2004 boxster headlight
2004 boxster headlight
Author
Discussion

glynnbob

Original Poster:

80 posts

178 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
just wondered if anyone had any advice for me. i have a 2004 boxster with the clear headlights and my passenger side main beam has stopped working and is only on side light. will i need a new unit? or can it be as simple as a bulb? if so are these easy to do yourself? i have had a look on t'net myself and its a very expensive part!! just wondered if i could cut corners some where rather than take it to main dealer?? sorry for all questions but when i saw the price of said unit i had to sit down!! (and write this).

cheers glynnbob.

steveo3002

11,211 posts

204 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
check the fuse and bulb...it wont be the lamp unit at fault

glynnbob

Original Poster:

80 posts

178 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
i hope and pray that its just fuse or bulb. ill have to have a look how to check this.was very scared by replacement headlight cost!!!

Prof Prolapse

16,163 posts

220 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
As above, I wouldn't panic mate it's probably just the bulb. They don't last forever. Check the fuse first though as access will probably be easier.

Unless your car is prone to it I wouldn't jump to conclusions about it being HID units or what not, but worst case scenario you'll probably be able to get it from a breakers and get it fitted by an indy for a fraction of the cost.

So don't worry.

Magic919

14,519 posts

231 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
If you pop to Halfords, one of the ladies will fit a new bulb for an extra £3.

steveo3002

11,211 posts

204 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
does it actualy have litronics /hid as many halogen cars just have the clear lamps fitted

glynnbob

Original Poster:

80 posts

178 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
dunnno bout halfords heard some horror stories on here!! its not a hid light though.

Prof Prolapse

16,163 posts

220 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
Since you've got a 9 year old Porsche, in any instance I'd be far more concerned about your intermediate shaft bearing. 10% chance of doom!!! (Allegedly).




steveo3002

11,211 posts

204 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
ah ok were getting somewhere

should be a 20p fuse or a bulb for under £10

google headlamp removal , you just turn a lever and it pops out , lots of how to if you google it

N Dentressangle

3,453 posts

252 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
All you need to know:

http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&safe=off&ou...

Doesn't everyone use Google like this?

glynnbob

Original Poster:

80 posts

178 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
thanks a lot for all your help fellas cant beleive how many helpful people are on this forum. got a halfords,a spares shop and family garage all 5 mins away so thank god its not £500plus!!

steveo3002

11,211 posts

204 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
try the spares shop first halfords are rapey on bulbs , they might even fit it if you ask nicely

glynnbob

Original Poster:

80 posts

178 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
will try spares shop first pal as i know they fit bulbs wipers etc. it's directly opposite halfords!!

Mr Ping

262 posts

166 months

Thursday 14th March 2013
quotequote all
I panicked with my 996 when my bulb went and was left with just a sidelight.

Did a quick bit of googling and discovered all you need to pop out the headlight assembly is that funny T shaped tool in the leather pouch jobby located in the spare wheel although you gotta pull out a rubber plug and undo the carpet a bit in the boot - 2 minute job.

What I didn't factor in though was how much of a ballache it would be getting the headlight unit back into the car, sometimes it just goes back in easy - other times it takes a lot of pissing around.

First time I tried replacing a bulb was when I was on my lunch break and car was parked in an NCP across the road. Didnt manage to get the stupid thing back in during lunch and spent an hour after work in a dimly lit NCP at Christmas cursing everybody at Porsche and their extended family as I didnt want to drive home (50 miles) on a dark and snowy winter with a headlight unit blatantly missing!


Hilux2400

231 posts

166 months

Friday 15th March 2013
quotequote all
It's easy to get the headlight unit back in, but I can understand your difficulty. There is an easy way to do it.

Under the headlight unit and on either side there are prongs that poke out at the sides. These two prongs fit into grooves in the headlight carrier. When you put the headlight unit back into the car try and fit these prongs into the receiving grooves. The unit will then slide in easily and engage with the fixing device which has to be clicked back.

If you have lost the tool for getting the headlight unit out, it takes a 5mm socket spanner.

H

Whitean3

2,197 posts

228 months

Friday 15th March 2013
quotequote all
I wouldn't worry too much OP- if it's a bulb or fuse, you're talking a couple of quid. If it is a xenon bulb, then you can buy these for about 75 quid from the likes of AceParts. One of my xenons on my 996 blew a few years ago, hence why I know (and I think Porsche would charge 200+ for thesame bulb. As you've probably discovered, taking the headlight out is pretty straighforward, and means you can fix the thing on the kitchen table in warmth and comfort!

If the whole headlight unit is knackered, then you see so many on ebay that I don't think even this would be too costly.