Question on Headlight replacement

[Robert Adams]

My '73 911 is driving around with a year 2000 headlights that just plain aren't safe to drive with. I don't drive enough at night to warrant upgrading to LED so thought I'd ask if the newer sealed beams are any better than what I have? Anyone know of an improved replacement? or has time & technology improved these lights so any Phillips or Sylvania replacement is better than something 20 + years old?
Thanks for any suggestions.

[RSTarga]

This a not expensive alternative that will fit in easily. Just add a set of relays so that your turn signal switch doesn't fry.
https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/70476.htm?pn=70476-M44

[Noah930]

A fellow Pelican recently updated the headlights on his '84, which came with H4s. He did the headlight relays as mentioned above (which should help some, as the pathway of electricity no longer has to pass through the wiper stalk) and upgraded to LED bulbs. A lot cheaper than installing a whole aftermarket LED set-up, like Audette/Rennline/9Eleven.

[Trackrash]

Originally Posted by RSTarga

This a not expensive alternative that will fit in easily. Just add a set of relays so that your turn signal switch doesn't fry.
https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/70476.htm?pn=70476-M44

That's a good option if you are willing to stay with your sugar scoop style headlights.

An other option without spending a fortune are the euro H-4s. They really dress up your styling and can take high wattage bulbs.
https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/91163111300.htm?pn=911-631-113-00-M422

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Trackrash

That's a good option if you are willing to stay with your sugar scoop style headlights.

An other option without spending a fortune are the euro H-4s. They really dress up your styling and can take high wattage bulbs.
https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/91163111300.htm?pn=911-631-113-00-M422

I have to disagree about the styling as a upgrade. I prefer the sugar scoop style. Just my opinion, and what my car has.

I would love to find a LED conversion that retains the fluted lenses, and sugar scoops. My personal opinion of every LED headlight I have seen on a 911 is they are ugly as sin, and don't look right. Just my opinion, yours may vary.

Someday I hope to find a LED headlight, with the fluted lenses, that fit a sugar scoop. So far no luck.

[911obgyn]

H4s are a drop in replacement. Better beam pattern and you can get 80w100w halogen lamps.

[junkman300SD]

I always ask (Daniel Stern Lighting) for his thoughts when getting a new to me car. He has had some good insight and he doesn't get paid until I agree, take his advice and buy from him or his links.

[Noah930]

Slodave did the H4 sugar scoops with LED bulbs and relays. He kept his fluted lenses. I think that light output is pretty close to the Rennlines I installed in my car. But his project was done for a fraction of the price.

[famoroso]

These look like what you really want...

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/1119339-holley-morimoto-retrobright-led.html

[Robert Adams]

Just noticed this supplied by our host.

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/70477.htm?pn=70477-INT

Doesn't seem like a relay would be needed for these?

[darrin]

Originally Posted by Robert Adams

Just noticed this supplied by our host.

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/70477.htm?pn=70477-INT

Doesn't seem like a relay would be needed for these?

[edit, unless you're confident you'll get ticketed/fined/fail periodic inspections for not having DOT-compliant headlights with aiming "teats" on the lens,] no meed to go with sealed beams -- get the h4 units referenced in first post (or the similar, but likely superior kohito h4s sold by daniel stern --http://www.danielsternlighting.com/products/products.html which will also drop into your sugarscoops and will greatly improve lighting over your current sealed beam bulbs - their sharp cutoffs at limits will need to be properly aimed before use and will provide light output/performance similar to modern headlights. DO install the relays, regardless - headlights' full current has no business running through turn signal stalk and will cause issues down the road w/o relays (which separates turnsignal's high/low beam switch from headlights' circuitpath.

[RSTarga]

Relays are cheaper than a high/low switch.

[Robert Adams]

Tried using Stern's email link on his page, but it's not working on either of my computers, To bad he doesn't list a cut and paste. Guess I'll do the Hella H4s.

[djb25]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I have to disagree about the styling as a upgrade. I prefer the sugar scoop style.

You’re definitely in the minority there…

[darrin]

Robert Adams -- here's a link to the Koito H4 headlights that Daniel Stern sells at a VERY good price https://www.busdepot.com/h6024

[AlKidd]

Regardless whether your new path "needs" relays or not, put them in. You dont know how much damage has already been done to your stalk wiring. Its $15 bucks if you make your own kit or $50 from a premade one. As someone posted above, alot cheaper and alot easier to install than a new stalk

[911obgyn]

80$ a pair for H4 headlights, drop in replacement in sugar scoops.
Check VW shops.
I saw them on Bus Depot recently

[Robert Adams]

Thanks to all....BD it is! Relay will be added.
Already burned up one switch a while back. 50 YEAR OLD harness was unbelievably, ok.
Can't wait to see where I'm going.

[Mike Andrew]

Anybody tried the Stoddard LED set up? Just got an advert from them.

Timely, as I was near blind this weekend on the backroads around Road America. Realize that now is the time to fix this issue. All options allowing me to retain my sugar scoops are open.

[darrin]

Originally Posted by Mike Andrew

Anybody tried the Stoddard LED set up? Just got an advert from them.

Timely, as I was near blind this weekend on the backroads around Road America. Realize that now is the time to fix this issue. All options allowing me to retain my sugar scoops are open.

If you want to stick with sugar scoops, strongly recommend the ones from busdepot that I linked to above (ESPECIALLY at that price). Supposed to be even better than the Cibies I ran with my sugar scoops (and loved) for years (and which I still slightly prefer light-wise over the Bosch H4s I replaced them with).