Replacement bulbs for 987.1 cayman s

[ERICA D]

Does anyone have any experience with replacing the original headlight bulbs with either better halogen or LED or Xenon bulbs so I can see further at night? I live in deepest darkest Derbyshire and it gets very dark!


For example I can find this kit? It says it’s for a boxster ….is it likely to fit, or do I need to replace the whole headlamp rather than just the bulb.


All replies greatly appreciated. Thanks Erica

 

[kitchens]

Not sure I may well be getting confused but thought you had to have headlight washers fitted to use HID

 

[AndrewT]

I don’t know whether the Boxster kit will fit a Cayman, but you may find this thread on Pistonheads helpful….. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=210&t=1963356

 

[Porschaholic]

My personal opinion about HID kits is to avoid in most cases. Strictly speaking, they should only be fitted in conjunction with headlamp washers. The light emitted interacts with the reflector and lenses in a different way to halogen bulbs, so the beam pattern may not be right. I’m not saying it won’t work on your particular car, as I’ve never fitted one to a Porsche, but I know these kits aren’t right for many cars. Nevertheless, many do still go ahead and fit them.

 

[911hillclimber]

These comments of mine are from what I've read recently.

You needed washers for HID as the lamp, if very dirty, can defuse the light and 'blind' oncoming traffic which is why they were an MoT fail if they did not work.

In the same article I read that failure of the washers now is NOT and MoT issue(!)

Might be worth finding out if you can simply swop the whole headlamp pod for HID?

 

[Motorhead]

Even if they were suitable or legal, I would think that a pair of replacement headlamp units would be very expensive Erica. Maybe firstly you should just try replacing the bulbs with brighter versions from a reliable manufacturer like Philips or Osram to see if that gives a worthwhile improvement?

Have a look at this for some comparisons:

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/product-group-tests/76760/best-car-headlight-bulbs-2021

Jeff

 

[Windy_Miller]

I replaced the awful halogen bulbs in my 987.2 with these Twenty20 brand LED ones from Auto Bulbs Direct - they are very bright and I do get flashed occasionally (not all the time), but they are such an improvement on the original bulb. not cheap (like the many LED bulbs available on eBay these days), but worth every penny.

https://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/h7-twenty20-led-12v-55w-headlight-bulbs-pair.html

 

[boothy]

I replaced the awful halogen bulbs in my 987.2 with these Twenty20 brand LED ones from Auto Bulbs Direct - they are very bright and I do get flashed occasionally (not all the time), but they are such an improvement on the original bulb. not cheap (like the many LED bulbs available on eBay these days), but worth every penny.

https://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/h7-twenty20-led-12v-55w-headlight-bulbs-pair.html

Be careful.

Those from Autobulbs say, in the Techy stuff -

E Marked/Road LegalNoand Philips, as a major OEM supplier, say of their kit - https://www.powerbulbs.com/product/philips-ultinon-pro9000-led-h7-twin?gclid=Cj0KCQiA_c-OBhDFARIsAIFg3ew-3Ndqx8C-Y_PY7Z65B-ld7W_Hs0B_1bYq6NmeeXFDxd0vZnlZJSYaAkIWEALw_wcB

[ul][*]Not road legal[*]PLEASE NOTE: Though the Philips Ultinon Pro9000 series does offer enormous lighting improvements and is made to the most rigorous of Philips' manufacturing standards, it is important to note that this LED headlight range is not road legal. The range's lack of ECE certification means that its usage should be prohibited to off-road, private applications.[/ul]Good quality halogens, such as Philips Xtreme Vision and Osram Nightbreaker do an excellent job for me.

 

[Windy_Miller]

Yep, noted all that when I bought them.

no MOT tester is ever going to remove the headlamp housing to remove the bulb to check it for relevant CE / BSI approvals and I don’t believe an MOT checks for ’brightness’ / lumens, so I think I’m safe .

And certainly far safer than I was with the perilously poor OE fit ‘candle in a lantern’ halogens before. whilst they are very bright (to the extent sometimes I get flashed), and presumably should have washers ‘a la’ any HID / Xenon / LED over 35W in the U.K. should have functioning washers, they’re no more dazzling than many of the super bright modern OE LED headlamps that I find myself looking into from the opposite direction these days…

Main thing is I can see safely you the road in the dark, they’re a nice clean and crisp white light (not a ‘trendy’ blue) and they have a good distinct cut off.

 

[boothy]

Good, as long as you are aware.

As long as they pass the beam pattern test at MoT time you should be fine.

Must admit that I have been tempted by the Philips kit.

It is a case of legislation not keeping up with technology.

Last time I looked, headlights were specified in terms of power, not lumen output. In this case 55W.

These LED units are 20W, HID are 35W. 55W of LED lighting would be interesting!

The sharp cut-off of HID and LED headlights, even on OEM installed, lead to dazzle from oncoming vehicles, particularly on an undulating road.

Lighting manufacturers have other solutions to automotive lighting, which have not yet made it to market. [8|]

 

[ERICA D]

Thanks everyone for your help - I'm going to see if I can get either some Twenty20 daylight 150s or Philips RacingVision GT200 based on the autoexpress reviews. I've asked my local garage to sort them, they've a number of porsches between them and have looked after me well and don't charge a fortune - and they also do the MOT, so have told me that these shouldn't cause me a failure.

Erica

 

[Wollemi]

Thanks everyone for your help - I'm going to see if I can get either some Twenty20 daylight 150s or Philips RacingVision GT200 based on the autoexpress reviews. I've asked my local garage to sort them, they've a number of porsches between them and have looked after me well and don't charge a fortune - and they also do the MOT, so have told me that these shouldn't cause me a failure.

Erica

Hi Erica, hope all is well with you, and it would be great if you were to report back on how these work out out once you've got them fitted.

 

[rafiq.sangay]

I fitted H7 LED's to my 987.1 Boxster....fabulously bright and modern looking.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nighteye-H7-Headlight-Waterproof-Conversion/dp/B093DBT34Z/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2O8N35C4KZHPZ&keywords=nighteye%2Bh7%2Bled%2Bheadlight%2Bbulbs&qid=1705950306&sprefix=nighteye%2Bh7%2Bled%2Bheadlight%2Bbulbs%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

 

[Wallachie]

Just be careful with LED bulbs, they aren’t officially legal and can fail MOT due to their beam pattern. Most are advertised “for off road use only”.

Osram Night Breaker 200% or the Ring 200% are a really great upgrade which are still legal and will pass MOT.

 

[BrianJ]

I have seen these guys highly recommended by several normally reliable people on another forum https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/. They seem to have a very comprehensive offering. Their headlight bulbs carry this comment "The MOT rules have been clarified from 06.02.23 to allow the use of LED conversions that pass the beam pattern tests for headlights for Class 3, 4, 5 and 7 vehicles (car, private bus and light commercial vehicle) first used before 1 April 1986 and all class 1 and 2 motorcycles of any age." They have a variety of H7 bulbs (please check with your handbook which bulbs you have) and although I don't have any experience of either the company or the bulbs, they seem like a better source than something unknown off t'Internet. Maybe worth a call before deciding?

 

[Wollemi]

"....... first used before 1 April 1986."

That would seem to preclude any Caymans or Boxsters

 

[BrianJ]

Yes, I realised that after I re-read it! I checked on gov.uk for the current MOT Inspection Manual which says:
“Existing halogen headlamp units on vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1986 must not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp for light source and lamp not compatible.

This does not refer to complete replacement headlamp units which may be constructed with HID or LED light sources.

If a complete headlamp unit has been replaced with a unit that was manufactured with HID or LED light sources, it must not be failed for ‘Light source and lamp not compatible’ but it must meet all other requirements detailed in section 4 of this manual specific to the type fitted at the time of test.”