Improving main beam performance

[nfearn]

As we all know the main beam lighting on 993s is pretty awful and is a safety consideration. Recently, I have been wondering about the practicalities of improving the high beam performance and it occurs to me that there is a substantial alloy bumper unit behind the PU which could be used to mount a couple of driving lamps on, the brackets being routed through the number plate plinth.

So, has anyone tried this? Or are there any alternative options such as the new LED light bars which would improve the beam setup?

 

[szklarek]

I upgraded both the main and dipped with HID's - made a dramatic improvement to both beams.

Regards
Anton

 

[A Ward]

HID's are definitely the way to go - and there is no change to the outward appearance of the car whatsoever...apart from the fact you will be able to see where you are going at night now.

The original beams are pretty awful compared to HID's.

Technology has improved and they have much more compact ballast resistors than they used -plus the cost has come right down.

 

[bernard tester]

I have used HID kits from Carnewal Porsche parts very good, no wires to cut just plug in the new parts and you can convert back at any time, not the cheapest but very good

 

[matthewb]

Hi Nicholas

I personally use the Ring Ultima H1 Xenon (claimed 120% more light) - I think they're pretty good, actually. Certainly they're much brighter than the old 'standard' bulbs. I understand the Osram Night Breaker Plus H1 Xenon (claimed 90% more light) are of a similar ilk. I saw a recent review somewhere - the Osram bulbs came first and Ring came second.

Don't be confused by the term 'Xenon' - these bulbs are not High Intensity Discharge (HID) - they are direct-swap 55W replacements - no extra load is placed on the wiring loom. They are incandescent bulbs with xenon gas rather than halogen gas, enabling them to glow more brightly. All HIDs are Xenon but not all Xenon are HIDs!

See an earlier thread on the forum.

I've considered HIDs, of course, but the horror stories of hole-drilling, Heath Robinson ballast attachment and possible MOT failure have put me off. I would consider fitting official Porsche Litronic HIDs at some stage - once I've saved a few more pennies.

M

 

[T911UK]

ToreB does a well regarded HID kit that involves no drilling.

http://www.bergvillfx.com/products.html

 

[Mark Elder]

ORIGINAL: nfearn

As we all know the main beam lighting on 993s is pretty awful . . .

Nick, are you talking about main beam or dip beam (which I think others are assuming??)

I'm using night breakers (which Matthew mentions) in the main beam because HIDs are no good for beams that need to on/off fast. They are really very good and do make a huge difference over normal H1 halogens on main beam. After I put HIDs on the dipped beam I could not tell the difference when I switched on main beam - but the night breakers really blast out a good long distance beam of light.

BTW - I took your advice on the FSDs at Center Gravity and I'm well pleased[] - it was such a good move, can't stop smiling. I keep meaning to do a write up for the forum of those 2 (very long) days with Chris.

 

[matthewb]

You're right, Mark. I had assumed Nicholas meant 'dipped' when he said 'main'. Maybe not, now you mention it.

I currently use the Ring bulbs for both main and dipped.

I've just had a look at T911's suggestion for HID dipped and LED side lights - thanks, Matthew. I am tempted. Neat, simple, plug'n'play and reversible.

I'm wondering about ...
- legality/neighbourliness of 6000k option (as opposed to standard 4300K)?
- is headlight beam adjustment-wheel (p50 of manual) disabled as per Litronic HIDs? And why is it disabled on the Litronic?
- reflectors - do they need changing or are the HID bulbs compatible with standard reflectors?
- UK supplier?

Any thoughts? Matthew? Mark?

 

[Mark Elder]

Hi Matthew,

ORIGINAL: matthewb
- legality/neighbourliness of 6000k option (as opposed to standard 4300K)?

If I could have got 4300K that's what I'd have gone for - my 6000Ks are too "modern" in my view (although possible part of the drivability improvement is down to the colour of the light, not just the brightness)

ORIGINAL: matthewb
- is headlight beam adjustment-wheel (p50 of manual) disabled as per Litronic HIDs? And why is it disabled on the Litronic?

Litronics have automatic adjustment (dynamically connected to suspension I believe) so don't need manual adjustment. This is a legal requirement for HIDs on new cars but (there have been other threads on this). MOT inspectors have been given power to make a judgement on retro fit HIDs as to whether the car model in practice needs it - ie does the car have soft suspension and could the owner load the boot with bricks and so dazzle on coming traffic. If any car is exempt, 911s must be.

ORIGINAL: matthewb
- reflectors - do they need changing or are the HID bulbs compatible with standard reflectors?

After market bulbs are designed to be direct replacements and the ones I have (HIDS4U) seem to work well. I checked the beam shape before/after fitting and it was exactly the same. That said you see a lot of cars around that dazzle with what I assume are poorly fitting HIDs

 

[Stewart Rix]

I've got an older HID kit (used it for about 9 years in various 993's) with the single larger ballast/ignitor control box. I've just wrapped the box in bubble wrap and tucked into the wing behind that lamp unit. I've always made sure the beam is properly aligned so never had an issue with the MOT.

I've got Osram Nightbreakers for the full beam which are good (and came top in the most recent Auto Express product test).

I've also just bought a pair of Cree LED's (I understand Cree is the company that developed these superbright LEDs) for the lower 'side' lights. Although they are only a single LED, they are amazingly bright (way brighter than the usual multi-LED 'bulbs' that you normally find on Ebay) and match the HIDs for colour (4500K).

 

[Jonttt]

I've recently gone through this....

Nightbreaker bulbs fitted to high/full beam

Tor-B HID fitted fitted to main / low beam (great peice of made for 993 kit, plug and play etc.....) and comes with matching LED sidelights

as stated above go for normal 4300k, the higher frequency just gives you less efficient blue light especially in the wet. Some prefer the more modern colour but I prefer white anyway.

##############################################

HID Install.

I ordered and received the T-Light from Tore Bergvill.

http://www.bergvillfx.com/products.html

This really is a great quality plug and play bespoke piece of kit which is very easy to install.

The only real preparation you need is a wall to make sure the lights are lined up properly after fitment. I chose to do the install in the underground car park where the car is usually stored so it is easier to check alignment.

The kit which includes matching LED sidelight bulbs to be fitted at the same time

The procedure to remove the headlights is in the cars driver manual so I won't go through that other than to say I have never had a car that was so easy to remove a headlight unit

Once the rear cover is removed the OEM bulb is revealed with retaining clip and 2 wires which need to be disconnected

Its worth noting that the retaining bracket for the retaining clip can distort and there is a retrofit kit from Porsche available to fix this if there is a problem

However in my case the original fitting was fine. Here is the clip back in place with the HID bulb fitted

The HID ballast is then very neatly screwed to the rear of the back cover via customer made to measure brackets. This means that when the back cover is refitted the whole HID system is self contained within the light unit

Once the headlight was refitted it was just a matter of replacing the sidelight bulb with the supplied LED replacement

Original bulb

Replacement LED

Then the lights can be tested and compared. Remember to also check that the headlight motorised light level adjustment still works via the dial on the dashboard.

Left side fitted for comparison

and the finished result

On some cars these are a pain to fit but thanks to Tore's great piece of kit and very clear illustrated instructions it really was a 30 minute job and I'm very pleased with the end result

######################################################################

 

[matthewb]

Thanks Mark, Stewart and Jon.

Doing it.

M

 

[nfearn]

ORIGINAL: Mark Elder
Nick, are you talking about main beam or dip beam (which I think others are assuming??)

I'm talking about main beam / high beam, as opposed to dipped beam, for which I already have a HID setup.

ORIGINAL: Mark Elder
BTW - I took your advice on the FSDs at Center Gravity and I'm well pleased[] - it was such a good move, can't stop smiling. I keep meaning to do a write up for the forum of those 2 (very long) days with Chris.

I am delighted to hear it worked out well for you. I am a big fan, and others who have driven the car seem equally enthusiastic.


Edited to add: I have just found a thread on Rennlist which discusses the installation of true bi-Xenon HIDs into the projector lens position in the 993 headlight pods.

Rennlist bi-xenon installation

 

[T911UK]

Now Im confused, some of you drive your 993's at night? Some of you in the rain? Pure crazy!

 

[Stewart Rix]

ORIGINAL: T911UK

Now Im confused, some of you drive your 993's at night? Some of you in the rain? Pure crazy!

Mine even ticked past the 39k mile mark at the weekend. Its value has obviously plummeted so there'll be no holding back now... come sun, slightly overcast, light breeze......[8|]

 

[Pete B]

I also changed my sidelight bulbs to match the dipped beam colour (5600) and was promptly given an MOT FAIL because the bulbs were not approved fit.

Total PIA

P

 

[option911]

Following your interesting post, I have just sent for the kit you suggested. Driving around the twisty Lincolnshire Wolds at night almost neccesitates sending someone ahead with a tilly lamp. Hopefully I will actually be able to see where I am going soon. I will report my findings, also an 1100 mile tour of Europe will feel better with good lights.
With a recent full panel off and glass out respray, i feel it deserves the full package of improvement.

 

[matthewb]

Absolutely. Why not get clear indicators and side repeaters too?

Easily reversible if necessary

What is she, exactly?

M

 

[option911]

She is a 94 Polar silver 993 C2, she has factory option tail and strangely a Turbo front? She is currently fitted with Targa Wheels but I am looking to change them for standard 993 alloys. You can see from the contrast between the new pic and the profile pic just how much the pigment fades over 19 years, couldn't believe how blue she is, and it was a Porsche approved facility @ AW repair group (Sleaford)

 

[Taverner]

I have also just fitted ToreB's kit and cannot recommend it enough. Goes inside the headlight unit and matches the existing wiring so no change of connectors requred. Great kit.

I had HID's before, but they were an earlier kit and the exciter would not fit inside the light unit, which was a bit of a pain if you wanted to take in and out. With Rore's kit you would not know thew differnce until you turn the lights on.

Michael