lighting query

[aporschefan]

For those that have 'upgraded' their front lights, do you have any before and after pics you can share?

I may change mine soon but want to base my change on feedback from the real world as opposed to manufacturers claims.

The current options are:

1. http://www.porscheshop.co.uk/acatalog/porsche_944_lights.html (Approx half way down the page titled 'HID Xenon Headlight Kit - Porsche 944 All')

2. http://www.design911.co.uk/fu/pt70_190_-cma81-cmo123-ct310/Porsche/944-1982-91/944-Turbo-S-25L-8V-1988--/HID-Light-Kits/ (The first option titled 'HID H4 Xenon Light Dual Bulb Kit Porsche ')

3. Something else???

I know changing the glass lens and using new bulbs makes a difference but the previous owner did this just over a year ago and I'm still not happy. Hence the wish to 'upgrade'...

 

[scam75]

I fitted a set of Osram Nightbreakers and the difference was night and day (literally!). They are still going strong 2 years later and cost about a tenner!

The standard bulbs are no better than candles inside brown bottles! [&:]

Stuart

 

[aporschefan]

Plus one on the Nightbreakers. Take a look on the Department for Transport website and search for HID - I think you'll be in danger of failing your MOT with an HID conversion, unless you can also install a self levelling system.

 

[Copperman05]

HID lights look wrong on 20+ year old cars IMO. Nightbreakers or Phillips extreme are very good improvement as stated above.


Edd

 

[zcacogp]

Two more options;

1. Install some relays by the headlights, and some decent-gauge cable from the battery (or the +12v post in the back of the engine bay) to the relays (with a fuse in, of course). Use the signal from the existing wiring loom to turn these relays on and off, and then use the relays to power the headlights, using the new fatter cable as the supply. You will lose quite a lot of power through the existing loom and I doubt you'll see more than about 10v at the end of it when the headlights are on. Some new fresh wiring will overcome this and help a lot.

2. If you have done the above, you can then install larger headlight bulbs - perhaps up to about 160/120w. These may or may not be legal (the law is unclear, and it's related to the age of the car as well) but will improve the lighting DRAMATICALLY.

Total cost of the above will be around £20, and take a couple of hours.


Oli.

 

[Hilux]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

Two more options;

1. Install some relays by the headlights, and some decent-gauge cable from the battery (or the +12v post in the back of the engine bay) to the relays (with a fuse in, of course). Use the signal from the existing wiring loom to turn these relays on and off, and then use the relays to power the headlights, using the new fatter cable as the supply. You will lose quite a lot of power through the existing loom and I doubt you'll see more than about 10v at the end of it when the headlights are on. Some new fresh wiring will overcome this and help a lot.

2. If you have done the above, you can then install larger headlight bulbs - perhaps up to about 160/120w. These may or may not be legal (the law is unclear, and it's related to the age of the car as well) but will improve the lighting DRAMATICALLY.

Total cost of the above will be around £20, and take a couple of hours.


Oli.

Spot on.

Run the lights via a relay and you get full voltage, that will make a huge difference. Add aftermarket lamps such as Nightbreakers and job done for £30 max.

 

[GlennS]

+1 on OSRAM Night Breakers. Makes a huge difference.

 

[George Elliott]

to top off the relays and super bulbs, - add an adjustable voltage regulator and optimise the electrical system to the top of the upper voltage tolerance. (I think 13.5v)

George
944t

 

[aporschefan]

Thanks for the feedback folks. Will buy some night breakers today.

Re the suggestion oil and the others have made, is there anyone that can help with this? I'm
Completly useless at anything mechanical or electrical.

I'm based in nw London and happy to travel a little...

 

[aporschefan]

I think this the one I need - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Osram-Night-Breaker-Extreme-Sidelights/dp/B004J3F7G6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1328950212&sr=8-7

Can someone confirm as I don't want to order the wrong bulbs.

Presumably I can order the same bulbs for the main and the dipped beam? (I may as well change them all)

 

[andy watson]

Or..........new headlights - that made a difference!

 

[Copperman05]

I had good results with the Phillips Xtreme headlights, the Osram nightbreakers went after about 18 months use.

http://www.powerbulbs.com/product/philips-xtreme-vision-h4-car-headlight-bulbs

Edd

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: jabriel
I think this the one I need - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Osram-Night-Breaker-Extreme-Sidelights/dp/B004J3F7G6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1328950212&sr=8-7

Can someone confirm as I don't want to order the wrong bulbs.

Presumably I can order the same bulbs for the main and the dipped beam? (I may as well change them all)

Those are the right bulbs for the main headlights (the lights that pop up) - they are called H4's, and have both the main beam and the dipped beam filament in them. They will fit your car.

I don't know what model 944 you have, but on the S2 and turbo there are also three lights in the bumper. One of these is the side light, one of these is the fog light and one of these is an additional main beam driving light, which comes on when the main beam headlights come on. I don't know what the arrangement on the Lux/924 is, but I am guessing it is possibly similar.

Fitting the relays is pretty simple. I have done it to my car and think it's about time I did an FAQ about it - several people have asked, and it's generic. I'll post a link to it on this thread once done.


Oli.

 

[aporschefan]

Thanks Oli.

Mine is a late turbo.

As per everyone's suggestion I'll go with the Nightbreakers for the headlights.

Re the 3 lights in bumper, does anyone know which bulbs these are so I can replace these at the same time also? (i.e. H4, 233 etc?)

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

ORIGINAL: jabriel
I think this the one I need - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Osram-Night-Breaker-Extreme-Sidelights/dp/B004J3F7G6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1328950212&sr=8-7

Can someone confirm as I don't want to order the wrong bulbs.

Presumably I can order the same bulbs for the main and the dipped beam? (I may as well change them all)

Those are the right bulbs for the main headlights (the lights that pop up) - they are called H4's, and have both the main beam and the dipped beam filament in them. They will fit your car.

I don't know what model 944 you have, but on the S2 and turbo there are also three lights in the bumper. One of these is the side light, one of these is the fog light and one of these is an additional main beam driving light, which comes on when the main beam headlights come on. I don't know what the arrangement on the Lux/924 is, but I am guessing it is possibly similar.

Fitting the relays is pretty simple. I have done it to my car and think it's about time I did an FAQ about it - several people have asked, and it's generic. I'll post a link to it on this thread once done.


Oli.

 

[aporschefan]

Just had a look. H4's for the headlight as suggested, H3's for 2 of the lights within the bumper and need to some help identifying the side light now.

 

[aporschefan]

Side lights are 233 Bayonet Fitment. All bulbs ordered. Hope the change is as noticeable as everyone suggests.

 

[zcacogp]

Out of curiosity, why are you changing the bulbs for the bumper lights if they are working OK? Taking the lighting units apart can prove to be quite difficult (corroded in fasteners are common) and it's no bad thing to take it apart and replace the screws with stainless, but just changing the bulbs for the sake of changing the bulbs seems a bit ... odd.


Oli.

 

[Copperman05]

Because, I imagine, as he is upgrading the headlights to the nightbreakers its makes sense to do the same with the driving lamps and foglamps, the 233's get pretty poor overtime and only cost pennies.


But your right, removing the lenses could prove an issue.

Edd

 

[aporschefan]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

Out of curiosity, why are you changing the bulbs for the bumper lights if they are working OK?

Edd is spot on re why I'm changing all bulbs.

Fingers crossed re the lenses...

 

[zcacogp]

That sounds fair enough. I have to confess that I don't really think about the lights in the bumper much when thinking about the light output from the front of the car; they are there, and contribute, but I regard the pop-ups as the 'main' ones.

I guess it would be possible, for the ultimate solution, to fit uprated H3's to the spot lights in the bumper as well, and drive them off the same relay as is used for the main beam lights in the pop-ups. That really would give a lot of light out of the front of the car! Hmmmm, it wouldn't be hard to do, either. Let me think about that one ....

Best of luck with the lenses for the bumper lights Jabriel. Peanut did a good thread on repairing them if they didn't come out as they should, here:

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=673174&mpage=1&key=light&#673320


Oli.