a better look.

FWIW,....I trust Porsche much more than any clear bra installer.

All the time, at least the good ones do. Very common for a quality job.

http://i1348.photobucket.com/albums/...ps89f393bc.jpghttp://i1348.photobucket.com/albums/...psdcff65a0.jpg

Here are some pics of the mech that holds in the headlight and the headlight. Seems that the rotating metal bar has to lock in the headlight and perhaps can loosen with vibration? My car is supposed to be ready tomorrow....we shall see....

Well, I guess I'll be a headin' out to the garage to yank on my headlight. Hope I don't go blind doing this!:evilgrin:

Jacklman,
Glad you will be getting your baby back tomorrow. This will just be a memory after you have experienced the car. This thing is incredibly fast, and dangerous to your Drivers License.

Dam,that is some crazy shi... I am go to go check mine in the garage,sure nothing a little duck tape can not fix.. Wait,200k car, duck tape ,better not...

O,serious,did they tell you why it fell out and is their really a way can check mine to make sure it does not come flying out ???? Anyone...

Checked them //Seem tight...

The Dealer never said why the light fell out, they said it must have not been tightened in Germany. When I picked up my car, it had 26 miles on it, the salesman told me he went to fill up the gas and I am sure that they must have driven the car and the head light did not fall out. The Dealer said that the tt headlamp is special and no other model has this headlamp. It could be a freak thing if you brake just so and there is some bumps that resonate the assembly just right to cause that bar to flip.

If there are any more headlamps launching, I would say there is a design issue...imho

By special does he mean the LED housing? I really hope this is not a design issue, ugh.

I called my Porsche Dealer and spoke to the service manager and he said they have not had any issues with the 991 or 991 Turbos headlights and their were no service bulletins on the TS or my car.But,he will talk to the Porsche Rep and let me know right away if needed.Your correct,that could be just one that was not fully secured.Mine is tight,but you can bet your ass,I will be watching it..

Thanks for the info...

I believe the TTS comes standard with LED lights,....where anything below that level is buyers choice between Xenon, Xenon PDL & LED.

I'm wondering if it's just the LED light in question as all the other 991 family regularly use the Xenon/PDL light versions,.....and I have never heard of it happening in those cars. I would not think the Xenon lights for TT cars would be any different compared to any other 991.

Just spoke with service manager, No lamp, no ETA. Just called PCNA to gripe, I have a case#, but because of the holidays, they may not call me back till after Thanksgiving. We shall see what happens....12 days and counting.....this is not cool

Got my car back yesterday afternoon. They finally took a headlight off another turbo and put it on my car. Happy Thanksgiving, thankful for the Rennlist Forum for the support you have given me.

Good humor! :roflmao:

Op--keep us posted!!

Fantastic !! Happy for you! Happy TG!!

Have never heard of this happening w/ the standard lights on the 991, it has to be something to do w/ the LED light housing. I fully plan on testing mine out w/ some threshold braking as soon as I get it, within a mile or two of the dealer, lol. :)

glad it worked out for you in end. i had same thing happen to me when i drove home with new to me lotus elise. hit bump in highway and light just popped out. i had to stop and pick it up. lotus clip is piece of junk so i just put clear 3m film over it and so far so good.

Been driving my 14 TS for weeks and no issue at all with lights (tight)Went to dealer to check torque on the center locks before track duty..All Perfect...They have never heard any issues with the lights..Someone did not tighten in Germany... The 14 Turbo S is soo Bad Ass...

That definitely sucks. Several years ago I had a new 996 Turbo S that I had to return 4 times to get them to fix a headlight that would work only intermittently.

But my expectations have been reset after purchasing a brand new 600+ car of another make only to have a rod fail on a spirited drive up to Palomar Mountain. Punched a hole in the block... I won't say what brand. But, given the stated HP, you can narrow down the list fairly quickly. The manufacturer replaced the engine under warranty. Still, I don't trust the car anymore.

P.S. For those who are curious... no I didn't hear it coming. I had the windows up and radio blasting. Never thought I'd need to drive with the radio off and windows down to listen for rod knock in a brand new car on public roads. :)

That's a bummer. I think the dealer could take care of you, but they don't want to remove a light from another new vehicle. Sucks... Usually the vehicles are checked and inspected by a Posche Technician and also test drivin for Q.C. Maybe its not the same..

Does it rhyme with sniper?
J

I'm reading this thread in disbelief. Were these two headlight incidents resolved and have other new 991 owners experienced this type of failures?

The rule used to be that you never purchased the first model year of a GM product because of potential quality concerns, but in a Porsche? In their halo street car?

Sad to report that the same thing just happened to me today...hit the brakes and the driver's side LED lamp assembly went flying across the pavement in front of me :( I'm right at about 4k miles on my 991TT now.

Did you happen to install a clear-bra?

Yes, but in my case the light assembly did not get removed in the process (I assume that's why you are asking(?)).

Correct. Thanks.

Dealing with PCNA is not dealing at all. They are not your advocate. Best to air it out on line and squeeze the dealer. Eek I have LEDs too and low confidence in my dealer. Any updates?

I talked to the dealer today and they are retrieving the car later this week; first reasonable opportunity. PCNA has asked that they inspect the lamp assembly that went flying before they do anything like order a new part. That said, I'm told there are replacement parts on hand in the US should that become necessary Thus far I have no reason to think that this situation is going to be difficult...I mean other than the fact that you would have thought that this sort of thing shouldn't happen at all in the first place.

Hmm. Maybe there is a weak link somewhere in the way the light is retained for it to do that. If there is no design fault then whatever it is must need idiot proofing somewhere. I wonder if anyone has put a finger on it yet?

My faith in Porsche engineering is restored!

Apparently what happened in my case is this. I have an aftermarket radar/laser detection system in the car. In order to fit this and run wiring for the sensors at the front end of the vehicle the installer removed the headlamp assembly to get at a very convenient channel for running connections. The dealer inspected the lamp mounting plate and the mating plate on the lamp assembly that went flying and the mounting areas are in pristine condition still (the front side of the lamp assembly that skidded over the pavement was pretty torn up but the mounting area not so much). After talking with the shop that did the aftermarket work on my car, the conclusion is that when the lamp was replaced it was not correctly fastened in place completely.

Part of the reason that they were able to reach this conclusion between the dealer and the install shop is that this is a second car that had this exact same symptom recently. The other one apparently the lamp didn't hit the floor, just ended up dangling from the cable harness, but driver's side lamp popped out just like the one on mine. At any rate, the common factor was the install of the same countermeasures equipment by the same install shop by the same method.

All's well that ends well. A cautionary tale for anyone getting aftermarket work done that might involve the removal and replacement of the lamp assemblies though I guess.