Headlight burning
 

How many of you have experienced the burning/discoloration on the inner lens of your headlights? I have a 2000 Boxster base and both lights have this condition. Anyone have a solution/answer to this problem?:(

Check what bulbs are in them, this often happens when people substitute "high output" bulbs which run way hotter than the stock bulbs.

X2 on what JFP said. I would say more boxsters have that problem than not. You have five options that I see.
1) you can live with what you have
2) Buy some new ones or aftermarket ones..$$$$$!!!
3) Buy some used ones that aren't burnt. $$$
4) Take the ones you have apart and replace the burnt lens.
5) Replace the lights with projectors $$$
If you PM particlewave, he might be able to help you with number 4 or 5

I have never used anything but stock output bulbs, and I still had the burning.

I installed Fred's projectors and killed three birds with one stone: got rid of cheap burned plastic, got the superior light output of the xenons, and hugely updated the look of the front end. In my case for under $400.

I don't think option 4 is possible, as I believe Porsche only sells the headlight as a complete unit. And if you could, if you're going to the lengths of breaking apart the headlight to get at the burnt piece (been there, done that), it doesn't really make sense to put back in the poorly designed part.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1413046310.jpg

I agree that projectors are the way to go if you like the look. I do, but could see it not being everyone's cup of tea. Replacing the burnt lens could be a pain in the ars. I just suggested it as an option. I believe particlewave has spare lenses from retrofitting the projectors and might sell some if he has them. I've had busted lights that I was able to sell a good lens from. Don't have any right now though. Besides particlewave and myself, it would be like finding a needle in a hay stack for anyone willing to just sell a good set of lenses.

Had the same thing happen to me too. Only used bulbs specified, hence can only attribute it to a design flaw. Was tempted to replace with Xenons but was told they don't work for the 97 year model.

Why wouldn't they work on a 97? :confused:

Looks like we're stuck
 

After reading all of the input, it appears it is a design flaw. I replaced my original headlights (I bought them at a significant discount...1/7 the price asked at dealer). Also still using the OEM bulbs (H7). I was told that it's the highbeams that burn the lens, but the low beam side also burns (????). Guess I'll live with it.

Speaking of avoiding burnt headlights, does anyone have recommendations for replacement H7 bulbs that won't cause yellowing?

Well it's worse if you have daytime running lights as we do north of the border

Yeah, although that just runs the little fog light, and I've never noticed them to yellow?

You've got a US market car... whoever federalized it did the foglight DRL hack. Canadian market cars illuminate(?):D low beam bulbs for DRL's.

Then all Canadians should do that hack....it looks great! And no yellowing of the lights....

I did the hack and my fog lights are now DRLs. I did get some LED bulbs as well from Amazon/ebay. It is really easy and takes less than 2 minutes

I have been looking into LED headlights. There are now some 2000+ lumen ones and they have a small power supply and small fans on the back of the bulbs

Yes, but how do you keep the low beams from coming on?

Sorry, I didn't do the hack myself....but I'm sure someone here knows how. Anyone?

Connect fuses A6 and A9 with two wiretaps that are wired together with a heavy gauge wire.

Here is a link to the only site currently live with instructions, it says 996 but it is exactly the same for the 986. I guess a few of the original websites with the instructions have gone down in the last few years. https://sites.google.com/site/996drlhack/

get some fuse taps rather than modifying the fuses. I found them at NAPA autoparts. I think it was like $5 for 4 or something like that. NAPA part #$ 784601

And that that will keep the low beams off in DRL mode on the Canadian cars with the DRL module? Not sure about that. But it doesn't matter to me anyways; I installed Fred's projectors and I'm ok with them being on all the time.

Norm,
You would have to pull the DRL relay to keep the headlights from firing up

So in the case you have litronics, is this still a possible problem? Currently my lights look good but I would hate for this to become a problem.

So by just pulling the DRL module the car becomes a US car (as far as headlights go)?

Which means the headlights would only come on when the switch is actuated.

Now I just need to know how to do the fog light DRL hack... The detail given earlier in this thread is the hack to turn on the headlights for DRL in US cars.

Norm, never told you but a few have been copying your painted reflector idea here. Two 996s in Shanghai and one 986 in Beijing. 3 cars so far. Same, very same lol

ps: imitation is the sincerest form of flattery ;)

OP, yes the design of the 9x6 headlight is flawed. They will yellow and eventually burn/crack.

You've already seen your options but if you just want to get rid of the burnt area, given they are not toasted, I bet you could simply sand them up with a 180 grit abrasive paper and polish them afterward. I've never done that, just an idea...

Mine were not only brown, they were cracked and bubbling as well. There's no saving this bad idea...

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1413470315.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1413470336.jpg

Fred, as much as I like taking credit, the only difference between what I did and what Charles has been doing such a good job of is that I didn't paint the clear plastic piece in front of the reflector. Charles paints both, at least in the ones of his I've seen.

Norm, impressive. I presume this is the result of running those Porsche headlamps "day & night" (CA's DRL)?

I've retrofitted little over 50 of those BOSCH headlamps, maybe more dunno, and I've never seen them that toasted lol Ouch! Here in most cases they are simply yellowed with, in most cases, a very small crack...

Regardless, I'll have to take my words back... once yellowed I don't think there is any coming back for those things.

(exterminate the halogens!)

Wait, who is this Fred guy, and where do I send my money??

Fred is Nine8siSix on this board. He has a website posted in one of the links, but a PM to him will get the link.

There is documentation on how to open the lights. I might have a good lense cap in a few weeks for anyone that may want to open a set to just replace the lense cover. I will know for sure once my projectors(that have shipped) arrive and are installed.

Here's Fred's website:

The ultimate bi-xenon headlight retrofit kit for Sport & Super cars

Here's the thread showing the evolution of his design and quite a few members' installations.

http://986forum.com/forums/diy-project-guides/48169-porsche-headlight-retrofit-%5B-cad-prototyping-finish.html

If you don't want to do it yourself (I found splitting the case to be a real challenge), PM member particlewave for an awesome installation.

If you're interested in doing it yourself, I have a fairly detailed procedure that's about 90% done (I ran out of energy). PM me.

No way, Charles. You took the blowtorch to those, right?? :eek:

Thanks Norm, huge help!!

I did some searching and found the thread on converting your fog lights to DRL. Easy hack. Thanks Savinor!

http://986forum.com/forums/diy-project-guides/20838-drl-fog-light-hack.html

As far as the fog lights, the stock H7 light puts out a lot of heat and in time will yellow (read burn) the lens. I found the below HID light on eBay for $13 a pair to work great. I went through several LED lights until I found this one. Shipping time from China was eight days.

2 Pcs H7 SMD5050 12 LED Car Front Fog Light Bulb White CREE Q5 Lamp 12V 30V S0BZ | eBay

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTg1WDU4NQ...cTg~~60_12.JPG

JayG used these. They are a tad more money ($37) but the same design. IMHO, they look better than mine but once installed you don't really notice them.

2X White Bulbs H7 Car Genuine CREE XB D LED Fog Light Lamps Headlight | eBay

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTYwWDU2MA...Trqc~/$_12.JPG

Hey Norm. Thanks for the references ;)

The picture that I posted above is what happens when you use those stupid "HID White" blue bulbs. I've had a few sets that were this bad or even worse. One set was missing the entire middle portion of the lens...it was pooled up in the bottom of the reflector!
On top of that, the bulbs are usually blown up like a balloon because they got so hot that the glass melted! :eek:

I usually have some good inner lenses lying around. If I don't, I usually know who does ;)

Just put a spanking new set in these last night.

http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/a...3D0798ACA9.jpg

Or this:

http://986forum.com/forums/diy-project-guides/53276-how-retrofit-headlights-hid-bi-xenon-projectors.html

and this:

http://986forum.com/forums/diy-project-guides/51565-how-open-sealed-headlight.html

Both by particlewave, natch

http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/a...otos/012-3.jpg

wow... when you thought you've seen it all ^ unbelievable!

The whole car could have been toasted if this glass would have failed and made contact with that cheap plastic reflector thingny lol

Exterminate the halogens

And those will be burned in a few years.

To quote Fred: Exterminate the halogens!