LED Tail lights - who have done them and how much of a PITA are they? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

986_inquiry · 12-13-2011, 06:40 AM

One of my rear lenses has a crack and the bulb sometimes doesn't light so I figure I might as well just go LED

Pelican has a nice pair for $200, looks almost OEM

and there's these chrome altezza type lights for $350 on ebay but I don't think they'd look good on a black vehicle, probably better on silver or white

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3179518/2000-porsche-boxster/page-7

Porsche Boxster 986 LED Tail Lights chrome | eBay

more altezza but these are black which might look better on a black vehicle:

Anyone have photos of these on a black boxster so I can visualize how they'd look? There's also this claim that someone received a ticket for similar blacked out/smoked type lenses so I'm not sure black lenses would be worth it
Maryland Judge Decrees Pontiac G8 GT Tail Lights Illegal

more black altezza, wish I could see them on a boxster

Tail lights - Porsche Boxster 986 LED Black - Tuning-in.eu

has anyone installed any of these tail lights? What were your thoughts/opinions? Did you have any issues? Is it "remove old lens, put new lens in" or more to it?

J Tinsby · 12-13-2011, 08:12 AM

Hiya,

I don't mind the Pelican parts ones, but to me, the others are a bit too 'ricey.'

Also changing to LED's sometimes gives problems because of the very low current draw. The Pelican ones may have a resistor built in to alleviate that potential difficulty.

Good luck with it!

tonycarreon · 12-13-2011, 08:39 AM

a lot of people on this board have switched the OEM lights for LEDs. a quick search should find some quick info.

i did mine last year, no problems so far.

986_inquiry · 12-13-2011, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Tinsby

Hiya,

I don't mind the Pelican parts ones, but to me, the others are a bit too 'ricey.'

Also changing to LED's sometimes gives problems because of the very low current draw. The Pelican ones may have a resistor built in to alleviate that potential difficulty.

Good luck with it!

I was leaning the same way, glad to hear I'm not the only one that thought they looked a bit too fast-n-furious

So has anyone installed the Pelican parts tail light? Their website is light (pun intended) on details

Highlow · 12-13-2011, 10:00 AM

I bought these for my black boxster:

97-04 PORSCHE BOXSTER S 986 EURO RED/SMOKE LED TAILLIGHTS | eBay

The only thing I regret is not doing it sooner.

986_inquiry · 12-13-2011, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highlow (Robo-Top)

I bought these for my black boxster:

97-04 PORSCHE BOXSTER S 986 EURO RED/SMOKE LED TAILLIGHTS | eBay

The only thing I regret is not doing it sooner.

1. Any issues with the install?

2. Is it as simple as removing the old ones and putting in the new ones?

3. Is there anything else that needs to be bought for them to work?

sasha055 · 12-13-2011, 11:35 AM

I installed DEPO led taillights.. is as easy as taking out old ones and putting in new ones.
No problems and it looks amazing.

Here's the pic. Sorry you cannot see them both in full I took picture targetting the top

986_inquiry · 12-13-2011, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sasha055

I installed DEPO led taillights.. is as easy as taking out old ones and putting in new ones.
No problems and it looks amazing.

Here's the pic. Sorry you cannot see them both in full I took picture targetting the top

That looks perfect, and no check engine light? Are the depo led lights on ebay reliable? I've seen auctions going for less than $170 shipped.

pothole · 12-13-2011, 12:50 PM

With respect and without meaning to cause any offence, don't do it, they all look awful Stick with your amber clusters, it's easily the best look for the 986.

986_inquiry · 12-13-2011, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pothole

With respect and without meaning to cause any offence, don't do it, they all look awful Stick with your amber clusters, it's easily the best look for the 986.

What's awful about it? Aren't the tail lights of the newer boxster led with white one top and red on bottom?

onaFLYer · 12-13-2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 986_inquiry

What's awful about it? Aren't the tail lights of the newer boxster led with white one top and red on bottom?

I think they look great on that car, IMHO. Might just pick up some for my Seal Grey car.

sasha055 · 12-13-2011, 02:59 PM

I've had them for 8 month now and no CEL.. as far as reliability.. I got them from a forum member here.. I'm not sure how long he had them but they still work.

As far as amber look.. I think that ambers look great on red cars.. black cars looks better with tinted lights and silver look AMAZING with those altezza all clear lights. Mine looked old and faded and these tail lights makes the car look "fresher"

Sasha

PS: Yellow boxsters look good no matter what

WhipE350 · 12-13-2011, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highlow (Robo-Top)

I bought these for my black boxster:

97-04 PORSCHE BOXSTER S 986 EURO RED/SMOKE LED TAILLIGHTS | eBay

The only thing I regret is not doing it sooner.

I got the Depo also, figured at that price I could just throw out if I didn't like them. Here is a pic of them. The first ones you show in your thread look nice too, not smoked but those really do look almost oem.

shlim8 · 12-13-2011, 05:33 PM

I've got the smoked depo rear lights - similar to the first set in the original post except they're smoked instead of clear. It looks great on my black car.

The depo lights sit abit further in than the originals, but no problems at all so far. Install was really easy. The LEDs are only on the brake lights and the rear fog light (only one side lights up, though both sides are there - as per the originals).

The manufacture quality is of course inferior to the originals and I had a slight flaw on one of the ends but it is acceptable and from the outside it looks almost oem quality.

986_c6 · 12-13-2011, 10:26 PM

I was thinking of the smoked depos. Don't do the altezza ones though, looks way too cheap imo.

Jbocio · 12-14-2011, 03:20 PM

Nightshade stock Tails....a few bucks

djomlas · 12-14-2011, 03:49 PM

smoked OEM, period!
really no need for leds...

Highlow · 12-15-2011, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 986_inquiry

1. Any issues with the install?

2. Is it as simple as removing the old ones and putting in the new ones?

3. Is there anything else that needs to be bought for them to work?

1. No

2. Yes

3. No

pothole · 12-15-2011, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 986_inquiry

What's awful about it? Aren't the tail lights of the newer boxster led with white one top and red on bottom?

Which proves, what, exactly?

The current Boxster is also available with 19-inch wheels. That's no reason to put 19-inch wheels on a 986.

An E92 M3 has LEDs. That's no reason to put LEDs on an E30 M3.

Perfectlap · 12-15-2011, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhipE350

I got the Depo also, figured at that price I could just throw out if I didn't like them. Here is a pic of them. The first ones you show in your thread look nice too, not smoked but those really do look almost oem.

These LED versions are a zillion times brighter than my de-ambered versions using the old school bulbs. That safety element definitely makes them worth considering given all the distracted drivers at night using facebook/texting while driving.
For an Artic silver car the smoked grey portion gives it a nice contrast and the LED look gives the rear end a more updated look now that most German cars have incorporated LED into the design shape of their tail lights.
Agree on the ricer versions. Those are even brighter because of the mirror surfaces but they look really out of place on a Pcar.