Halogen vs Xenons

[red_wagen]

People on here with halogens, do you regret not getting xenons or are you happy with the halogen's performance? Xenon=Litronic? Sorry, newbie here. Is it possible to retrofit? If so, how much? Thanks much!

[z12358]

Happy with halogens here. Never really understood the xenons hoopla. Seems to me most people get them for looks but I fail to see what they really do for the car esthetically. In terms of safety, they (especially if they are even slightly misadjusted) seem to blind oncoming traffic much more than halogens. Beats me how that helps safety for everyone. Just IMHO.
Z.

[AUDIOGUY]

Z, if you have an 06', the halogens are far better than that of the 986. Yours, if I am correct, are projector beam halogens. Older 986s have standard halogen sealed beam lamps. These are not as good performance wise as the new halogens. I would have regretted buying a non-xenon Box. I think porsches xenons are one of the better lighting setups out there. They are definately a crisp white and fill out the driving field nicely. Also if you are facing an oncomming car, the center of your beam is the brightest part and wont blind traffic but still illuminate the sides of the road. I live in an area with alot of deer. More than a few times, I was able to spot those eyes on the edge of the trees much sooner than I used to due to the lights.

Ok, last reason for the xenons is that they do look pretty cool. I have to say, that I definately prefer the look of a vehicle with xenons vs non. IMOH this says that you are driving a car with todays best technology. Also, I believe the non xenon 986s have amber in them instead of all clear? Plus, I noticed when buying my car, xenon equipped cars were slightly more expensive.

Just a question, if you retro-fit a car with litronics, will the self leveling feature work or not?

Best of luck!

Originally Posted by AUDIOGUY

Ok, last reason for the xenons is that they do look pretty cool. I have to say, that I definately prefer the look of a vehicle with xenons vs non. IMOH this says that you are driving a car with todays best technology.

I agree with this. I selected the Xenons for the "Cool Factor". Like how many people here test drove the Xenon cars at night to really see if they were better than Halogens?

[Jeph]

Originally Posted by AUDIOGUY

Just a question, if you retro-fit a car with litronics, will the self leveling feature work or not?

No.

(this post must be at least 10 characters)

[UKBXSTR]

I bought a xenon kit to replace the stock halogen bulbs - originally fitted it to the 986 where it made a BIG difference), then removed and fitted into my current 06 987S, where it makes a difference but not so great as in the 986.

Idon't have self levelling or the washers, but i've never had an issue with oncoming traffic or when following other cars.


986 Comparison..
Before..


After..


987 Installed..

[jeffsquire]

Originally Posted by red_wagen

People on here with halogens, do you regret not getting xenons or are you happy with the halogen's performance? Xenon=Litronic? Sorry, newbie here. Is it possible to retrofit? If so, how much? Thanks much!

______________________


HAppy with HAlogens

[Perfectlap]

Lots o' mods on my BoxsterS. Some cheap some not so cheap.
The best bang for the buck mod was adding side skirts. Completely
changes the look. Well worth the $1000.00 clams.

Now as for lowest bang for the buck that the Litronics.
$1100 clams and my Boxster doesn't really look any different then when I had the
the clear halogen set (no amber). I rarely drive in dark rural areas and
Halogen vs. Litronic (zenon, HID, etc) is barely a difference in terms of
lighting up already well lit streets and highways. From my point of view its a strictly cosmetic upgrade that give you a cool euro look. I see why clear halogens are so valuable. The amber-free look without spending $1K+
$1000 would have been better spent on replica 5 spoke Carreras and made a world of difference.

Litronics are definitely a bottom of the list upgrade on the 986

[red_wagen]

So as I thought, xenons are not a big step up from halogens performance wise. Plus they prolly cost an arm and a leg when they burn out and have to be replaced. But they look so cool...

[RandallNeighbour]

I guess I'm the odd guy here on this topic... I've had base halogens on my 1997 and upgraded to the litronics... huge difference in lighting brightness and color. The car is far more fun to drive at night now because I can see the road ahead and animals on the road (both with paws and drivers of cars).

I'm of the mindset that if you enjoy driving fast, and you plan on doing even freeway speeds in your Boxster at night, litronics make it safer and that's a good thing one can't put a price tag on.

[SD987]

So as I thought, xenons are not a big step up from halogens performance wise. Plus they prolly cost an arm and a leg when they burn out and have to be replaced. But they look so cool...

Most xenon lamp bulbs are "lifetime". The chart below quantifies the difference between halogen and xenon in the 987. However, as Audioguy notes, the halogens in the 987 are excellent, the 986 halogens...not so much, which explains peoples reactions to performing the upgrade in the different models. (I've owned a 987 with each). It's a universal violation (in countries with a standard vehicular code) to run HIDs without self-levelling and washers, but I suspect most folks don't give a rat's ass.

Interesting bit of 987 xenon trivia, the washers actually route the water spray in the direction that the vehicle is moving. So instead of deflecting the water spray, the air flow actually increases its speed of delivery.