Someone needs to improve 986 clear lights - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

eslai · 07-23-2007, 10:59 PM

Okay, so sorry to start another thread on the topic but I thought the topic warranted its own thread.

The one thing I always hated about the 986 was the headlights. Fried egg looks bad, but I can't say that the clear lights look any better.

The problem I have is that the "cleared" part is so dark. It looks as though the light is busted. Actually, what it reminds me the most of is a burned-out flash cube. (I'm sure we're mostly all old enough to remember those

)

Sorry to steal your car's photo, conradtan, but it was your thread that got me thinking on this. I did a quick and dirty photoshop application to your car. I think the clears would look so much better if they were as bright as the rest of the headlight.

What do you guys think? And by that I mean what do you think about the lightened clear area that I mocked up, versus the stock version. I am not trying to discuss personal preference of amber versus clear.

Modified:

conradtan's original photo, for reference:

humara · 07-23-2007, 11:23 PM

dude, you're straight trippin.
you could go buy a 987, i guess

eslai · 07-23-2007, 11:35 PM

Thank you for your concise and meaningful contribution.

And uh, I have a 987.

FIG · 07-24-2007, 04:29 AM

whiter....is nicer......

CJ_Boxster · 07-24-2007, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIG

whiter....is nicer......

In this case yes... dancing, not so much

Perfectlap · 07-24-2007, 06:40 AM

The headlights were lifted from the 1997 GT1 evolution.
Straight from the race track to your Boxster!
(three years before the 911 got them).

allot of people hated the fried eggs but I LOVED them, . I always HATED the VW beetle lights on the 993, 964, etc. I'm not sure if the GT1 borrowed the lights from the design department's 1993 Boxster concept or vice versa.

Boxtaboy · 07-24-2007, 06:49 AM

I think this is a moot point. The factory has already updated the headlight design in the 987. Why would they want to revise the 986 headlight design at this point? Besides, I think the 986 headlight looks just fine on the 986. Some people like the smoked lense look, some clear, some amber.

eslai · 07-24-2007, 07:21 AM

Note that I said "someone needs to improve [them]", not "Porsche needs to improve them". I think the aftermarket could come up with something, y'know?

And I didn't know that the headlights came from Porsche's racing. They look pretty good on the GT1, but it does look like the headlights are of uniform color on it.

Perfectlap · 07-24-2007, 07:59 AM

^hard to tell since the GT1 lights are sitting under all those layers of tear offs.
I think you have a far more meticulous eye than the casual sports car guy!
The closer I look at the GT1 the more I seem to believe that they are the EXACT same housing as on the 986 Boxsters and 1999-2001 911's. Look closely and you will see the detachable clear triangle corner that was used to accommodate the headlight washing option on the road cars.

As far as racing, the fixed headlight design (vs. pop up lights like previous LeMans Corvettes) of the fried eggs was aerodynamically ideal and a shrewd move by Porsche. Also, Notice the second set of lights on either side the fried eggs on the GT1. I'm guessing the engineers roated to light up around the corners during the long endurance races.

p.s.
The fried eggs are a piece of history, a year later in 1998 the GT1 took 1st and 2nd at LeMans and helped Porsche break the record for wins.

Tool Pants · 07-24-2007, 08:04 AM

Someone has come out with clear side markers that are actually clear.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=003&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=130135724777&rd=1&rd=1

djomlas · 07-24-2007, 09:22 AM

its just personal preference i guess, but i LOVE the smoked lights on the race car above. i think that it would look nicer to just put smoke film on the existing headlights and have a very nice look to it.
the clear side markers on the other hand are

i actually prefer the yellow film.
but anyways, heres what i think would look best

Boxtaboy · 07-24-2007, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eslai

Note that I said "someone needs to improve [them]", not "Porsche needs to improve them". I think the aftermarket could come up with something, y'know?

And I didn't know that the headlights came from Porsche's racing. They look pretty good on the GT1, but it does look like the headlights are of uniform color on it.

Like I said, some people like smoked, some clear, some amber. FWIW, I think the 986 headlamps are fine as is.

porsche986spyder · 07-24-2007, 10:04 AM

The dealership now uses the clear side markers with amber bulbs on all there new models. Not the smoked ones DJolmas, so I think the the clear ones look fine. I use silver bulbs on mine that shine amber when they blink.

eslai · 07-24-2007, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

I think you have a far more meticulous eye than the casual sports car guy!

That might be true. I'm very design-oriented and highly critical of minor flaws. That's why I only date supermodels.

I don't mind the shape of the fried egg lights at all, I just don't like 'em with big amber pieces on them or dark spots--they should be uniform in my opinion. The clear lights that Tool Pants posted might be a good example of how to do it, but I'd have to see it on the car.

Along the same lines, what djlomas posted would probably look fine too-it's all about having the lens be one uniform color.

eslai · 07-24-2007, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boxtaboy

Like I said, some people like smoked, some clear, some amber. FWIW, I think the 986 headlamps are fine as is.

I have no idea why you responded with this. You wrote this:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boxtaboy

I think this is a moot point. The factory has already updated the headlight design in the 987. Why would they want to revise the 986 headlight design at this point?

I responded with this:

Quote:

Originally Posted by eslai

Note that I said "someone needs to improve [them]", not "Porsche needs to improve them". I think the aftermarket could come up with something, y'know?

So how is your "Like I said..." comment in any way remotely related to these statements?

rdancd816 · 07-24-2007, 01:32 PM

I guess personal taste is always a factor. I think the 986 headlight module looks great. In fact, in my opinion, it's the best looking front-end Porsche has had for quite a while. To each his own. I'm not going to de-amber mine as I want to keep it original.

Boxtaboy · 07-24-2007, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eslai

I have no idea why you responded with this. You wrote this:

I responded with this:

So how is your "Like I said..." comment in any way remotely related to these statements?

Your point: you think the smoked lense is ugly, and that some aftermarket shop should make a clear lense version of the lights. My point: I think it's personal preference, and nothing should necessarily change, as some people like it smoked, some amber, etc.

I also find it amusing that you bother to comment on headlights that you don't need to even worry about, since you have the 987 which doesn't have the fried egg style headlights.

eslai · 07-24-2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boxtaboy

Your point: you think the smoked lense is ugly, and that some aftermarket shop should make a clear lense version of the lights. My point: I think it's personal preference, and nothing should necessarily change, as some people like it smoked, some amber, etc.

LOL you're kidding, right?

Your point: The factory already redesigned the headlights on the 987 and would have no reason to redesign the 986 headlights.

My point: I didn't say that Porsche should redesign the 986 headlights, I said that someone should redesign them.

THAT is what I was talking about, nothing more.

eslai · 07-24-2007, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdancd816

I guess personal taste is always a factor. I think the 986 headlight module looks great. In fact, in my opinion, it's the best looking front-end Porsche has had for quite a while. To each his own. I'm not going to de-amber mine as I want to keep it original.

And that's fine, but as far as clear headlights go do you think the clear looks better with a dark turn signal, or better with the lightened one that I 'shopped up?

Boxtaboy · 07-24-2007, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eslai

LOL you're kidding, right?

Your point: The factory already redesigned the headlights on the 987 and would have no reason to redesign the 986 headlights.

My point: I didn't say that Porsche should redesign the 986 headlights, I said that someone should redesign them.

THAT is what I was talking about, nothing more.

I was talking about more. I was saying that I don't believe there is a need for Porsche nor an aftermarket shop to create a clear lower part of the headlight. JMHO. Yawn. Let's move on. This is boring.