Discussion
On mine [1988 911] I changed my bulbs for Philips ones that said they were 50% brighter. I only did that because I trust Philips, normally I'd ignore claims like that. In fact they are much better and I can actually see where I'm going in the dark now, quite unlike before...
Took me ages to adjust the angle of the headlamps for optimum beam though, just make sure that for MOTs the adjuster (inside the car) is on the lowest setting so it never gets changed after you get it right. I think the older headlamp bowls have a less well defined 'line' for dipped beam and so it makes it tricky to get a long reach forward and still be OK for oncoming traffic.
Took me ages to adjust the angle of the headlamps for optimum beam though, just make sure that for MOTs the adjuster (inside the car) is on the lowest setting so it never gets changed after you get it right. I think the older headlamp bowls have a less well defined 'line' for dipped beam and so it makes it tricky to get a long reach forward and still be OK for oncoming traffic.
PIAA bulbs are by far the best available - I'd go for something like Platinum White, still road legal (e marked) and although they only draw the same wattage as a standard bulb the light output is much higher. Also, the whiter colour makes things easier to see as it's much more natural for the eyes than standard yellowish bulbs. Although they are more expensive than Ring / Phillips etc I've sold loads of these and everyone who has bought them is glad they did. I run them myself in my 964.
I've tried virtully every "next new thing" in bulbs over the past 10 years. They are all pants.
+50% brighter, if you know how lighting output is measured, means about 20ft extra lighting. Light is measured like sound, +50% means its 89.5dB instead of 88dB. What you are after is something over 100dB.
Bite the bullet and get gas discharge. They transform night time driving and last forever.
+50% brighter, if you know how lighting output is measured, means about 20ft extra lighting. Light is measured like sound, +50% means its 89.5dB instead of 88dB. What you are after is something over 100dB.
Bite the bullet and get gas discharge. They transform night time driving and last forever.
A subject close to my heart - I have been struggling with this since I bought my P&J. I tried the H7's from Philips - the Vision Plus. Not bad. Tried the BlueVision, also from Philips - made the lights look like Xenons, but not much better than the Vision Plus. But testing out last week in a Fri afternoon battle to get to Heathrow, realised they were still complete rubbish. SO, enough's enough - I'm not going for a HID fittment, I'm getting the full Porsche retrofit kit - replacement Xenon lights. Hopefully that'll be the end of it for me. Sourcing from Carnewal in Belgium to save about 300GBP over UK list. Lss in the US, but add shippment and tax and they're about even with Europes prices.
It's not cheap unfortunately, but in my humble opinion one of the few mods that is really worthwhile.
Sourced from Carnewal for RHD, they come in at 1017.41GBP including tax and shipping to the UK. Camtune via OPC quoted me 1312.23GBP for the same items and 350GBP to fit. On eBay there were some items advertised in the US for around 770GBP, but with tax and shipping the saving over Carnewal is minimal and I run the risk of the parts being US spec. I will place the order with Carnewal today and will decide whether to fit them or not when they arrive and I've had a chance to dry-run. 350 is steep, but knowing Camtune they will finish in much less time and charge me accordingly.
Lights also give the look of the facelift lights - not the outline shape, but replacing the inner opaque glass circle. Brings my 996 right up todate as per the headlamps on this example:
Sourced from Carnewal for RHD, they come in at 1017.41GBP including tax and shipping to the UK. Camtune via OPC quoted me 1312.23GBP for the same items and 350GBP to fit. On eBay there were some items advertised in the US for around 770GBP, but with tax and shipping the saving over Carnewal is minimal and I run the risk of the parts being US spec. I will place the order with Carnewal today and will decide whether to fit them or not when they arrive and I've had a chance to dry-run. 350 is steep, but knowing Camtune they will finish in much less time and charge me accordingly.
Lights also give the look of the facelift lights - not the outline shape, but replacing the inner opaque glass circle. Brings my 996 right up todate as per the headlamps on this example:
Edited by tracer.smart on Sunday 26th November 14:32
rlw said:
If they are lamps and not bulbs, what are the things that you take out when they don't work. Of course they are bulbs.
They might be headlamps, or even headlights, but without headlamp bulbs they are useless.
Bulb is the shape, they are light bulbs. An LED is a light but not a bulb. The lamp is the whole assembly. No more of this lamp vs bulb war They might be headlamps, or even headlights, but without headlamp bulbs they are useless.
woogie said:
aceparts_com said:
As above. I can offer H7 HID for just £125 all in.
Edited by aceparts_com on Saturday 25th November 16:50
Hi, excuse my ignorance but what is h7 hid? Is this the gas filled bulbs?
cheers
It's a bulb (light, lamp) that's filled with a xenon gas that when ignited by the ballast unit (25,000 volts) burns incredibly brightly; typically 3 times brighter than a normal lamp/bulb
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