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HID Conversion kits

Johnny C

Johnny C

New member
I'm going to fit some HIDs. On the last car I got them from aceparts, but can't find them on aceparts any more.

First, has anyone located any kits with onboard ballast so I don't need to wire them through from the bonnett compartment?

Second, apart from HIDS4U, are there any other sources of kits (ignoring cheap chinese ones on eBay)? I've no problem with getting them from HIDS4U but would like to see any decent alternatives first if there are any

Cheers
 
Can't comment on Aceparts, but there are plenty of kits available that have a combined ignitor and ballast (ie single box) - maybe start with a search on Ebay. If you can't find someone selling a 'slim' control unit version (that can fit inside the lamp pod itself), you can always wrap the larger box version in bubble wrap and lodge it up into the wing when you push the lamp pod back into place. No need to remotely locate the ballast box on the inside of the trunk - the control box stays with the lamp and you won't need to change the multipin connector on the car. I've had mine located in the wing for 10 years without a problem.
 
Hi Johnny

I was looking into this and I was talking to Ian at Porsche Shop at Porsche & Polo. They do a Kit that fits into the Light housing inc balast.

You should get Porsche Club discount for Memebers too

Graham
 
Use the slim ballast as it can be fitted inside the headlight.
There are 2 types of ballasts :
The cheap version you find on Ebay and the more expensive one which is better, more stable and longer lasting.

 
I will avoid the eBay ones! Don't like messing around with dodgy chinese high voltage things...

I saw the slim ballasts, HIDS4U have them in 35W. I didn't know if there were just slim ballasts or if you could get ones with the ballast genuinely part of the light fitting.

The ones i had on my old 993 were in the bonnet, fed through the small hole where you adjust the headlight beam angle (which meant it couldn't be adjusted, but it never needed it).

I think I'll also get the 55W for the main beams, someone else on here has done it and says it's not a problem, you can still flash them. It's going to be crowded in the wing! I've plenty of bubblewrap packets that will fit them fine and will glue some velcro tape to hold them.
 
Keep us informed of how it goes, its on my list of things to do and although there is an excellent write up on the forum its always good to get the latest updates.
 
try Gert Carnewal at www.carnewal-europe.com

Carnewal is very reputable and it looks like he has a version where the ignitor is small enough be integrated into the 993 headlight housing, so no need to wrap them up and stash them in the fenders behind the headlight units..
I guess technology has moved on since I did my HID conversion.

I have no affiliation with Carnewal, but have dealt with them several times in the past and can highly recommend them.
 
Hi - for those who have placed the ignitor into the headlamp housing, do you not find it affects the beam angle ? And/or restricts the manual beam adjustment ? I did the same in my old c2s and found that it was a real squeeze to get everything in.

 
Thanks for the discussion. I have just return from European hols in my 993 during which the nearside HID died. It had been flashing for a while when first switch on but each time a good beam was achieved. I assume the ballast or ignitor has failed. My system was fitted by AutoFarm six years ago and has the gubbins tucked into the wing recess. The nearside ballast is against the air con pipe which may not be ideal. On the off side it is always a pain to get the ballast to stay put and not interfere with the light housing when replacing it. So I am attracted to a newer type that tucks away in the light housing itself.
With my current set up I cannot adjust the beam direction for continental use. I end up sticking tape on the glass! Will the newer HID versions enable easy adjustment again?
The other crazy thought I had is to replace the standard lights with genuine Porsche HID units. Cost is probably prohibitive. I wonder whether they are a straight replacement or require a different loom set up?
The knowledge is out there. Please share
Hanhams81
 

ORIGINAL: hanhams81

Thanks for the discussion. I have just return from European hols in my 993 during which the nearside HID died. It had been flashing for a while when first switch on but each time a good beam was achieved. I assume the ballast or ignitor has failed. My system was fitted by AutoFarm six years ago and has the gubbins tucked into the wing recess. The nearside ballast is against the air con pipe which may not be ideal. On the off side it is always a pain to get the ballast to stay put and not interfere with the light housing when replacing it. So I am attracted to a newer type that tucks away in the light housing itself. 
With my current set up I cannot adjust the beam direction for continental use. I end up sticking tape on the glass! Will the newer HID versions enable easy adjustment again?
The other crazy thought I had is to replace the standard lights with genuine Porsche HID units. Cost is probably prohibitive. I wonder whether they are a straight replacement or require a different loom set up?
The knowledge is out there. Please share
Hanhams81
Click to expand...

It can be done fairly easily, although all the second hand parts are expensive and hard to come by,to buy new components to retro fit would be around five grand + from porsche.
To be honest, whilst state of the art and a very expensive option when the 993 was new, its now quite dated technology with regards to the ballest and igniter.
Better of just buying a decent after market hids system and spending the money you save on another area of the car.

Regards
 
In reply to the gent who said that the factory equipment is dated technology,That it may well be , but they still warm up quicker than any aftermarket kit i have ever seen and they are certainly more stable and do not flicker from time to time as the newer kits do.And i haven't even replaced a bulb yet at 15years old and 190,000kms.
I will keep my factory litronics thanks very much [8D]
Cj
 
ORIGINAL: totyfinalist

In reply to the gent who said that the factory equipment is dated technology,That it may well be , but they still warm up quicker than any aftermarket kit i have ever seen and they are certainly more stable and do not flicker from time to time as the newer kits do.And i haven't even replaced a bulb yet at 15years old and 190,000kms.
I will keep my factory litronics thanks very much [8D]
Cj
Click to expand...

And they have the correct EU marked lenses etc which means they are legal. The MOT is supposed to be getting much tougher in this area and all aftermarket kits are already a technical fail for the MOT. Something to ponder.

If I could find some genuines at a reasonable price that's what I would fit.

Ian.
 

ORIGINAL: totyfinalist

In reply to the gent who said that the factory equipment is dated technology,That it may well be , but they still warm up quicker than any aftermarket kit i have ever seen and they are certainly more stable and do not flicker from time to time as the newer kits do.And i haven't even replaced a bulb yet at 15years old and 190,000kms.
I will keep my factory litronics thanks very much [8D]
Cj
Click to expand...

Good luck to you, im sure lots of people would love to have the factory fitted litronic headlights and im pleased you had no issues in 15 years (I take it you have owned it that long), and its not like triggers brooms "ive had this exact same broom 15 years, its only had ten new heads and six new handle"
but the op has not got factory litronic headlights and that was the point of his post.
It was not a personal attack on your litronic headlights, any electrical item is pretty much outdated as soon as it drops off the production line, that is an undisputed fact.
what I posted for the benefit of op was just my opinion , yours is obviously different to mine and that's fine that's what forums are for.
Maybe you could now follow the op's original request and furnish him with some useful information regarding his hids dilemma, as you obviously have strong opinions on the subject and no doubt vast knowledge of the original litronic system and all aftermarket versions.
Many thanks
 
Evening

Well in case anyone wants to get a quote for the Genuine Porsche Litronic headlight option - which was a tequipment upgrade - the part numbers are as follows

Litronic complete kit 000 044 900 14 RHD
000 044 900 16 LHD

Headlamp Left 993 631 041 02 RHD
Headlamp Right 993 631 042 02 RHD

Headlamp Left 993 631 031 02 LHD
Headlamp Right 993 631 032 02 LHD

Ballast control unit (x2 req'd) 993 631 193 02

So if anyone is interested in going down the 'genuine' Porsche route then they could phone their OPC and get a quote...probably best to sit down first though!! Sometimes they do come up on ebay - but often they don't include the ballast control unit and are still obscenely expensive.

Having spoken with an MOT tester he said that you are unlikely to have problems fitting an aftermarket HID kit providing you don't go silly with the K rating (they are cracking down more on the super blue HID's that the boy racers love). He said that the 993 has headlight tilt adjustment and providing that the alignment is ok on the calibrated board (which can be adjusted on the headlight mounting assembly itself) then he would certainly not fail a vehicle. Obviously that is one MOT testers opinion - but I think you would need a real jobsworth - or poorly adjusted HID's/excessively blue HID's to fail your MOT.

Given the cost comparison of an aftermarket kit compared to the real mc coy I think it is a bit of a no brainer really - if you are that worried about your mot then swap the HID kit out for the MOT and then refit afterwards. Most MOT stations offer a free retest these days so you could always make the change back if it failed - you don't need to remove the whole kit - just swap the bulbs and change then ballast resistor/control unit plugs over.

The visibility difference when driving is phenomonal compared to the standard 993 lights and an absolutely essential and cheap upgrade IMHO.

Hope that helps.
 
Quick question re the HID conversion kit - what happens to the low beam bulb..?? I ask as I am currently running a boggo std system on my 993, but the issue I have is not with high beam, but low beam. On a country lane with low beam the lights are really poor - high beam is fine. Would a HID kit address the low beam as well as the high beam..???
 
The HID kit has two bulbs and these are usually used to replace the normal dipped (low) beam. However I bought two kits and replaced both the main and dipped bulbs. There are mixed opinions on replacing the main beam and some people prefer just to replace the dipped beam but I don't think there is any advantage in replacing just the main beam - as you say the real issue is with the dipped beam.
Regards
Anton
 
cool.

just ordered a set from Gert Carnewal as his seem pretty good value, and a nice tidy option to fit too. Also ordered the LED fog lamp bulbs (at his recommendation), these give a whiter light to match the HID bulbs....
 
Hi

I've got the Carnewal kit on my Cab - installed by my local guy without any problems - works well, only thing I need to do is to get some different main beam bulbs to match the colour of the HIDS, as there is a significant difference between them
 
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