Has anyone upgraded their headlights using an HID kit? Am looking at one from HIDS4U which is claimed to offer up to 450% more light than standard halogen H7 bulbs which are fitted to my car. I have the projector type of lens and have tried new Osram Night breaker 200 bulbs but still find the dipped beam poor. Drop in kits from the likes of HIDS4U seem to offer an easy means of improvement but only if they really do what they say on the tin. Would be really pleased to get some feedback from anyone who has done an upgrade.
996 C4S Headlight Upgrade
- Thread starter Neil-R
- Start date
Many years ago I bought HIDs from them. Very good product and fairly easy to install.
Be mindful of the colour temperature of the light and try and match the existing ones as mine were a touch purple.
Be mindful of the colour temperature of the light and try and match the existing ones as mine were a touch purple.
BatKing996C4S
New member
I’ve fitted Philips X-trend Ultinon LED’s to my C4S and are as bright as the OEM litronics on my Boxster just without the heat and ballasts you get with HID’s
BatKing996C4S said:
Were they just plug and play to replace the existing H7 bulbs? I've got Osram Nightbreakers which are ok, but not mind blowing...
BatKing996C4S
New member
Plug and play, in the last few years LED’s have surpassed HID’s for brightness, not to mention they last longer. It’s worth buying a decent brand like the the Philips as they maintain the beam pattern and cut off and fit entirely inside the headlight enclosure . I found cheaper kits on EBay didn’t maintain the cut off and had larger fans that would interfere with closing the cap on the back. Hope that helps.
BatKing996C4S said:
Awesome, thanks!
I am hoping someone is going to tell me that I am badly in error over this posting!
On 26 August 2021 the MOT requirements for headlight upgrades were changed. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/4-lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment#section-4-1-4
I read this as any post 1986 car that has been upgraded with HID or LED bulbs will fail the test unless the whole unit has been changed !!
This seems to impact on a large number of cars. Hopefully I am reading this wrong. Has anyone else considered this or had experience of a fail due to it. Looks to me a lot of trouble is coming some people's way unless they can simply change back to old bulbs just for the day of an MOT.
On 26 August 2021 the MOT requirements for headlight upgrades were changed. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/4-lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment#section-4-1-4
I read this as any post 1986 car that has been upgraded with HID or LED bulbs will fail the test unless the whole unit has been changed !!
This seems to impact on a large number of cars. Hopefully I am reading this wrong. Has anyone else considered this or had experience of a fail due to it. Looks to me a lot of trouble is coming some people's way unless they can simply change back to old bulbs just for the day of an MOT.
SteveAndrews said:
So the paragraph in question is:
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.
I have to say, I read that the same way you did Steve... Would be interesting to know if anyone has had an MOT fail because of switching to LEDs instead of Halogens. Seems a really unfair way to fail an MOT if the bulb is plug and play. If it's a DIY conversion then I can understand why it could be failed.
BatKing996C4S
New member
The advantage of the LED’s is again you can pull out the lights pop off the backs put some halogens in for the MOT And back to the LED’s after as it’s a 10 min job given how easy it is to get out lights out. Non factory LED’s and HID’s or at least those without auto levelling and in the case of HID’s headlight washers too have always been MOT failures. Real world in my experience they don’t care as my last 3 MOT’s I left the LED’s in passed without issue.
I've only ever known MOT testers to check the beam pattern and can't see them going to the trouble of dismantling a headlight unit! Its also unlikely that they would look at markings etc on the units especially when the 996 was manufactured with both HID and Halogen units from new. So I guess it would be unlikely this would be discovered during an MOT unless it was taken to a Porsche specialist. Having said that the rules are clear and makes the aftermarket fitting of bulb kits illegal!!!
A retrograde step in my opinion as I really feel the need to enhance lighting to improve night driving safety. Fitting new replacement Litronic units would of course a prohibitive cost.
A retrograde step in my opinion as I really feel the need to enhance lighting to improve night driving safety. Fitting new replacement Litronic units would of course a prohibitive cost.
Posts made and opinions expressed are those of the individual forum members
Use of the Forum is subject to the Terms and Conditions
