Porsche Headlight Retrofit [from CAD, prototyping to finish)

[Nine8Six]

Hello friends ((using-my-embarrassed-tone)),

I’ve received quite a few pm related to the back-order issue and just wanted to reassure that I am trying everything I can to get things moving. It will happen before the end of this month. We plan and aim for this (around the clock almost here believe me).

I'll be honest, atm I am working aggressively along with mate Andy here on the technologies that we’ll need to get things rolling smoothly. We are currently busy designing secure web services to support the distribution and retail aspects of our little start-up here e.g. dedicated cloud-based server and back-end, PCI compliance for payments, ecommerce platform with group/roles to support both distributor and customer level, stuff like that.

We are particularly struggling in getting some fancy visuals decided for e.g pics of the shop, the new cnc machines, ‘the workbench’ basically. Renderings, videos of the actual products, installation manuals, Our Blog!... arrgg there are tons of things that remains on the To Do list it’s almost annoying. All good fun!

^ We want (neeeed) to get all of that out of the way before moving to assembly and packaging, or manufacturing, and oh... resuming wip from a few projects that we had running last autumn. The day Andy and I will be in full-customer-support-mode, at that point we just won’t have time to give ‘technology’ additional developments - well at least this is not the objective for the rest of this year anyway!

RE technologies; did I mentioned the forced HTTP2 and TLS1.2 / HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) full implementation??? That’s right, our server-side and eCommerce technologies will run on the most secured back-end you can possibly have today - same as your bank basically (backed info, you can run it to SSLLabs or similar tools if you don't believe me). Not to mention local hdd military grade encryption for ours & partner’s solid model part files, nda agreement templates… etc etc... man, not all that easy to start-up :/

All Top Notch as everyone would expect and certainly would hope it to be (I would anyway). Here’s a quick peak preview of the site’s inner peace (static visual).

(ps. any sort of help from the community is always welcome lolll)

[glenf]

Hello out there, any update

Originally Posted by Nine8Six

Hello friends ((using-my-embarrassed-tone)),

I’ve received quite a few pm related to the back-order issue and just wanted to reassure that I am trying everything I can to get things moving. It will happen before the end of this month. We plan and aim for this (around the clock almost here believe me).

I'll be honest, atm I am working aggressively along with mate Andy here on the technologies that we’ll need to get things rolling smoothly. We are currently busy designing secure web services to support the distribution and retail aspects of our little start-up here e.g. dedicated cloud-based server and back-end, PCI compliance for payments, ecommerce platform with group/roles to support both distributor and customer level, stuff like that.

We are particularly struggling in getting some fancy visuals decided for e.g pics of the shop, the new cnc machines, ‘the workbench’ basically. Renderings, videos of the actual products, installation manuals, Our Blog!... arrgg there are tons of things that remains on the To Do list it’s almost annoying. All good fun!

^ We want (neeeed) to get all of that out of the way before moving to assembly and packaging, or manufacturing, and oh... resuming wip from a few projects that we had running last autumn. The day Andy and I will be in full-customer-support-mode, at that point we just won’t have time to give ‘technology’ additional developments - well at least this is not the objective for the rest of this year anyway!

RE technologies; did I mentioned the forced HTTP2 and TLS1.2 / HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) full implementation??? That’s right, our server-side and eCommerce technologies will run on the most secured back-end you can possibly have today - same as your bank basically (backed info, you can run it to SSLLabs or similar tools if you don't believe me). Not to mention local hdd military grade encryption for ours & partner’s solid model part files, nda agreement templates… etc etc... man, not all that easy to start-up :/

All Top Notch as everyone would expect and certainly would hope it to be (I would anyway). Here’s a quick peak preview of the site’s inner peace (static visual).

(ps. any sort of help from the community is always welcome lolll)

[2000986s]

I just stumbled upon this forum in the process of looking for headlights for my silver 2000 s. It looks like a couple different people are selling some things here. There are 64 pages and instead of hunting through them, I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to fill me in on who is selling what and what the headlights look like? Or tell me to stop being a lazy ass and just read the whole thread

[jpc763]

nine8six is the developer of the kit and Pelican Parts now sells the kit (although I believe they are out of stock). It is up to you to install the kit in your existing lights. Here is the install instructions - http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/images/GTProjectors/Porsche_986_996_Headlight_Retrofit_Instructions.pd f

As far as what they look like, here are a few posts in this thread with pictures.

Porsche Headlight Retrofit [from CAD, prototyping to finish)

Porsche Headlight Retrofit [from CAD, prototyping to finish)

This is my set!

Porsche Headlight Retrofit [from CAD, prototyping to finish)

[2000986s]

Wow this looks amazing!!!! I am stuck on whether to do this option or use Jeff's black headlights from xtreme. Of course both seem to be out of stock at the moment... I searched pelican parts but I couldnt even find a listing for the out of stock kit. do you have a link by chance?

Thanks for saving me the time of looking through the whole thread!

[Radar]

I can't wait for these to become available!

[986ohana]

I would love a set of your headlights! Looked for your website but nothing came up

[particlewave]

Fred (nine8six) hasn't said much lately, but hopefully he will have some kits before long. That's definitely the best route to go.

The headlights sold by extreme have fit issues, LEDs that burn out after little use, cheap plastic everywhere and no UV coating on the main lens (a little sun exposure and the plastic main lens will look terrible). The built in projectors are also made of cheap plastic (even the reflectors themselves) and I would consider them a fire hazard. I "repaired" a set for another member and was appalled by the quality (lack thereof) at every step of the disassembly.

[2000986s]

Wow.... well I really appreciate the heads up because I was completely ready to cough up a grand as soon as they came back in stock. Not gonna happen now!!! So you're recommending that I hold off on doing anything until Fred has some kits available? Are they an easy plug and play or is there a ton of extra work to be done?

[particlewave]

Just to clear up any confusion, Fred makes HID projector kits that must be installed into pre-existing headlights (no ready made options).

That said, the completed headlights have no equal in looks or performance. The install isn't exactly easy, but plenty have done their own.

Mine are pictured below. I installed Fred's Vivo series projectors, along with some smaller projectors (for the dual projector look) and some custom made daytime running lights.

[2000986s]

Okay, that makes sense. So in that picture, is that a stock headlight assembly...? I'm a bit confused. My main goal is to get rid of the amber on my car. I have 03-04 tail lights installed and I am getting clear side markers but i need the headlights. What would I need to obtain in order to replicate exactly what is in that picture? Because oh my lord that is exactly what I want

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by 2000986s

Okay, that makes sense. So in that picture, is that a stock headlight assembly...? I'm a bit confused. My main goal is to get rid of the amber on my car. I have 03-04 tail lights installed and I am getting clear side markers but i need the headlights. What would I need to obtain in order to replicate exactly what is in that picture? Because oh my lord that is exactly what I want

You need to obtain a set of the clear style OEM headlights and install a set of Freds projectors. If you want the DRL light bars, that's a little more involved, but they are basically just six-inch CCFL lights mounted inside the headlight in the upper portion of the turn signal.

[2000986s]

That headlight porn.... oh my god.... amazing. Okay so clear style oem lights.... guessing that I can find those on pelican parts for a nasty price, but do they show up used on this forum very often? Do you recommend getting brand new? I messaged Fred so hopefully I can pick up a pair of his projectors when theyre available. DRL light bars might be a project for down the road

[2000986s]

And i can really never express how much i appreciate the help from all you amazing people on here. I'm a clueless 20 year old just beginning to wet my feet in the Porsche world and this guidance is amazing. So thank you, really.

[Disaster]

Originally Posted by particlewave

Just to clear up any confusion, Fred makes HID projector kits that must be installed into pre-existing headlights (no ready made options).

That said, the completed headlights have no equal in looks or performance. The install isn't exactly easy, but plenty have done their own.

Mine are pictured below. I installed Fred's Vivo series projectors, along with some smaller projectors (for the dual projector look) and some custom made daytime running lights.

The LED DRL looks amazing. Would love to know how that is done.

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by Disaster

The LED DRL looks amazing. Would love to know how that is done.

Thanks

The round halos come with the GT Projectors. The light bars in the headlights are 6" CCFL's (cold cathode fluorescent lights).
I mounted an acrylic tube in the upper turn signal portion (inside the headlight) which extends to just outside of the case so that the CCFL bulbs can slide in and out for changing when they burn out.
The acrylic tube has a clear window in the front, but the rest was painted with a "mirror finish" paint so that all light is reflected forward for maximum light output. They are nice and bright

I don't have any pictures of the process or of the inside of the headlight showing how the tube is mounted.

And yes, I made some orange light bar side markers to match



Despite how it looks, they really don't affect turn signal visibility much.

[Disaster]

Originally Posted by particlewave

The round halos come with the GT Projectors. The light bars in the headlights are 6" CCFL's (cold cathode fluorescent lights).
I mounted an acrylic tube in the upper turn signal portion (inside the headlight) which extends to just outside of the case so that the CCFL bulbs can slide in and out for changing when they burn out.
The acrylic tube has a clear window in the front, but the rest was painted with a "mirror finish" paint so that all light is reflected forward for maximum light output. They are nice and bright.

Are the CCFL's known to burn out? How often do they need to be changed? I'm leaning to LED's with a diffuser but so many of them are crap. Need to find a reliable one.

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by Disaster

Are the CCFL's known to burn out? How often do they need to be changed? I'm leaning to LED's with a diffuser but so many of them are crap. Need to find a reliable one.

Can’t comment on CCFL as I've never owned, tested, or even seen them myself. All I know is the professional car lighting system retrofitters that I personally know here in Shanghai and Tokyo simply do not install CCFL since a few years already. For two reasons; long phased out (using laser now), and categorized as unreliable. Perhaps the CCFL types that you guys are getting in the Americas are far superior in terms of supported technology, I have no idea.

If you ask me; personally I don’t use anything other than Xenon in my custom headlights for both low & high beams (bi-xenon). I need the output/temp and cutoff to be in line with local DOT regulation here (our cars requires yearly inspection). Those CCFL would automatically fail inspection here hence why ppl here just don’t install them anymore.

Same goes for the lower bumper DRL led bars i.e. those aftermarket DRL with overly powerful LEDs blinding the day light out of incoming traffic. Totally illegal if found to be aftermarket (car impounding + fines). In China/Shanghai anyway.

Lighting system designers here and JP now uses laser diodes and optical fiber to dress up headlights & taillights. Softer look & feel and safe(r) in terms of lumen output. Not my thing/taste at all but designed and installed carefully, those fiber optics 'supposedly' passes inspection here (I've heard, haven't tried lolll). Something worth looking into if you are into this kind of stuff.

[particlewave]

Headlight porn...I used to build these for a fee, but it got too costly for me.

[particlewave]

You can get new clear headlights on eBay for about $795 shipped...pricey, but they do look nice brand new. If you watch eBay, you can get decent used for $350-$500.

They rarely come up here on the forum, but I find a good used set on eBay about once a month.