Headlight Upgrade?

[KellyC]

Are there any recommended bulbs that can upgrade the headlight output of a 986 (non-HID)? I'm not too impressed with my stock lights, and am thinking there must be something more modern that can provide better lighting. Anything with LED?

I'm not interested in replacing the entire headlight assembly, just the bulbs.

I've seen many other direct drop-in replacements for things like reverse lights, headlights, etc for other cars. There must be something useful for ours, too - right?

[Fintro11]

You have to do the whole assembly

Or you will end up with this

[Van914]

Here is the best upgrade!
http://986forum.com/forums/diy-project-guides/48169-porsche-headlight-retrofit-%5B-cad-prototyping-finish-49.html

[mikefocke]

Higher wattage, higher heat, lens burn.

Litronics.

or maybe

TechnoLite HID

No experience with the latter.

[BRAN]

Sure there is a solution:

OSRAM - Night Breaker Unlimited H7 Automotive Halogen Bulbs H7 (Pair; 55W)
Up to 110 % more brightness than standard OEM Bulbs.
• A light cone up to 40 meters longer for better visibility.
• Up to 20 % whiter light via partial cobalt coating of the glass bod.
• The most powerful OSRAM halogen automotive lamp
• Bulb size: H7. Made in Germany

Best H7 solution out there, no problems so far, I bought mine 3 years ago.

In combination with:
OSRAM - Cool Blue Intense W5W (Pair)
• 20% More Light
• 4200K Color Temp
• Approved for use on public roads in North America and Europe.

[KellyC]

Originally Posted by BRAN

Sure there is a solution:

OSRAM - Night Breaker Unlimited H7 Automotive Halogen Bulbs H7 (Pair; 55W)
Up to 110 % more brightness than standard OEM Bulbs.
• A light cone up to 40 meters longer for better visibility.
• Up to 20 % whiter light via partial cobalt coating of the glass bod.
• The most powerful OSRAM halogen automotive lamp
• Bulb size: H7. Made in Germany

Best H7 solution out there, no problems so far, I bought mine 3 years ago.

In combination with:
OSRAM - Cool Blue Intense W5W (Pair)
• 20% More Light
• 4200K Color Temp
• Approved for use on public roads in North America and Europe.

Ok - thanks! Maybe I'll give that a try.

I'm a little disappointed that LED manuf companies haven't released a plug & play replacement for our headlights. I love LED lights in my house and my cars. Cool, bright, efficient, what's not to love? I've even put LEDs in my dome lights of my cars. It makes such a huge difference over the stock dim lights.

[KellyC]

Wait - what about this?

http://www.amazon.com/New-Brights-LED-Headlight-Conversion/dp/B00MOR4CDI/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1432244333&sr=1-2&keywords=h7+led

[Dlirium]

Originally Posted by Van914

Here is the best upgrade!
http://986forum.com/forums/diy-project-guides/48169-porsche-headlight-retrofit-%5B-cad-prototyping-finish-49.html

+1 love mine!

[EJ-Fresno]

Can we put LED all around the head light or there will be heat issue?
LED for low beams would be an issue, right?

[KellyC]

Originally Posted by Dlirium

+1 love mine!

Yikes! 49 pages! How much and where can I find them?

[EJ-Fresno]

Originally Posted by KellyC

Yikes! 49 pages! How much and where can I find them?

Looks like Pelican is selling them now...

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by EJ-Fresno

Looks like Pelican is selling them now...

No way, link me up? They just received them I think a week ago how possible

Last time I heard they were looking at fixing deals for you guys, asking questions on DIY, manuals. Geez quick stuff... link link link?


K - Okay to use LEDs in the main driving lights but if you want to run a set that performs those comes with heat. Not advised but if they are not abused e.g. short drive out, city car, I personally don't see this heat as a major issue.

Personal opinion; LEDs are just not yet there. Those in the range that I see here locally anyway... as in those that you and I can afford (commercial). Can't wait until those auto-makers share their new LED technology. I'll be honest it troubles me to see the new LED "tech" headlights on the 2015/16 car models... its just absolutely beautiful (works as well I've heard)

[EJ-Fresno]

Have just been cruising Pelican but couldn't find them
Guess I've been too optimistic with the "early May" release date...

So we can use LEDs for fog lights, turn signals, tail lights.... anywhere but low beams?

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by EJ-Fresno

Have just been cruising Pelican but couldn't find them
Guess I've been too optimistic with the "early May" release date...

So we can use LEDs for fog lights, turn signals, tail lights.... anywhere but low beams?

Man I would have hate to be the last to find out :/ Thanks for not finding them avail lollll

LED... You can even have them in your dome light plastic thingy I bet you could have LEDs in all 3 (fogs high and low). That'd be interesting. Whatever you experiment with just put you hand on the lens and lookup for heat... let's say during a cool evening. If you can't feel any heat at all chances are you'll be okay. If there is any heat at all (during that same cool evening) then... based on luck really, could well be enough to damage a headlight. Really don't know mate

I've seen some pretty wicked LED kits at this end. Cheap! $69.99 as in those branded Super Power lolll It scares the hell out of me just to hook them up on my DC power supply here (+3amps I think). Makes humming noise and all..... hot stuff careful.

Sure needs proper judgment for those 9x6 headlights

[gtoger]

Yeah, I'm a n00b. Been through the multitude of posts and pages regarding headlights and my head is spinning. Just bought a 98 986, and the headlights are beyond ugly.

As I see it, our upgrade options are as follows:

#1: Buy entire assembly with LED turn signal/DRL from Jeff @ xtreme. Lights look fantastic, quality is questionable, return policy is horrible. I was about ready to pull the trigger on these until I read some unflattering commentary about the longevity of the lights and the service after the sale.

#2: Looks like there's another seller on Ebay called "Made In Taiwan" with the exact same assembly as Jeff sells. If it's the same product, it stands to reason the same potential for failure exists. But if getting any sort of after-sale support is difficult with Xtreme, I can imagine it's worse from Taiwan.

#3: Follow the "Porsche Headlight Retrofit [from CAD, prototyping to finish)" thread and maybe build my own. NOPE! I suck at that. Or have someone build that for me? I didn't see an obvious way to place an order. But the work and end product looks really trick.

#4: Wait for Pelican to release their kit.

To be clear, I'm an average guy with fair to mediocre craftsmanship skills. I'm looking for the best way to reliably update and upgrade the lights on my old Boxster that is as plug-&-play as possible. I want to lose the "fried egg" look and go to something that looks like it's from a current-gen car.

I'm more than a bit confused on what my options are in that regard. Admittedly, this is my first foray into the world of handsome German mid-engine roadsters. Can someone help me out?

[Ottacat]

When I bought my Boxster it wouldn't pass safety because of the burns / yellow marks in the halogens. As a n00b at the time as well I bought the LED style aftermarket lights. There are complete pieces of crap. They are so poorly made they don't latch properly. I found a video on YouTube of a guy putting some in his car and they had a hell of a time getting them latched. I couldn't get either latched and ended up taking them to a Porsche specialist. He got one latched but simply couldn't get the second one latched. He ended up putting the car up on the hoist and drilling a screw up from underneath into the assembly to hold it in place.

My advice is to wait until Pelican gets in Fred's kits and then either do them yourself or sweet talk particlewave into doing them for you (if he still is doing them).

[gtoger]

It's so tough because you look at those LED units and say to yourself "man, those are sweet! Maybe those people just got a bad one. Or they did it wrong. They wouldn't sell 'em if they weren't great, right?" But then you read all the disappointments and, well, just don't have the stomach for it. Because that's a LOT of money to wind up with crap!

[jpc763]

Originally Posted by gtoger

#3: Follow the "Porsche Headlight Retrofit [from CAD, prototyping to finish)" thread and maybe build my own. NOPE! I suck at that. Or have someone build that for me? I didn't see an obvious way to place an order. But the work and end product looks really trick.

#4: Wait for Pelican to release their kit.

Hey gtoger,

I too am in kind of the same boat as you but I have done much more reading. I was looking into this in October but decided to do my stereo upgrade first. Now the procedure is changed, but the product remains the same.

First, #4 is also #3. Nine8Six is the designer of the retro kit and he had them available on his website up until this month when Pelican is taking over. They want to have a top notch procedure written up before releasing the product to hundreds of us buyers. You can look at the products here The ultimate bi-xenon headlight retrofit kit for Sport & Super cars

particalwave was actually doing the headlight retrofit back in October. You would order from the above website shipping them to particlewave, remove your headlights and send them to particalwave who would replace the lights with the new ones and send them back. I do not know if he is still doing this now that pelican parts has taken over.

Hope this helps.

John

[particlewave]

That is all...

[BRAN]

That kit just looks fantastic...if I could get them street legal, that would be my 1st and only choice. In terms of improved H7 headlight output...those H7 OSRAMs are next gen...not quite but almost like HID