Adding Headlamp Washers

[PaulDash]

The short:
I want to add option M288 "Headlamp washer" to my MY99 that was not equipped with them. Is this possible? What do I need?

The long version:
In a future project, after getting some mechanical stuff sorted, I will probably install Charles' projectors. The laws here state that Xenon lights must be self-leveling and have a cleaning system; the former would be very hard to install but is also hard to check; the latter is what I want to comply with.

My car is a MY99. It has the old-style lamps, no washers, no 7-liter fluid reservoir. I want to add the option M288 "Headlamp washer". What parts aside from the bigger reservoir, the triangles, and actual washers do I need? I already have the 4-stalk controller and the upper right-hand cap has an icon for the headlights, but do I need some extra wiring? A relay?

All help will be appreciated. I'd like to assess the budget and possibly get this done even before the Nine8six projectors, while the car is apart for other work.

[geraintthomas]

Depending on where you are, that law is very conceived by everyone. I'm in the UK and a lot of people think that, but what the MOT guidelines actually say is that self levellers and washers on Xenon applications must work to pass an MOT. It does not say they need to be present. They just have to work if you have them.

I contacted VOSA themselves on this and they came back confirming that self levelling and washing devices don't need to be present for a Xenon headlight to be legal. However, the Xenon light must be E marked and, when buying aftermarket, that's very hard to come by.

When going for an MOT though, that's irrelevant. As long as the beam pattern, light output and colour is good (no blue lights and no blurry beam pattern), it'll pass.

But like I said I'm not sure if you're in the UK or if the laws are the same, but if it states that levellers and washers must work on xenon lamps, that doesn't mean you need them - it just means they need to work if you have them.

ANYWAY! Back on subject, as this is something I'd like to do too as it's just plain cool to have let me know how you get on!

[j.fro]

Be careful what you wish for. The housings around the washer jets crack causing the jets themselves to be ejected and hopelessly lost. You're left with a gaping hole where the jet used to be, and all it does is dribble washer fluid on the front of the car. Think you can just buy the jets and glue them in?? Sorry, Porsche only sells the whole housing/jet unit, and of course it's at a Porsche dealership price.
I bought a set of non-washer corners and deleted the whole mess.

[geraintthomas]

Oh :/ sounds a bit naff.

[911monty]

Originally Posted by j.fro

I bought a set of non-washer corners and deleted the whole mess.

J.fro; Can you buy clear corners without the water feature? I have a set of used Lits that I may sell if I can't get them. Thanks

[PaulDash]

911monty, I'll buy your Litronics
j.fro, I'll buy your washer jets and 'whole mess'.

Seriously, if you dismantled the system, do you remember what components you were taking out?

[geraintthomas]

Originally Posted by 911monty

J.fro; Can you buy clear corners without the water feature? I have a set of used Lits that I may sell if I can't get them. Thanks

Of course you can, look at standard headlights. This is a litronic with clear corners:

[Santafe]

Originally Posted by geraintthomas

Depending on where you are, that law is very conceived by everyone. I'm in the UK and a lot of people think that, but what the MOT guidelines actually say is that self levellers and washers on Xenon applications must work to pass an MOT. It does not say they need to be present. They just have to work if you have them.

I contacted VOSA themselves on this and they came back confirming that self levelling and washing devices don't need to be present for a Xenon headlight to be legal. However, the Xenon light must be E marked and, when buying aftermarket, that's very hard to come by.

When going for an MOT though, that's irrelevant. As long as the beam pattern, light output and colour is good (no blue lights and no blurry beam pattern), it'll pass.

But like I said I'm not sure if you're in the UK or if the laws are the same, but if it states that levellers and washers must work on xenon lamps, that doesn't mean you need them - it just means they need to work if you have them.

ANYWAY! Back on subject, as this is something I'd like to do too as it's just plain cool to have let me know how you get on!

My 03s failed MOT last August because I had failed to notice that one of the washer jets had gone missing ( two jets per side ) exactly as j.fro described, I objected to the MOT depot chief examiner and he assured me that EU law required all vehicles fitted with Xenon headlights must be self levelling & equipped with washers, VOSA backed this up. As Porsche will only sell the complete washer body the best deal I could get was £150 per side, this was from Design 911

[j.fro]

PaulDash, I'd love to sell what I've got, but the stuffs useless. I've got both washer bodies, but they are missing all four of the jets, and they are cracked. Dig around and you'll find the schematic for the plumbing... Essentially, it's a hose between the two and another attaching the left one to the pump & washerfluid tank.

[PaulDash]

Originally Posted by j.fro

Essentially, it's a hose between the two and another attaching the left one to the pump & washerfluid tank.

Thanks! Is that really it? The tank is much larger and will require a second pump. Any other items? Mounts? Electronics?

[geraintthomas]

Is there a second pump? Or is it literally another feed coming off the washer pipe that feeds the lights too?

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by PaulDash

Thanks! Is that really it? The tank is much larger and will require a second pump. Any other items? Mounts? Electronics?

Paul - refer to the porsche-parts diagram for the parts needed. There is an additional pump you'll need, hoses, and if I am correct the in-car pull stalks will need to be changed as well if it didn;t come original with headlight washers by factory. Not 100% sure on the latest.

The windshield fluid tank is also not the same but could be quickly retrofitted with a T adapter I'm guessing. Not verified but wouldn't surprised if the case.

[Qmulus]

If you want to know what all you need to add the headlight washers, look here.

Basically, you need the bigger reservoir, the extra high pressure pump, a few assorted lines, the washer nozzles with valves, the control relay and of course wiring.

[geraintthomas]

So it wouldn't work by simply adding a T-junction into the piping then. Pressure would be too low?

[Qmulus]

Originally Posted by geraintthomas

So it wouldn't work by simply adding a T-junction into the piping then. Pressure would be too low?

Yes, the headlight washer uses a high volume, high pressure pump that pulses. I doubt you would get much more than a dribble out of a regular washer pump. You definitely could not T off the existing one.

[geraintthomas]

Ah well. Thanks for the confirmation!

[j.fro]

Just saw this over on renntech. It turns out that Porsche does indeed sell just the nozzles... they have a 993 part number and are $25 each: 9936280720001C

here's the whole post
http://www.renntech.org/forums/topic/41591-whats-wrong-with-my-headlight-washer/

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by Santafe

My 03s failed MOT last August because I had failed to notice that one of the washer jets had gone missing ( two jets per side ) exactly as j.fro described, I objected to the MOT depot chief examiner and he assured me that EU law required all vehicles fitted with Xenon headlights must be self levelling & equipped with washers, VOSA backed this up. As Porsche will only sell the complete washer body the best deal I could get was £150 per side, this was from Design 911

That same thing gets said here in the US, but is 100% false.
There are a few on this board and many on rennlist that claim all US cars with xenon projectors require self-leveling and washers, but it is utter nonsense left over from the early days of xenon when they were rare. It was/is an elitist "I'm better than you" thing.

An easy way to answer the question would be to go to any new car lot and see how many new cars with xenons have headlight washers (the self-leveling may be harder to check for). The answer here in the US is that almost no xenon equipped cars have these features from the factory. The common sense deduction is that they are not required. If they were, these cars would not be sold here.
Of course, you could also just read up on DOT/MOT regulations.

[lkchris]

Originally Posted by particlewave

There are a few on this board and many on rennlist that claim all US cars with xenon projectors require self-leveling and washers, but it is utter nonsense left over from the early days of xenon when they were rare. It was/is an elitist "I'm better than you" thing.

That's not quite it.

No, the washers aren't required in the USA but they are required in the EU and NO German manufacturer deletes them (or the auto-leveling) on HID-equipped USA models. This is known as integrity. What Chebbie does is of no interest.

In the USA you are free to add Litetronics to a halogen Boxster without also adding washing and leveling.

In fact, in the USA, you are essentially free to illegally add HID burners to light units not designed with reflectors that correspond. This is as far from "elite" as it gets. It's chintzy.

[KevinH1990]

My instructions on adding the self-leveling feature to litronic headlights includes a brief discussion of how to add the headlight washers. I have not done this myself, but I think someone on Boxa.net did.