Repairing driving lights

[Tom]

My passenger side driving light has had a hole in the front for years. Now that I'm thinking of replacing it, the price seems to have gone up horrendously ( you used to be able to get them new for £150, now they are over £300 each). Can anyone suggest a cheap supplier or alternative to replacing the whole units?

 

[Eldavo]

I seem to remember Oli fixing his with some sort of glue with a similar reflective index to the glass.

 

[GlennS]

£300 sounds like the price for the whole unit. The lenses are available separately from Porsche (or at least they were earlier this year when I was looking). So if it is just the glass you're looking to replace...

 

[colin944]

I bought a couple of sets off ebay and put them together to make a good set. I think I've still got some bits lying around. I'll have a dig and see what I can find.

 

[chrisg]

The other option I'd like to suggest is using clear helicopter tape (assuming the hole isnt too large).

The reason I mention this is that my passenger side unit has ( he says tempting fate....) been held together for several years like this. I put the pre-cut clear thick helicopter tape/ stone protector sheets on both lenses about 7yrs ago. Whilst at the post office depot a few years ago I heard a dull thump/crack - very slightly misjudged a small bollard that cracked the lens.

The helicopter tape (with a small amount of silicon sealant) has been holding it all together now for several years and passed 2 x MOT's.

Might work ?

 

[Tom]

Hi Colin,

If you've got a spare passenger side light I'd be very interested as mine has a hole in the glass and the screws are all rusted tight. I put a piece of outdoor sellotape over the hole, which has lasted for years but the car is in the body shop for rust repairs and a respray, so would be nice to fix while the lights are out of the bumper.

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: Eldavo

I seem to remember Oli fixing his with some sort of glue with a similar reflective index to the glass.

You remember well. I used some clear araldite, which is the same RI as the glass and clear, unlike the regular Araldite which is yellow. This over the cracks (and craters) on the inside of the lights, with some helicopter tape on the outside, can overcome some fairly hefty cracks. I don't know whether it would repair a piece of glass that had physically broken into two (or more) bits, but it's patched up one cracked one on my S2 very well for a number of years. You need to look very closely to see that there is anything amiss.


Oli.

 

[reflintorm]

I heard, In coming months seasonal offers are there on the automobile products. I think, It will be best of our budget. Just try those kind of sales if isn't satisfying then once go through the used lights (which means the customer who use those products for very less, some of them fantasy about the latest models and sold the used one, like that sale will be helpful to you). I just suggest you as per interest you may go.




led reflector design

 

[white944]

Wow, is that Yoda?

 

[pse_SC]

Wow, is that Yoda?

[][][]

 

[Tom]

My day made you have

ORIGINAL: pse_SC

Wow, is that Yoda?

[][][]

 

[Tom]

OK - I've got my car back from the body shop. Unfortunately they completely smashed the glass in the driving light when they removed it, so repair of the bullet hole is no longer an option. I have ordered the Bosch part from sparepartstore24 who are based in Germany but have a UK website. Total cost for the whole unit was £189 including delivery - less than just the lens from UK sites and cheaper than a nice second hand one currently on Ebay. The Bosch part number for a 944 S2 passenger (left) side driving light assembly is 0 305 200 701. Just hope it arrives in one piece

 

[Zeusy]

Evening all. Hella make a very similar lamp slightly narrower lamp. I have given a pair to my local Porsche indy to check out. he thinks they may well do the trick and the good news is they only cost around £60.00 each brand new! Watch this space. Best regards. Zeusy.

 

[Tom]

I'd be interested in the Hella option now - Having taken payment for the Bosch unit, the supplier then emailed me to say it is no longer available (though it still says ready to dispatch in 2 to 3 days on their website ). I've received a full refund but still need a new light (or the glass at least).

 

[Zeusy]

Hi Tom. Take a good look at e-bay item number 220719355429. These are lamps used on DAF and Foden HGV's fitted with 24v electrical systems (I don't think this is a problem - just fit 12v bulbs). They are very similar in size and shape to the Bosch lamps fitted by Porsche. I think with a little modification to the front bumper behind the lamp recess where it cannot be seen these lamps could be a much cheaper alternative to the genuine Porsche/Bosch version. I have not yet had a go at fitting them to a car but I have compared them with the originals and I really think they could do the job very well ........ and for a fraction of the price. What it needs now is for someone whose fairly handy to have a go at fitting a pair and then report back on here. Let me know what you think. Best regards. Zeusy.

 

[zcacogp]

That'll be this one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220719355429?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26ghostText%3D%26_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D220719355429%26_rdc%3D1

That's a very interesting idea, well found. Without having one in my hands it's hard to tell whether it would work from a size point of view. One of the questions I'd have is whether the angle at which the lights point forward is correct for a 944.

At less than £50 each they would make very good value if they did work.


Oli.

 

[graham.webb]

Tom
Interesting that sparepartstore now say they're NLA...that's also what Pelican Parts (in USA) say on their website, although they appear to offer the LHS only for $260.70.

I'm now looking at all this...the plastic mounting for my front indicators is collapsing, and whilst the fog/driving light lenses are OK the lamp body/reflector assembly is not.

I'll check Porsche GB prices next week.

 

[PAUL RUDDY]

I must look at things completely different to a lot of people.

The parts are still available new from OPC, yes at a price but they fit, correctly and without any mods, grease the screws and fit protectors and never worry again.

Why would you want to butcher your PU to fit truck lights that will never look right.

Also be careful of buying US spec lights as they are not the same as UK ones, only one side lights up, the other is a blanking piece inside the lamp.

Paul

 

[944 man]

As Paul says - its a completely different lamp fitted into the same PU, so price and availability isn't relevant.

 

[Tom]

This looks like too radical a departure for me but interesting none the less. My car is almost original, bar the stereo and recent bodywork repairs and paint. The Bosch lights I was trying to source are the original part but it seems they stopped making them in 2013. OPC looks like the best new price.