Porsche Headlight Retrofit [from CAD, prototyping to finish)

[clickman]

Originally Posted by particlewave

That's the gauge for aiming the light and yes, it is removed during retrofit (if you want) since it is no longer useful.

So how the heck does it come out? I can pull on it until it, and maybe something else, breaks, but that seems too barbarian.

[particlewave]

Yeah...I just get at it from the back. I use a screwdriver to pry up and break it at the weak point where it is very thin.

It is a bit barbaric, but that is the only easy way to get it out and it looks horrid with the retrofit if left in.

[BruceH]

Originally Posted by clickman

Hey Bruce, it sounds like we're on the same wavelength. I also like the look without the angel eyes (no offence, Fred ), want to paint the inside black or dark grey, and use the LED towers in the high beam position to flash.


The difference for me is that, with the need to have daytime running lights in my province, a friend is designing a relay circuit that will use the fog lights as DRLs rather than the low beams. I prefer not to use the xenon for DRL or flashing.

Therefore, for flashing, the LEDs will provide the light without the initial xenon burst / flash. (Although the cutoff shield solenoid will actuate.)

I ended up ordering with the LED's and keeping the stock chrome reflector bowl and unpainted shroud. Your custom circuit sounds interesting

[clickman]

All the high temp paints I can find locally are for metal. Will they work on the plastic of these headlights?

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by clickman

All the high temp paints I can find locally are for metal. Will they work on the plastic of these headlights?

Hey Norm

It will be fine given you do not flex the parts you paint after they have fully cured. Curing can take weeks so you have plenty of time there!

My understanding is metal paints lacks of elasticity polymers. If the plastic part you are painting will eventually require flexing then metal enamel paints may not be the best solution. In your case, the part will be fixed and secured with 3 screw inside the headlight so in that case you are good to go with anything off the shelf within the high temp paint series.

Surface prep is a must. Use a min/max #600 grit abrasive paper (wet sanding) and do this with gloves on (no no finger grease mate). Higher than #600 is pretty useless and lower may/will show scratch marks. I also heard "professional" use a primer before applying paint.... but I am far from being a professional painter. The less chemical fumes I breath the better

A happy sunny Sunday afternoon job

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by BruceH

I ended up ordering with the LED's

Must be one of those hazy shanghai day again... am I seeing/reading this correct?! You finally did it

Like I told you before Bruce, and I know how much you care for the 986 look, you-will-not-regret-this-mod.

Glad you've chosen Charles' (particlewave) professional services. The guy's work is simply amazing (I heard a few time already)

[BruceH]

Originally Posted by Nine8Six

Must be one of those hazy shanghai day again... am I seeing/reading this correct?! You finally did it

Like I told you before Bruce, and I know how much you care for the 986 look, you-will-not-regret-this-mod.

Glad you've chosen Charles' (particlewave) professional services. The guy's work is simply amazing (I heard a few time already)

Yep, I finally ordered In the end, I decided to keep the parts unpainted, keeping it close to stock. I agree, I can't go wrong with the mod and know I can't do the mod as well as Charles can. Oh, and I would say your work with this mod is pretty amazing Thanks for coming up with this in the first place!

[Nine8Six]

Yea Charles' the man. I am actually very grateful to him for offering the services that he offers. He is a fine dude and he does it all driven by the passion of "doing things"... that's what makes the difference.

seeing some of you guys going for far better optics/lighting than stock is quite rewarding enough.

Well done on the move again Bruce

[Nine8Six]

deleted... rumbling again sry

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by Nine8Six

Yea Charles' the man. I am actually very grateful to him for offering the services that he offers. He is a fine dude and he does it all driven by the passion of "doing things"... that's what makes the difference.

seeing some of you guys going for far better optics/lighting than stock is quite rewarding enough.

Well done on the move again Bruce

Well, shucks...

I totally agree, though. My real drive is that I have fun doing it and LOVE seeing my retrofits on others cars
It's probably an ego thing.

Thanks for the orders, guys! The next batch of projectors will be arriving before long

[georgewd3]

Just thought I would share a couple of pictures of my finished kit. I finished up the passenger side retrofit with a set of non-amber lenses and the kit from Fred/Nine8six.

The kit is amazing and with Fred's help the install went smoothly. Now to finish the driver side.

[jb92563]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

I am pulling the trigger will send a PM to Particleweave to finalize. I am opting for a stealth look for my Arctic Silver car how do you guys think this will look ?

Option1: Clear shroud
Option2: Silver bezel
Option3: No angel eyes
Option4: Bare/OEM headlight shroud
Option5: Bare/OEM reflector
Option6: high beam flash yes
Option7: Porsche Motorsports Optics script
Option8: color temp 4300K

I will be sending Particle a spare set of housings so I'm not in a rush. Looking forward to see how they look/perform. I just read all 15 pages ( again ) for about the 10th time so I hope my choices are good ones. Thanks to all that have posted it made the option choosing a little easier.

I was wondering if the color temp of 4300K would look a little yellow compared to halogens?

Might be interesting in any case.

Still need to install mine now that the "Dragon Eyes" have been worked out.

[clickman]

Originally Posted by georgewd3

I finished up the passenger side retrofit with a set of non-amber lenses.

Were you able to buy the lenses separate from the rest of the headlight? If so, where?

[georgewd3]

I bought complete new/used housings with the clear lenses. I've not seen just the clear lenses for sale anywhere.

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by georgewd3

Just thought I would share

Whoa.... George, niceee work right there. The polished gunmetal projectors you got are my favorite actually. Just waiting to get a bit of free time to pop my headlight open again and replace the prototype units with those very same.

Loveee your "new" looking pcar! Half of it anyway

Thx for sharing man

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by jb92563

I was wondering if the color temp of 4300K would look a little yellow compared to halogens?

Might be interesting in any case.

Still need to install mine now that the "Dragon Eyes" have been worked out.

They are not comparable to the old yellowed halogen - xenon has a much sharper light output (say brighter if you wish) which makes it look very close to pure white. Although slightly yellow'ished (5%) it does serves its purpose. The 4,3k xenon bulbs are the ones that cuts best through rain, snow and fog.

I only need those that cuts into city smog (lol) so I use the 6k. Pure white with 5% bluei'sh tint in them. City style, very fancy looking, and passes inspections (i.e strong enough output)

[Nine8Six]

Among other stunning gunmetal kits, below is one of the latest. My sincere apologies if this have taken a week+ to make

[particlewave]

You can't rush beauty like that

Better to wait for a high quality product than to rush

[BruceH]

Beautiful work Fred, looking forward to mine!

[Edreamsz]

Headlights installed!