10-11-2014, 06:57 AM
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#1
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Olde Tyme Sport Cars
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: North Port, Florida
Posts: 30
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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? 
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10-11-2014, 07:15 AM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: It's a kind of magic.....
Posts: 6,614
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Check what bulbs are in them, this often happens when people substitute "high output" bulbs which run way hotter than the stock bulbs.
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“Anything really new is invented only in one’s youth. Later, one becomes more experienced, more famous – and more stupid.” - Albert Einstein
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10-11-2014, 08:16 AM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Bastrop, Tx
Posts: 2,644
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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
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10-11-2014, 08:40 AM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BC
Posts: 1,346
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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.
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2001 Boxster, 5 spd, Seal Grey
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10-22-2014, 01:43 PM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 583
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clickman
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.
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Wait, who is this Fred guy, and where do I send my money??
__________________
2000 S - Borla Exhaust, TS Cat Deletes, RSS UDP, B&M Short Shift, T96 Steering Wheel, Potenza RE-71R's,
Mantis 2.0L Deep Sump, de-snorkeled, Bilstein PSS9 Coil-Overs, Rennline lug studs, and auto crossed regularly.
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10-11-2014, 08:52 AM
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BC
Posts: 1,346
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Quote:
Originally Posted by itsnotanova
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
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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.
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2001 Boxster, 5 spd, Seal Grey
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10-11-2014, 09:25 AM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Bastrop, Tx
Posts: 2,644
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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.
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10-15-2014, 11:06 PM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Montreal, QC. (currently expat to Shanghai)
Posts: 3,249
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clickman
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.
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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 
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______________________________
'97 Boxster base model 2.5L, Guards Red/Tan leather, with a new but old Alpine am/fm radio.
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10-16-2014, 06:42 AM
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BC
Posts: 1,346
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nine8Six
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 |
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.
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2001 Boxster, 5 spd, Seal Grey
Last edited by clickman; 10-16-2014 at 10:20 AM.
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10-12-2014, 03:55 AM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Singapore
Posts: 27
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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.
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10-12-2014, 08:01 AM
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BC
Posts: 1,346
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Why wouldn't they work on a 97? 
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2001 Boxster, 5 spd, Seal Grey
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10-13-2014, 01:51 PM
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#12
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Olde Tyme Sport Cars
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: North Port, Florida
Posts: 30
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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.
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10-13-2014, 03:13 PM
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#13
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There Is No Substitute.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: West Coast
Posts: 3,253
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Speaking of avoiding burnt headlights, does anyone have recommendations for replacement H7 bulbs that won't cause yellowing?
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1999 Ocean Blue Metallic Boxster - blueboxster.com
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10-13-2014, 03:39 PM
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: toronto
Posts: 2,668
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Well it's worse if you have daytime running lights as we do north of the border
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986 00S
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10-13-2014, 06:16 PM
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Listowel, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,120
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jaykay
Well it's worse if you have daytime running lights as we do north of the border
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Yeah, although that just runs the little fog light, and I've never noticed them to yellow?
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2011 Boxster 987.2 Arctic silver / Black leather, PDK with Sports Chrono Package Plus
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10-14-2014, 03:27 PM
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#16
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still plays with cars...
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Baden, ON, Canada
Posts: 1,088
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Giller
Yeah, although that just runs the little fog light, and I've never noticed them to yellow?
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You've got a US market car... whoever federalized it did the foglight DRL hack. Canadian market cars illuminate(?)  low beam bulbs for DRL's.
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Six speed 2000 Boxster S
Arctic Silver on Metropol Blue | LN Dual Row IMSR | Arctic Silver console, spoiler frame & bumperettes | Crios mod | Technobrace | RoboTop module & modified convertible top relay for one-touch roof operation
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10-14-2014, 04:19 PM
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#17
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Listowel, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,120
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BoxsterSteve
You've got a US market car... whoever federalized it did the foglight DRL hack. Canadian market cars illuminate(?) low beam bulbs for DRL's. |
Then all Canadians should do that hack....it looks great! And no yellowing of the lights....
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2011 Boxster 987.2 Arctic silver / Black leather, PDK with Sports Chrono Package Plus
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10-14-2014, 05:05 PM
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#18
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On the slippery slope
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Austin and Palm Springs
Posts: 3,798
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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
__________________
2004 Boxster S 6 speed - DRL relay hack, Polaris AutoTop DIY
2004 996 Targa Tip
Instructor - San Diego region
2014 Porsche Performance Driving School
2020 BMW X3, 2013 Ram 1500, 2016 Cmax, 2004 F-150 "Big Red"
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10-14-2014, 05:26 PM
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#19
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There Is No Substitute.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: West Coast
Posts: 3,253
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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/
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1999 Ocean Blue Metallic Boxster - blueboxster.com
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10-14-2014, 06:14 PM
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#20
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On the slippery slope
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Austin and Palm Springs
Posts: 3,798
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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
__________________
2004 Boxster S 6 speed - DRL relay hack, Polaris AutoTop DIY
2004 996 Targa Tip
Instructor - San Diego region
2014 Porsche Performance Driving School
2020 BMW X3, 2013 Ram 1500, 2016 Cmax, 2004 F-150 "Big Red"
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