Are 986 Litronics plug-in-play?

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by KevinH1990

Also, living in Virginia, I find that the combination of State inspection laws and enforcement measures makes it unwise to "push the envelope" on modifications to safety features such as headlights.

When you say headlight mods... if you are referring to the plastic kits/shrouds commonly avail on ebay then yes... believe me your inspector is all aware of those and will often tell you off. Same happening in China!

Have a look in the DYI section of this site. Pretty slick kits avail exclusive to Porsche cars only. Now those are NOT the common $35 plastic looking kits that, like you said, some states are trying to crack down onto

AND nor they are called a "modification". They are a major "IMPROVEMENT" to the headlight and, imo, much safer than fading/burnt halogens

and they are so much better than your Litetronnik (my headlights better than yours na-na-na-na-na!!!)

There... said it LOL

[steved0x]

The Litronics have Halogen high beams which work fine in that capacity. If you have the harness and module, then the low beam tilts up 1.5 degrees to assist the existing halogen high beam. While I have never seen it, I bet it is awesome

There is a Porsche TSB that shows how to add the high beam module/wiring for cars that have had Litronics added, that would be the one I would follow (although it is kind of complex). There are also some write-ups on the web, and also the pelican parts guide.

I can't find the TSB anywhere right now but it is on renntech.org (can't access from work computer) but I think you have to be a contributor.

Set up a search on eBay for the wiring harness and the module; they popup from time to time and sometimes deals can be found...

[Nine8Six]

Well that's the thing with Lits... they are so good (talking about the HB reflector design) that even with the projector in the way they glow like daytime. Never heard anyone complaining about the high beam so "my guess" is they're still worth of a good mod to those who doesn't want to bother installing the leveling kit and harness. From what I understood the level/kit/harness can be a pretty demoralizing job

But I completely understand what you are trying to say there

and yes, it's cosmetic more than anything else. They DO change the appearance of the front-end completely. Fact

[Smallblock454]

Hi,

so i did a little video. Hope you can see how the complete light unit is moving up and down. At the moment i have a connection problem with my left front light. When i put on high beam the left blinker light turns on. Will fix that later on - drive the car only from april to october.

Porsche Boxster 986 Litronic - YouTube



Regards
Markus

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by Smallblock454

Hi,

so i did a little video. Hope you can see how the complete light unit is moving up and down. At the moment i have a connection problem with my left front light. When i put on high beam the left blinker light turns on. Will fix that later on - drive the car only from april to october.

Porsche Boxster 986 Litronic - YouTube



Regards
Markus

You know Charles (Particlewave) can hack the servos motors with a microcomputer and level the whole unit using a 6DOF sensor? The headlights will aim even during accel/deceleration (real-time). Beat that German Designers lol

Thanks for the vid btw. I really wonder what's the (distance) diff between the static Lit and oem... still I bet it's not much.

Great headlight, I've always said. They are just so bloody expansive.... their major issue

[OklahomaBoxster]

I got lucky... I bought a 99 base that has pretty much no options except the litronics. I didn't realize how much they were used until after we bought the car.

[KevinH1990]

Originally Posted by OklahomaBoxster

I got lucky... I bought a 99 base that has pretty much no options except the litronics. I didn't realize how much they were used until after we bought the car.

I wish I had been so lucky. The first owner of my car splurged on items like silver gauge faces, center wheel caps with painted crests and an alumna-look shift knob and brake handle. Factory litronics with the dynamic leveling system would have been much more functional and probably would have cost less than the shiny bits.

I guess all's well that ends well. I now have the shiny bits and the litronics. Although I don't have the factory leveling system which would be nice.

I'm thinking about adding the dynamic leveling system. This guy on Renntech
Litronic retrofit question - 996 Series (Carrera, Carrera 4, Carrera 4S, Targa) - RennTech.org Forums
claims to have done it, but he is a little short on the details. (I need detailed step-by-step instructions for my projects.)

However, other contributors seem skeptical of his achievement.

[Nine8Six]

And you also need an Illuminated Wind Deflector. Thank you

[Smallblock454]

@ KevinH1990:

Litronic was first introduced in the Porsche 993. Litronic is a Bosch product. The electrical ballast was used in different cars - not only Porsche. Please check the Bosch parts number. If it is: 1 307 329 023 the Litronic ballast was used in the following cars:
Audi A8 D2 1994-1999
Audi TT 8N 1998-2000
BMW 3er e46 1997-2001
BMW 7er e38 1994-1998
Mercedes CL C215 1999-2002
Mercedes C W202 1993-2000
Mercedes S W140 1991-1998
Mercedes S W220 1998-2002
Mercedes SL R129 1989-2001
Mercedes SLK R170 1996-2005
Porsche 911 993 1993-1998
Porsche 911 996 1997-2002
Porsche Boxster 986 1996-2004
VW Bora 1998-2000
VW Golf IV-4 - 1997-2000

So maybe you can get a replacement part from another car that is a little less pricey than the Porsche OEM part.

I also would recommend to check ebay auctions. Sometimes people offer a complete oem conversion kit.

You also can check the Porsche Boxster parts catalog for all the parts you'll need for a complete Litronics conversion.

Regards
Markus

[particlewave]

+1 Mitch.

And then to charge $199 for a $30 kit.

[KevinH1990]

The driver's side (left) headlight is from a 99 Carrera (996). The passenger's side (right) is from a 2001 Boxster.

I did not see any major differences between the Boxster and Carrera headlight assemblies and most of the web sites selling the litronic upgrade packages show the same kits for both cars. For example, on Pelican's web site, the 996 kit is part number 000-044-900-41-OEM and the 986 kit number is 000-044-900-41-OEM.

Here's a link to the part I bought on Ebay: Porsche 911 1998 2001 Head Light Module | eBay

[Smallblock454]

Hi,

i'm not talking about the headlights. I'm talking about height sensors and wiring. There are also ballasts with the same Porsche number but with different Bosch numbers available. I'm not shure that they work 100% perfect together, because the OEM wiring for both headlights is seriel, not parallel.

If you are looking for the Porsche part numbers for the parts on the picture, just take a look in the parts catalogue.

US: Porsche Original Parts Catalogue - Parts and Diagnostic Information - Porsche Service - Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

Europe: Porsche Originalteile Katalog - Porsche Originalteile - Porsche Service - Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

Regards
Markus

[KevinH1990]

As I mentioned earlier, I found the control module on Ebay. I ordered the wiring harness today from ECS Tuning. Although this won't provide the auto-leveling function, it will provide the high-beam rotation.

I found someone selling the parts for the OEM system, but I cannot find instructions for the installation. In addition, he is selling the headlights, washers, sensors and wiring in a package and he indicates that he doesn't want to separate them. Unless I can sell what I have, that is a show stopper.

Maybe someday I'll find a part-out in my area with the factory set up and take the parts off so that I can figure out how to put them back on. For now, I'll have to settle for the more limited function.

Overall, I'm happy with what I have. Since I managed to sell my halogen headlights,my net cost is reasonable.

I probably won't receive my wiring kit and control module in time to install them during the holidays. I'll be tied up with work beginning Monday, so it may be late January or February before I can install them. Fortunately, I've found several write ups including the Porsche TSB, so I should have plenty of information to complete the project.

Since I purchased my headlights from damaged cars, I guess there is a chance that the motors could be damaged. However, I have a third motor in case I need it. That is one of the risks you take when you try to do this type of project on a budget.

[KevinH1990]

I installed the module and wiring harness today. I used the TSB and this write up: Skyler's Web Site

My litronics now work just like in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syXUCtUiFWY&feature=youtu.be

It was a real "moment of truth" when I turned on the lights and flicked the high-beam stalk. When I consider that I put the system together as follows:

1. Two headlights from a wrecked Boxster - one had water damage
2. Third headlight from a wrecking yard - had a bad wiring harness
3. Ballast from eBay seller to replace the one with water damage
4. Control module from eBay
5. Wiring harness from ECS Tuning
6. Lot's of advice from Particleweave and Nine8Six
7. Hours of polishing headlight covers

I'm kind of amazed it worked on the first try.

When I started out, all I wanted was the clear covers so that I could de-amber my headlights. I guess I backed into a major project. Still, I'm very happy with the results and the costs were reasonable considering that I was able to sell my amber headlights.

[MoeMonney]

Originally Posted by KevinH1990

I installed the module and wiring harness today. I used the TSB and this write up: Skyler's Web Site

My litronics now work just like in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syXUCtUiFWY&feature=youtu.be

It was a real "moment of truth" when I turned on the lights and flicked the high-beam stalk. When I consider that I put the system together as follows:

1. Two headlights from a wrecked Boxster - one had water damage
2. Third headlight from a wrecking yard - had a bad wiring harness
3. Ballast from eBay seller to replace the one with water damage
4. Control module from eBay
5. Wiring harness from ECS Tuning
6. Lot's of advice from Particleweave and Nine8Six
7. Hours of polishing headlight covers

I'm kind of amazed it worked on the first try.

When I started out, all I wanted was the clear covers so that I could de-amber my headlights. I guess I backed into a major project. Still, I'm very happy with the results and the costs were reasonable considering that I was able to sell my amber headlights.

Any chance of getting the TSB some other way? Renntech.org for some reason never opens up for me. I think the site shut down.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by MoeMonney

Any chance of getting the TSB some other way? Renntech.org for some reason never opens up for me. I think the site shut down.

RennTech discontinued the TSB when Porsche NA declared them to be the intellectual property of Porsche. Publishing them in any form is a violation of copyright law and subject to legal action, which Porsche NA is famous for...........

[KevinH1990]

There is only one Xenon/High Intensity Discharge bulb in each unit of the OEM litronic headlights. The high beam and fog lights have regular halogen bulbs. So, the high beam is just like it would be in your stock headlights. The Xenon bulb stays on when you flip on the high beams, so overall it is much brighter than the stock all-halogen units.

If you add the control module, you have an additional feature. The Xenon bulb rotates up when you turn on the high beam. So, you have an even brighter effect because the halogen and Xenon bulbs are both aimed higher.

I eventually added the control module to my car. You can see it in operation in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGkfebCCf2Y

This shows the parking lights, Xenon startup with self-leveling and high beam turn on.

[silver-S]

That makes sense, then. Thanks for the clarification!

[lkchris]

There are two aspects to the automatic adjustability of the Litronics.

The cool feature is the raising of the low beam to supplement the high (halogen) beam.

Less noticed is German legal requirements when hid lighting is fitted. These cars are required to have automatic beam height adjustment to compensate for loading of the car that creates raising the front end. This requires sensors that are not integral to the headlight unit but rather are closer to the center of the car. Also required by regulation when hid is fitted is some sort of headlight washing.

The notion of replacing the high beam halogen bulb with an hid burner is flawed in that the burner cannot come to full brightness as quickly as a halogen bulb ... meaning the flasher function becomes ineffective. Flashers another German requirement.

Aftermarket solutions are as usual fairly amateurish compared to factory equipment.

[BRAN]

Getting myself prepared for that Litronics upgrade project atm...

PORSCHE still offers a Litroncs upgrade kit, which has no self leveling
99663115701
99663115801
But they do offer litronic high beam support, which requires a specific Boxster controller. Btw. German law requires for all vehicles (equiped with litronics - since 04/2000) head light washers.

There are (probably) factory fitted litronics available, which have a self leveling controller (canbus integrated) included.
99663105701
99663105801
Will they work with the OEM Boxster upgradekit leveling controller 00004490038?