HID for a older 911 ??

aleng888 · 03-06-2006, 03:39 PM

Anyone out there try putting a HID head light in older 911? I hear the new HID light take less amp to run then a helgoen head light, Is this true?

Any 2 cent will do.

Rick V · 03-06-2006, 04:33 PM

Not sure but I hear folks talking about installing relays to handle the job. I installed the Piaa superwhites and I am happy even in the country where I live.

lateapex911 · 03-06-2006, 04:43 PM

Since you said "Any" 2 cents will do...

I have been looking into this myself. They do make "kits" to install HID bulbs in existing H! and H4 units, but, the problem arises that the units were not designed for those bulbs, and the light pattern (of the filiment or arc of the old vs new bulb) is different.. Sure the bulbs fit, but the light is not controlled properly from what I have learned in my research.

Most HID setups are limited to low beams to avoid the slow start up issues that plague HIDs and which would be problematic for a flash to pass or standard high beam use. (quick on, quick off)

They should be easier on the electrics to be sure.

Ideally HIDs require a projector lens and reflector set up, but so far I have come up empty in trying to find a solution for the early cars that won't have me fabbing stuff for weeks in the shop.

I think Early S man mentioned early (60s) bugs and 911s had totally clear lenses available for certain reflectors (Hella?) so that could be a start, but that's as far as I have thought it out.

Hope that was worth 2 cents!

soupbone · 03-06-2006, 05:04 PM

Traditional and projector. Low and high beam. Ballast will need good amps to initially fire the arc in the capsule.

http://www.xesighting.com/products_detail.asp?nav=1&cat=1&prod=93

http://www.xesighting.com/products_detail.asp?nav=1&cat=1&prod=94

lateapex911 · 07:05 PM

Cool link! Thats an interesting product. The 7" look sorta traditional. They don't say that they aren't legal for highway use, and they say they meet DOT requirements, which is interesting.

But they use HID for both high and low. I wonder what the trick is there?
Here's a pic with dims. I wonder (doubt) if it would fit an an old light bucket. Too bad it's not H! or H4 style..

The company is part of Sylvania.

soupbone · 03-07-2006, 08:08 AM

Another view.

spiff · 03-07-2006, 10:05 AM

Hopefully I'll have pics of mine finished in about 2 weeks. I'm not sure if the ones above will fit because of the depth. There's not alot of room in the buckets.

The bi-xenon works on the principle of a movable plate that blocks off the top portion of the light pattern for normal low-beam operation. When hi-beam is required, the plate flips up out of the way via a solenoid exposing the full light pattern filling in the top portion of the beam.

The kit I'm installing in my car is custom, as only the projector unit is in the headlight bucket. The ballast/ignitor unit will need to be installed inside the trunk.

I'll post some pics when I'm done.

aleng888 · 03-07-2006, 10:43 AM

Thank you for all the 2 cent out there. I found one the fit in my H$ light and it have hi/lo beam by move the bulb.

here the link i have found
http://gohid.com/product_1748_485.html

lateapex911 · 03-07-2006, 12:00 PM

Aleng888, I have seen those too, but I worry that the HID bulb presents a different light ouput and pattern internally, and the H4 reflector and lens are not designed for it. I am afraid that the result will be a lot of spurious light and an unconrolled pattern.

Has anyone done this? Is the pattern well controlled with a sharpcut off? If not done correctly, the glare and intensity can really blind other drivers.

lateapex911 · 03-07-2006, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by spiff
Hopefully I'll have pics of mine finished in about 2 weeks. I'm not sure if the ones above will fit because of the depth. There's not alot of room in the buckets.

The bi-xenon works on the principle of a movable plate that blocks off the top portion of the light pattern for normal low-beam operation. When hi-beam is required, the plate flips up out of the way via a solenoid exposing the full light pattern filling in the top portion of the beam.

The kit I'm installing in my car is custom, as only the projector unit is in the headlight bucket. The ballast/ignitor unit will need to be installed inside the trunk.

I'll post some pics when I'm done.

Spiff, thats great stuff! I had heard that some had a flip up deflection device. What are you basing your units on? I look forward to you progress or completed pictures and results~

spiff · 12:20 PM

Mine will be based on Hella/Bosch bi-xenon D2S projector units....

Even these will be a tight fit if you don't want to modify the buckets, but from initial measurements, it should be okay.
Stay tuned!

aleng888 · 03-07-2006, 12:44 PM

HI spiff

Looking for to see those pic. I think for $400 , i am going try the one i have found. the blub seem to about the same size as the one i have now. I hope it will not overload my battery...

lateapex911 · 03-07-2006, 12:53 PM

I doubt it will overload the battery, (except during startup) and while it is "About the same size" as the current one, a filiment change of as little as 1/16" of an inch can drastically change the light pattern.

spiff · 03-07-2006, 02:31 PM

BE CAREFUL in using that system aleng888. Although the running power is approx. 35watts, the start up power draw can be very large. You must run proper relays in your system with appropriate fuses. If you don't, you will burn out your switches and wiring harness. This won't be immediate, but gradual which will show up as intermittent faults. We all love diagnosing intermittent electrical issues, don't we?

btw, if you're looking to get the combined hi/lo in the H4 bulb, I can get it from my supplier for close to half what you are going to pay. pm me off line if you want details, but as lateapex suggests, I'd stay away from this system. It will be more light, but very unfocussed and put much more glare into oncoming traffic.

Kroggers · Kroggers's Garage

Any update on this Spiff??

spiff · 03-29-2006, 04:37 AM

Time has been limited. I got some headlight assemblies to try from a potential source, but one came in with the lense shattered during shipping. Turns out the unit has slightly different dimensions than the original one I was using to test fit so I have to modify the adaptor plates slightly. Hopefully in another 2 weeks or so.

I'm still busy enough trying to fit the C2 bumpers, rebuild the pedal ass'y, replace the clutch cable and POR the rust spots on the car. Gotta love spring!

Nitrometano · Nitrometano's Garage

I have installed projector style headlights into my '72 911. I make the relay modification to get better current and not to damage the headlight switch. This are what I'm talking about:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/82-83-84-91-PORSCHE-944-ROUND-HALO-PROJECTOR-HEADLIGHTS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33710QQitemZ 8050958795QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Kroggers · Kroggers's Garage

Nitrometano, do you have any pics?

c2 rower · 03-29-2006, 08:07 AM

I tried some HID units that sylvania made a few years back that originally sold for some insane price (like $800) and then phased them out and were selling them for around $300 when i bought them. They were originally sold by that real expensive Porsche parts supplier (forgot the name) They replaced the US DOt type headlamps.

They totally sucked! The build quality was crap. I unloaded them and went with the Bosch H4's with 12 gauge wiring and relays. Ok, so they draw more current than HIDs but they have a great lighting pattern and just look right on a 911.

Nitrometano · Nitrometano's Garage

I need a camera to take the pics. Maybe in the weekend I can use my brother's camera.