Are 986 Litronics plug-in-play?

[silver-S]

That makes sense, then. Thanks for the clarification!

[lkchris]

There are two aspects to the automatic adjustability of the Litronics.

The cool feature is the raising of the low beam to supplement the high (halogen) beam.

Less noticed is German legal requirements when hid lighting is fitted. These cars are required to have automatic beam height adjustment to compensate for loading of the car that creates raising the front end. This requires sensors that are not integral to the headlight unit but rather are closer to the center of the car. Also required by regulation when hid is fitted is some sort of headlight washing.

The notion of replacing the high beam halogen bulb with an hid burner is flawed in that the burner cannot come to full brightness as quickly as a halogen bulb ... meaning the flasher function becomes ineffective. Flashers another German requirement.

Aftermarket solutions are as usual fairly amateurish compared to factory equipment.

[MoeMonney]

Originally Posted by KevinH1990

I installed the module and wiring harness today. I used the TSB and this write up: Skyler's Web Site

My litronics now work just like in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syXUCtUiFWY&feature=youtu.be

It was a real "moment of truth" when I turned on the lights and flicked the high-beam stalk. When I consider that I put the system together as follows:

1. Two headlights from a wrecked Boxster - one had water damage
2. Third headlight from a wrecking yard - had a bad wiring harness
3. Ballast from eBay seller to replace the one with water damage
4. Control module from eBay
5. Wiring harness from ECS Tuning
6. Lot's of advice from Particleweave and Nine8Six
7. Hours of polishing headlight covers

I'm kind of amazed it worked on the first try.

When I started out, all I wanted was the clear covers so that I could de-amber my headlights. I guess I backed into a major project. Still, I'm very happy with the results and the costs were reasonable considering that I was able to sell my amber headlights.

Any chance of getting the TSB some other way? Renntech.org for some reason never opens up for me. I think the site shut down.

[BRAN]

Getting myself prepared for that Litronics upgrade project atm...

PORSCHE still offers a Litroncs upgrade kit, which has no self leveling
99663115701
99663115801
But they do offer litronic high beam support, which requires a specific Boxster controller. Btw. German law requires for all vehicles (equiped with litronics - since 04/2000) head light washers.

There are (probably) factory fitted litronics available, which have a self leveling controller (canbus integrated) included.
99663105701
99663105801
Will they work with the OEM Boxster upgradekit leveling controller 00004490038?

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by MoeMonney

Any chance of getting the TSB some other way? Renntech.org for some reason never opens up for me. I think the site shut down.

RennTech discontinued the TSB when Porsche NA declared them to be the intellectual property of Porsche. Publishing them in any form is a violation of copyright law and subject to legal action, which Porsche NA is famous for...........

[KevinH1990]

Originally Posted by BRAN

Getting myself prepared for that Litronics upgrade project atm...

PORSCHE still offers a Litroncs upgrade kit, which has no self leveling
99663115701
99663115801
But they do offer litronic high beam support, which requires a specific Boxster controller. Btw. German law requires for all vehicles (equiped with litronics - since 04/2000) head light washers.

There are (probably) factory fitted litronics available, which have a self leveling controller (canbus integrated) included.
99663105701
99663105801
Will they work with the OEM Boxster upgradekit leveling controller 00004490038?

I'm using the controller salvaged from a car with the OEM litronics 99661805110

I have not compared my car with retrofitted level controls to a car that was factory equipped. I can say that the levelling effect is not very significant on my car.

[BRAN]

okay, but the Xenon is noticabely adjusting to the high beam, correct?
There seem to be slightly different versions on the market
for the

1.) Leuchtweitenregelung Steuergerät = LWR Controller
000 044 900 38
996 618 151 15
0307870007

2.) head lamps Litronics
European Version

factory installed (?)
99663105701
99663105801

retrofit (still available)
99663115701
99663115801

Wiring harness (retrofit kit part)
99661298800

As there are different stories on the net, some worked, others didn't, my Question would be, if they are inter changeable?
It was said, that some Porsche Dealers were not even 100% sure, as there might be minor differences in the head lamps and controller units (factory vs. retrofit kit / 996 vs. 986), so one has to try. --> can get expensive
I understand, that the factory can bus supported auto leveling is not available with the retrofit kit, because there are additional sensors (although pretty cheap on ebay) needed.
So retrofitted Litronics can only have high beam leveling via LWR Controller.
Question would be: Could a retrofit Litronic head lamp and a factory installed Litronic head lamp work together, with e.g. a retrofit LWR Controller? I haven't found anything on the net yet.

BTW. KevinH1990, did you change your fuse from 7,5 to 15A?

[KevinH1990]

I originally bought the retrofit kit and used that controller. When I was working on another project, I bought a front wiring harness that included the OEM controller and I eventually swapped that in an sold the retrofit harness to someone else. I can verify the following with the OEM controller and the level sensors retrofitted to the driver's sided front and rear:

1. When I switch the lights on and then turn on the car, the lights go through a rotation where they flip up and down and then eventually settle in the middle.
2. When I flip on the high beams, the HID bulbs rotate up and supplement the high beam halogen bulbs.

Here's a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGkfebCCf2Y

When I am driving the car, I cannot detect any action. For example, when I go down a hill I would expect the HID's to rotate up slightly to extend my field of vision. If they are doing that the action is subtle and I cannot tell.

The lights did actions 1 and 2 whether I used the OEM module or the retrofit. I forget whether they did action number 1 before I installed the level sensors.

I can send you a pdf showing the work I did installing the level sensors. The is too big to post here, so send me a PM with your email address and I will forward it to you.

If I recall correctly, the fuse in my car was 15 amp and I did not need to change it.

I hope this helps.

[BRAN]

Thanks Kevin.
I got myself a pair of new/NOS OEM factory Litronics.
And the Retrofit module. Hope they will work together like the retrofits.
Good Retrofit Litronics are hard to come by...or brand new from Porsche...for twice the price.

[BRAN]

My PORSCHE dealership was so nice to ship the retrofit cable...with the connectors attached.
PROBLEM: You cannot get them through a 2cm hole as stated in the instructions. Now I need to un-pin those cables, but I have a Feeling there is a lock somewhere invisibly hidden on the connector.
I can hear the snap of the Holding pins, when using bobby Pins, but they don't want to move a milimeter.
Did ANYONE ever come across those connectors (they have a Mercedes logo on the other side...lol)?

[Starter986]

Couldn't you snip the wires... then reconnect them and with some wire shrink wrap?

That's assuming they won't release from the connector.

[KevinH1990]

I recommend that you obtain the tool shown in the picture. It has several different options for removing pins on electrical connectors. I did not use it during my litronic installation, but one of the tips worked on a headlight connector in my 2005 Mercedes C230 and the connector looks similar.

If you cannot "de-pin" the connectors at the headlight end of the harness, see if you can remove pins from the large connector that attaches to the control unit.

As Starter986 says, you can also cut and reattach the wires. I recommend that you solder them and then shrink wrap them.

[BRAN]

thanks guys.
Cutting = Plan B, of course.
So I ordered that tool, we'll see, if it does the trick.

[Vza]

Hey Bran, I just did my litronic upgrade. For pin removal get a Bobby pin (preferably a smaller one) pull or file the little bulbs off the ends.
Continue to file the tips down. Get needle nose pliers and bend the tips inward. (hard to describe I'll see if I can post a pic)
There is a lock on the plug and its shown in the pic you posted. Its the center square below the letters 'pa' get a small pic or awl and pry the square upward, you will hear it click.
Insert your Bobby pin tool into the front of the plug and push it in so it's well seated. Tug on the wire you're working on. You'll feel it move a little then it will stop, get your awl and massage
the neoprene plug fitted around the back end of the wire,eventually it'll loosen up and come out. There is no need for hole making if you get the 4 wires removed, cut a small slit in the grommet
for the headlight loom and tread the 4 wires through that one at a time then pull all 4 down to the headlight. Good luck. V

[BRAN]

Thank you for your advice, Vza. Will try...those little connectors challenged me...

[BRAN]

April UPDATE:
After sorting the problems with un- and repinning the connectors, de- and reassembling brake booster covers, locking the brand new left headlight into place and using the correct WHITE WIRE from the HARNESS(!!)...I got the Litronics working, finally.

Factory OEM / Non-retrofit Litronics
99663105701
99663105801
do work with the Boxster upgradekit leveling controller
00004490038

CONFIRMED! They self adjust at start-up AND they adjust to the hi-beam.

[BRAN]

As the retrofitted Litronics require headlight washer jets to get TÜV approval, I am sourcing and installing the components.
Question: Do I have to get an additional pump or just a connector for the existing one? Answer: Yes, there are 2 different pumps necessary (mentioned in the Bentley service manual)

[Iowacoinguy]

Quick question for a newbie - I am thinking about buying a Boxster that has the litronics in them. How value do they add? I would likely switch out the halogens for the litronics if I bought one without but this guy is a few hundred more than every comparable non-litronic other one I have seen.

[KevinH1990]

I would be willing to pay $500 more for a Boxster with litronics than for an identical Boxster without them. I understand that there are few truly identical cars. Even if you didn’t like the litronics you could probably swap them with someone who did for their halogen headlights and cash.

[78F350]

+1 to what Kevin said. They are a good feature if you keep them and a good value if you decide to trade/sell them. +$500 sounds about right to me.

Also note that a car that originally came configured with them is yet a better value than one that they were just plugged into as a swap. Option code M601 on the sticker under the frunk.