Litronic Upgrade ? Kit or Full Headlamps ?
- Thread starter Sundeep
- Start date
Cheers M
now I'll have to see what I can find ! [
]
really really miss xenon headlamps... as when I drive on un lit roads I still end up flicking on the fog lights [] in any hope of more night vision...
the headlamaps on the wife's '97 1.4CL VW Polo are far better ! []
prob' easier if I drove my 993 wearing a set of night goggles !
now I'll have to see what I can find ! [
]really really miss xenon headlamps... as when I drive on un lit roads I still end up flicking on the fog lights [
] in any hope of more night vision...the headlamaps on the wife's '97 1.4CL VW Polo are far better ! [
]prob' easier if I drove my 993 wearing a set of night goggles !
to add...
______________________________________
from The Department of Transport.........
The situation for Gas Discharge (HID High Intensity Discharge) (commonly known as Xenon) headlamps is complex.
I attach links to the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 which regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.
However you will be well aware that new vehicles have Xenon headlamps. This is because they comply to European type approval Regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These are to ECE Regulation 98 (for the Xenon headlamps which are tested on a rig in a laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (Lighting Installation on the vehicle).
For the aftermarket, a used vehicle cannot obtain type approval because it is only applicable for new vehicles. However we feel that saying "Xenon is banned in the aftermarket" would not be reasonable. Instead we should make analogies with new vehicles. It would be reasonable to require Xenon in the aftermarket to meet the same safety standards as on new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.
Therefore a Xenon headlamp sold in the aftermarket should:
1. be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component.
2. when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place).
3, Comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.
In practice this means:
1. The headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall be type approved to ECE 98 and be "e-marked" to demonstrate this. That can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo etc. who must test the headlamp in an independent laboratory.
2. Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.
3. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.
_____________________________________________
assuming the level is set correctly, it would be MOT compliant.. one assumes as checking the leveling system isn't IIRC a MOT check ? just to ensure the headlmap are pointing correctly
the point with the 993.. is that the boot is in the front so it is unlikely / rare for the lamp to ever be pointing up .. due to the limit of getting 'stuff' in the rear.. and it's already very low.. based on the above and done properly I see no reason not to get it done SOON !
as I think our current poor output OEM headlamps more of a safety risk
______________________________________
from The Department of Transport.........
The situation for Gas Discharge (HID High Intensity Discharge) (commonly known as Xenon) headlamps is complex.
I attach links to the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 which regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.
However you will be well aware that new vehicles have Xenon headlamps. This is because they comply to European type approval Regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These are to ECE Regulation 98 (for the Xenon headlamps which are tested on a rig in a laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (Lighting Installation on the vehicle).
For the aftermarket, a used vehicle cannot obtain type approval because it is only applicable for new vehicles. However we feel that saying "Xenon is banned in the aftermarket" would not be reasonable. Instead we should make analogies with new vehicles. It would be reasonable to require Xenon in the aftermarket to meet the same safety standards as on new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.
Therefore a Xenon headlamp sold in the aftermarket should:
1. be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component.
2. when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place).
3, Comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.
In practice this means:
1. The headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall be type approved to ECE 98 and be "e-marked" to demonstrate this. That can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo etc. who must test the headlamp in an independent laboratory.
2. Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.
3. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.
_____________________________________________
assuming the level is set correctly, it would be MOT compliant.. one assumes as checking the leveling system isn't IIRC a MOT check ? just to ensure the headlmap are pointing correctly
the point with the 993.. is that the boot is in the front so it is unlikely / rare for the lamp to ever be pointing up .. due to the limit of getting 'stuff' in the rear.. and it's already very low.. based on the above and done properly I see no reason not to get it done SOON !
as I think our current poor output OEM headlamps more of a safety risk
968er
New member
I have fitted HID's and there is no intrusion into the luggage space as everything fits behind the light pod. I have also fitted a set of the Osram Silver bulbs as my high beam and they are not a patch on the HIDs as the beam looks yellow compared to the 6000k bulb.
As I will be putting the car in for its MOT this week will let you know if there are any problems.
With regard to self leveling, our cars do not have self leveling and if it does I would love to know why there is a manual thumb turn switch you are meant to move depending on what you are carrying, and you are putting in a direct replacement for the original bulb with the HID bulb.
William
As I will be putting the car in for its MOT this week will let you know if there are any problems.
With regard to self leveling, our cars do not have self leveling and if it does I would love to know why there is a manual thumb turn switch you are meant to move depending on what you are carrying, and you are putting in a direct replacement for the original bulb with the HID bulb.
William
38F3E1
PCGB Member
The factory option / upgrade came with automatic self levelling. As Sundeep points out this is because you can't technically legally fit these systems without this. Therefore if you were doing a full factory upgrade you would get this. I guess this is why the factory upgrade is SO expensive compared with the other kits you can get.
I would also asume if you went for the full system the in car adjustment via the thumb switch would become redundent and would be disconnected.
Ian.
I would also asume if you went for the full system the in car adjustment via the thumb switch would become redundent and would be disconnected.
Ian.
Black80XSA
New member
Technically HID bulbs in std headlight lens (with no cleaning and levelling) are illegal.
Personally i'd rather spend 30-40 minutes swapping the old bulbs back before an MOT than driving blind at reasonable high speed on a dark country road.
I've put the HID bulbs in my Boxster for this very reason - pics show the difference. Ultimately the light beam is limited by the pattern on the glass lens, but there is a lot more light on the road; see pic below..
You only really appreciate this when following another car with halogen headlights and you see how dimly light the road in front of them is.
There is insufficient room behind the hedlight unit in a 993 to mount the ballast boxes. these have to be tucked away in the front boot as already stated.
Have a look at the ninemeister website - they have the 993 install shown Click Here
Personally i'd rather spend 30-40 minutes swapping the old bulbs back before an MOT than driving blind at reasonable high speed on a dark country road.
I've put the HID bulbs in my Boxster for this very reason - pics show the difference. Ultimately the light beam is limited by the pattern on the glass lens, but there is a lot more light on the road; see pic below..
You only really appreciate this when following another car with halogen headlights and you see how dimly light the road in front of them is.
There is insufficient room behind the hedlight unit in a 993 to mount the ballast boxes. these have to be tucked away in the front boot as already stated.
Have a look at the ninemeister website - they have the 993 install shown Click Here
Hi all,
I believe that the Factory Xenons also had the added benefit of being to redirect the beam for Continental driving on a RHD UK car, at a flick of a switch (somewhere, dont know where)... surely much better than taping up the already feeble standard halogen illumination?
I have never had a car with Xenons, so i am not sure if the above is correct... (apologies if i am talking rubbish (!)
Any comments about redircting the beam?
I believe that the Factory Xenons also had the added benefit of being to redirect the beam for Continental driving on a RHD UK car, at a flick of a switch (somewhere, dont know where)... surely much better than taping up the already feeble standard halogen illumination?
I have never had a car with Xenons, so i am not sure if the above is correct... (apologies if i am talking rubbish (!)
Any comments about redircting the beam?
Maurice,
I have put the ballast resistor / starters in the wing behind the headlight, wrapped in foam (for shock protection) and then plastic for water proofing. The cable gives enough length to tuck them in before clipping the lights in. Works well for me.
(The horns make wonderful holders on the n/s!)
Sundeep,
The alignment was not down to the HID's but the monkeys at my local backstreet garage, when the car went in for the MOT after fitment, they said they were misaligned (not suprising really) they then phoned me to tell me about the big job which required wing removal to align the lights!!!!!!!!
I faxed them the correct instructions with diagram for where the adjustment hole is and they adjusted them in five minutes as per usual - Phew!
I have had no problems of any sort with them and they have ben fitted for two years now.
I do find that main beam is a bit of a waste of time now, the HID dipped beam is so good. Any ideas for main beam upgrade?
Cheers
John
I have put the ballast resistor / starters in the wing behind the headlight, wrapped in foam (for shock protection) and then plastic for water proofing. The cable gives enough length to tuck them in before clipping the lights in. Works well for me.
(The horns make wonderful holders on the n/s!)
Sundeep,
The alignment was not down to the HID's but the monkeys at my local backstreet garage, when the car went in for the MOT after fitment, they said they were misaligned (not suprising really) they then phoned me to tell me about the big job which required wing removal to align the lights!!!!!!!!
I faxed them the correct instructions with diagram for where the adjustment hole is and they adjusted them in five minutes as per usual - Phew!
I have had no problems of any sort with them and they have ben fitted for two years now.
I do find that main beam is a bit of a waste of time now, the HID dipped beam is so good. Any ideas for main beam upgrade?
Cheers
John
Lawrence,
They only do the MoT, they are NOT allowed to do anything else on the car.
I do all the work myself or at the OPC / specialist depending on the effort / risk and price!
I can't be bothered to go to the OPC or a specialist for the MoT and unfortunately Plod won't accept a DIY MoT[]
John
They only do the MoT, they are NOT allowed to do anything else on the car.
I do all the work myself or at the OPC / specialist depending on the effort / risk and price!
I can't be bothered to go to the OPC or a specialist for the MoT and unfortunately Plod won't accept a DIY MoT[
]John
sundeep,
I got mine from autolamps. Think the web site was autolamps.com. I am happy with them, fair bit of DIY to fit them, but great when fitted. Many others also used autolamps have a look on rennlist - but don't have any other experience except the feeble OEM non HID candles to compare them with!
John
I got mine from autolamps. Think the web site was autolamps.com. I am happy with them, fair bit of DIY to fit them, but great when fitted. Many others also used autolamps have a look on rennlist - but don't have any other experience except the feeble OEM non HID candles to compare them with!
John
All,
I am now even more confused having looked into this. I have asked 2 Porsche independents. both very reputable, both have different "answers/solutions".
One offers OEM retro fit, some 2.5 to 3k (gulp!!)
The other a kit which comes in under a grand.
Really confused here!
I am now even more confused having looked into this. I have asked 2 Porsche independents. both very reputable, both have different "answers/solutions".
One offers OEM retro fit, some 2.5 to 3k (gulp!!)
The other a kit which comes in under a grand.
Really confused here!
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