Improving 993 headlights
- Thread starter z2015
- Start date
I remember it really was a 'wow' moment the first time I turned on my newly fitted HIDs at night. The difference from standard bulbs is just so dramatic.
Agree with Stewart - definate "wow" moment when you switch on.
But it does continue - at 9pm in the rain last night I drove from Fort William down to Glasgow on the A82 (for part of the way it wiggles along the side of Loch Lomond if you don't know it) - it's pitch black. All the way I'm thinking "these HIDs are just great". I'm convinced they are a big safety improvement, not just because I can now see - because the opposing traffic can see you coming round bends even when on dipped beam because the beam is so sharp-edged.
richbrowne
New member
Hi Mark,
how easy did you find it to fit the kit from HIDS4U? Did you have to modify or cut any wires in the loom or was it simply a case of disconnecting existing wires and connecting the new ballast wiring to the OEM connections? In addition, which kit did you buy, 35W or 55W?
Thanks.
I got the 35w one - from memory the 55w one was not available at that time (October time) for the H1 bulb (was only available for 1 or 2 sizes then).
No wires to cut. You have to pull the earth lead connector (just a typical car electrical paddle connector) off the lamp housing and connect it onto the HID earth lead. In the case of both my headlights this required some very firm pulling - Porsche don't intend them to come off!
You have to drill a hole in the plastic cover on the back of the headlamp housing - to pass the thick high voltage cable (with grommet) through. I had to go a buy a 25mm drill bit for this. This is the only "damage" you do to your car! The housing is about 3x5 inchs and part of it is flat. It also comes completely off the headlamp housing so it's easy to lay flat and drill.
While I had the headlamps out I also took the front glass off and gave them a good clean inside (easy - three tabs to bend and release around the edge about 2 inchs back from the glass, all just clips back together afterwards).
I did not go to the complication of putting the ballasts inside the bonnet area, there is plenty of room behind the headlamp units. I wrapped them in bubble wrap and zip-tied them to pipes etc in there.
Mark
richbrowne
New member
JB 3.2
New member
Thanks for the info Mark,
I presume that if the 55W ones had been available last year you would have chosen those, although they are almost £50 more expensive than the 35W type which you find to be a great inprovement.
Although I was aware of the different temperature colour options, I did not realise there were alternative ballast power ratings as well.
I presume that if the 55W ones had been available last year you would have chosen those, although they are almost £50 more expensive than the 35W type which you find to be a great inprovement.
Although I was aware of the different temperature colour options, I did not realise there were alternative ballast power ratings as well.
Doh! - with most things I procrastinate, in this case I got on with it but now wish I'd waited for the 55W to become available[8|]
I'm fairly sure the standard H1 bulbs are 55W so you may as well use all the available juice and get 55W HIDs. I'm not sure what the rating relates to. The instructions say that the ballasts use more power during start up phase than they do once warmed up and this means some cars might need uprated fuses to avoid blowing at start up. So I don't know if the 35W/55W relates to startup surge or what. I did not change my fuses.
I'm fairly sure the standard H1 bulbs are 55W so you may as well use all the available juice and get 55W HIDs. I'm not sure what the rating relates to. The instructions say that the ballasts use more power during start up phase than they do once warmed up and this means some cars might need uprated fuses to avoid blowing at start up. So I don't know if the 35W/55W relates to startup surge or what. I did not change my fuses.
richbrowne
New member
Yes, looks like the 55W HIDS4U units are the ones to go for. Thank you all for the valued information.
Someone else has checked this - I think one of the write ups in the FAQ section, they get warm but not hot.
You have worried me now. I'll pull a headlight out next time a finish a long night drive and feel it.
Although, the official place to put them (Offical Porsche place for the "Lictrionics") is just inside the bonnet area with carpet wrapped over them - so I don't think they could get up to fire hazzard temperature - but I will check them out when I next get a chance.
JB 3.2
New member
My understanding is that with the Xenon/HID lights there is a requirement that the headlights are self levelling. If you look at the lights on a car factory fitted with Xenons (Audi BMW etc) as the car is started, you can watch the lights adjust as they find the correct level.
Retro fitting the HID's is not technically correct as the 993 does not have a self levelling system just the manual rocker switch for load correction. You could either hope this omission is not notice at the MOT or you have the option to swap them back to the standard bulbs.
It seems strange that a safety upgrade such as this may be illegal, although I suspect we have all been dazzled at some time by badly adjusted headlights so there is some merit to the regulations
Retro fitting the HID's is not technically correct as the 993 does not have a self levelling system just the manual rocker switch for load correction. You could either hope this omission is not notice at the MOT or you have the option to swap them back to the standard bulbs.
It seems strange that a safety upgrade such as this may be illegal, although I suspect we have all been dazzled at some time by badly adjusted headlights so there is some merit to the regulations
richbrowne
New member
Very interesting...has anybody here put their car through an MOT post HID upgrade?
Taking that this could be a major issue, is it possible to fit the actual OEM HID system that Porsche fitted to the 993? This is assuming that Porsche did supply a HID 'Litronic' option for the 993 and that presumably this was a self levelling system?
Taking that this could be a major issue, is it possible to fit the actual OEM HID system that Porsche fitted to the 993? This is assuming that Porsche did supply a HID 'Litronic' option for the 993 and that presumably this was a self levelling system?
Guards Red
New member
I don't think they get particulary hot, some guy on Rennlist measured the temp once he'd installed the ballast in the headlight. He was fearful of plastic melting but suffered no ill effects.
I considerd getting the 55 watt ballasts from HIDS4U but was advised against it by one of their own people. Virtually all OE fiitings are 35 watt and that's with self levelling and correct headlamps. You're much more likely to dazzle on coming traffic with the 55 watt lamps and I think we'd all like to be considerate to other road users. Besides the 35 watt jobs will blow your mind compared to the standard set up anyway. The HIDS4U person told me your much more likely to attract the attention of the Police with really bright lights. they're less likely to turn a blind eye, as is your friendly MOT guy.
The HIDS are "more" legal in 993 lights than others as the design of the headlamp is pretty much the same has the Litronic - a projector lamp. The other problem tends to be the headlamp glass. I'm told the standard 993 glass is the same as for Porsche's Litronic lamps so shouldn't be an issue. Where we fall foul is the self levelling aspect and the lamps aren't approved for the HIDS and only the manufacturer can have them approved.
GR
I considerd getting the 55 watt ballasts from HIDS4U but was advised against it by one of their own people. Virtually all OE fiitings are 35 watt and that's with self levelling and correct headlamps. You're much more likely to dazzle on coming traffic with the 55 watt lamps and I think we'd all like to be considerate to other road users. Besides the 35 watt jobs will blow your mind compared to the standard set up anyway. The HIDS4U person told me your much more likely to attract the attention of the Police with really bright lights. they're less likely to turn a blind eye, as is your friendly MOT guy.
The HIDS are "more" legal in 993 lights than others as the design of the headlamp is pretty much the same has the Litronic - a projector lamp. The other problem tends to be the headlamp glass. I'm told the standard 993 glass is the same as for Porsche's Litronic lamps so shouldn't be an issue. Where we fall foul is the self levelling aspect and the lamps aren't approved for the HIDS and only the manufacturer can have them approved.
GR
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craig2105
New member
A few weeks ago Alan at Aceparts supplied me with a new, more compact HID kit which, with a bit of fiddling, fits inside the headlamp unit with no protruding wires or ballasts at all, and almost no other modifications (just crimping an existing spade connection). I'm completely hopeless as a mechanic but managed to fit it all in under an hour - after sussi ng the first one, the second went in in about 10 minutes. I can only recommend the kit highly - it's transformed night driving completely.
Talk to Alan - he'll sort you out.
Talk to Alan - he'll sort you out.
Oh dear....
That was written in Dec 2006 and no one on here seems to have had any practical problem with the MOT. But I can imagine some particularly keen MOT inspectors believing it's their task in life to make folk re-install dim halogens, might spot this DFT notice and attempt to cause hassel with it. Especially as so many boy-racers are now converting so many Corsas to dazzling lights.
It's good that the HID kits are fairly plug-and-play so it would be easy to swap back to halogens for an MOT if required.
The DFT notice makes the point that the complete headlight unit should be designed differently to match with the "HID burner" bulb. I see the point that, if the bulb is creating light in a different pattern from the old halogen then that would be dangerous. However (at least with the HIDS4U bulbs) the light is generated in the same place and the light pattern is the same (I checked it before and after for both sides by drawing the pattern in wall in front of car).
Nevertheless, I accept that my headlamp units are not "e-marked" with "ECE Regulation 98 " (at least I assume they are not)
I really don't want to go back to halogens....
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