Headlights

[J P Morris]

I have a 1986 Boxster 986 w/75,000 miles bought it when it had only 50,000 miles. My problem is my headlights look like the bulbs are burning up the lens. Can I buy specific parts of the headlight assembly without buying the whole headlight assembly.

[particlewave]

No.


........

[Fintro11]

Porsche Headlight Retrofit [from CAD, prototyping to finish)

[356Guy]

Originally Posted by Fintro11

Porsche Headlight Retrofit [from CAD, prototyping to finish)

I've seen a lot of people point to this thread. Are they actually available for shipment?

[particlewave]

As an alternative, you can completely remove the inner lenses. It looks great and you don't have to worry about burning/melting them ever again.
Of course, if you go through the trouble of opening the headlights, it may be better to just install HID projectors.

[BirdDog]

Originally Posted by J P Morris

I have a 1986 Boxster 986 w/75,000 miles

1986 Boxster? Um, ok...

You can't buy just the lenses unless you get them from someone who is converting their headlights to projectors. I had a brand new set but sold them last year.

Post a message in the parts wanted/for sale section and ask Woody (ItsNotANova) if he has any trashed headlights that you might get an inner lens out of.

Also, check ebay. I've seen some headlights listed where the outer lens was smashed in an accident and the seller was selling off the rest. Try seller QualityPorscheParts. They won't be as cheap as Woody, but they part out a lot of cars and you might get lucky...

Search the forums - there are a couple of threads that discussed how to open the headlights up to get at the inner lenses.

[PaulE]

Originally Posted by 356Guy

I've seen a lot of people point to this thread. Are they actually available for shipment?

Nine8Six is going to be making a new batch sometime soon. He doesn't always do PMs, post a note on the end of that thread and hopefully he'll add you to the list!

[Deserion]

Originally Posted by particlewave

As an alternative, you can completely remove the inner lenses. It looks great and you don't have to worry about burning/melting them ever again.
Of course, if you go through the trouble of opening the headlights, it may be better to just install HID projectors.

How's the beam pattern without the fluted lens in place? Any annoying glare?

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by Deserion

How's the beam pattern without the fluted lens in place? Any annoying glare?

No excessive glare, beam pattern does not change.
The diffusing lens is redundant and unnecessary.

[356Guy]

Originally Posted by PaulE

Nine8Six is going to be making a new batch sometime soon. He doesn't always do PMs, post a note on the end of that thread and hopefully he'll add you to the list!

Thanks. I don't need them. I was just wondering if they were in production yet.

[PaulE]

Originally Posted by 356Guy

Thanks. I don't need them. I was just wondering if they were in production yet.

If you don't have Litronics, these are the Bee's knees. Compared to the standard halogen headlights the difference is literally night and day! Fred does thrn as a side project from his regular day job, so they're only available when he decides to make a batch.

[Fuzzuki]

Originally Posted by particlewave

As an alternative, you can completely remove the inner lenses. It looks great and you don't have to worry about burning/melting them ever again.
Of course, if you go through the trouble of opening the headlights, it may be better to just install HID projectors.

How did you "OPEN" them.
I have a great pair just waiting for this to be done.

[PaulE]

Originally Posted by Fuzzuki

How did you "OPEN" them.
I have a great pair just waiting for this to be done.

It's all in Nine8Six's (Fred's) thread Porsche Headlight Retrofit [from CAD, prototyping to finish). Particlewave has also posted some Youtube videos on getting the lenses off and reinstalling them.

[Italux]

The inner lens is necessary to correctly distribute the light. Otherwise you risk dazzling cars traveling in the opposite direction.

[mikefocke]

How does it stand up to weather? Does it pass state inspections? Which states?

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by Italux

The inner lens is necessary to correctly distribute the light. Otherwise you risk dazzling cars traveling in the opposite direction.

Incorrect. There are plenty of cars that use smooth reflectors without a diffusing lens.
Yes, it will pass inspection as they are not required.

Example: this Volvo S80 in my driveway uses a halogen bulb with a smooth reflector and no diffusing lens.



Read up on DOT lighting regulation and show where it says a diffusing lens is required.
(Hint: it doesn't )

[Italux]

Yes, but in that case it has been studied at the origin and the manufacturer worked on the parabolas to get the correct light distribution.
Why put that inner lens if not necessary?

[PaulE]

I'm not weighing in on the requirement or need for the diffusing lens, but I have a question. But I note that Volvo headlight has something solid right in front of the top of the halogen bulb. My Acura TL has projector low beams and halogen high beams. The halogen high beams also function as the daytime running lights at much lower wattage. The Acura's halogen bulbs also don't have an inner diffusing lens, but they have something similar in front of the top of the halogen bulb.

Could the cover in front of the halogen bulb also act as kind of a diffuser? Also, most of the halogen bulbs I've seen have the top of the bulb frosted a dark gray while the rest of the bulb is clear.

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by Italux

Yes, but in that case it has been studied at the origin and the manufacturer worked on the parabolas to get the correct light distribution.
Why put that inner lens if not necessary?

I have personally removed inner lenses on a couple dozen sets of 986/996 headlights and the owners have had zero issues with glare or "dazzling" and all pass inspection. What is your experience with these headlights?
With all of the cars on the road with misaligned headlights or HID bulbs haphazardly thrown into halogen reflectors, I wouldn't worry about any potential extra glare from a halogen without a diffuser (which isn't an issue, anyway).
I'll say it one last time: it's not necessary. Period. End of discussion.

I have one halogen headlight remaining on my workbench. Someday soon, I'll take comparison shots with and without the inner lens for anyone curious (maybe even video), but I won't debate it. Actual experience beats ill informed speculation every time.

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by PaulE

I'm not weighing in on the requirement or need for the diffusing lens, but I have a question. But I note that Volvo headlight has something solid right in front of the top of the halogen bulb. My Acura TL has projector low beams and halogen high beams. The halogen high beams also function as the daytime running lights at much lower wattage. The Acura's halogen bulbs also don't have an inner diffusing lens, but they have something similar in front of the top of the halogen bulb.

Could the cover in front of the halogen bulb also act as kind of a diffuser? Also, most of the halogen bulbs I've seen have the top of the bulb frosted a dark gray while the rest of the bulb is clear.

The cover is a dual purpose light and heat shield (doesn't function as a very good heat shield in our cars).
All halogen bulbs are dipped in a light blocking paint at the tip so that light is emitted only at the sides, so the light blocker is redundant.

Anyone with burnt inner lenses could try removing them, if they don't want to install projectors, and view the results before sealing them back up.
No need to take my word for it.


That's my last word on the subject. Have fun