Light up the road

[speedman]

I have a set of H1 on my 79SC. The metal lenses inside of the headlights have some rust on the edges and the plating is dull. Does anyone know how to repair them or is there a replacement for the lenses

[ulrichd]

Try these guys for used replacement parts.

http://dcauto.com/

Ulrich

[speedman]

My 79SC has H1 Headlights in the buckets. Were these a standard or an option on my car. I need to do something to them soon. Here are my options as I see it:

1) Use the existing headlight assemblies and install HID
conversion kits. This option would give a whiter light, but with the metal lenses turning dull and some rust at the corners I do not know how much it would improve the lighting

2) Replace the existing headlight assemblies with new H4 headlight assemblies

3) Try to replace the lenses in the H1 headlight assemblies

4) Try to replace the H1 assemblies with new H1 headlight assemblies and install HID conversions

HELP!!!

[masraum]

It's a bad idea to install HID's with lenses and reflectors that weren't designed for them, they are a completely different sort of light source and require different lenses/reflectors.

[81 911 SC]

I would just upgrade to a set of H4 headlights

[}{arlequin]

STOP.... you probably cannot do any better than h1's for our cars. yeah, maybe hid but to do it 'right' isn't just a matter of a cheapo ebay kit and slapping it in.

do some reasearch. read up on this board under search terms of "h1" "narva" "100w" etc etc.... not many lights out there that will give you MORE light than 4 100w bulbs you could cram into the h1's AND run simultaneously

to run this much juice you need some power and you should check whether the model of alternator you have in your car can support that output.

read up some more on how to rewire the lights (h4's and h1's) w/ relays so the rest of the stuff doesn't burn up and start crimping

sometimes people sell used h1's and you can salvage the piece you need, or maybe just buy one used unit to replace. maybe someone knows a place to get that piece re-plated.

last scenario, depending on the condition of your lights, they're worth anywhere between $400 all the way up to $800-900 for perfect ones.

most people are happy w/ healthy h4's, but many aspire to h1's. for a reason.

[hatpix]

Get a set of Hella Vision Plus H4 lights for about $80 shipped. 5 minute install per side, twice the output, totally stock look. Replaces only the glass, keeps the outer rings so its a totally stock look, unlike the Euro H4 kit, which incidentally is just as easy to install, but costs around $300.

[speedman]

twice the ouput,but at what cost. nothing is free

[hatpix]

Originally posted by speedman
twice the ouput,but at what cost. nothing is free

At a cost of $36 per side plus shipping. Plugs into your stock wiring. If you want you can add a relay: http://members.rennlist.com/msucro1/relaykit.htm

[}{arlequin]

Originally posted by hatpix
Get a set of Hella Vision Plus H4 lights for about $80 shipped. 5 minute install per side, twice the output, .

how do you get twice the output from h4's when they only have 2 bulbs between them and h1's have 4 (2 in each)?

Originally posted by speedman
twice the ouput,but at what cost. nothing is free

i don't get it. you're worrying about cost but at the same time considering hid???

you could probably just sell your h1's and for the money be able to buy BRAND NEW h4's. relays are cheap.

[hatpix]

Originally posted by }{arlequin
how do you get twice the output from h4's when they only have 2 bulbs between them and h1's have 4 (2 in each)?

you could probably just sell your h1's and for the money be able to buy BRAND NEW h4's. relays are cheap.

You get twice the output because the light is focused differently. The Hella reflectors put the light where you need it, on the road, not wasted by lighting up trees bridges overpasses, etc.

[randywebb]

maybe he means 2x the sealed beam units (?)

Dave has given you some good advice. Although BiXenon headlight -- IF properly installed -- are far superior to the H1s, I don't know how you can get them except by buying a new Porsche -- that's new as in 2005 MY.

I use H1s - there is a reason why used ones cost nearly $1,000...
The reflectors can be rechromed - also do some searches on the Early 911s bbs.

If you absolutely cannot spend the $$ to fix yours, then buy some H4 units and put those in while you work on the H1s yourself or store them.

[speedman]

I think everyone is getting the wrong impression. I just want a little better light. I am going to keep my H1's I was hoping to get some info on how to repair the lenses

[}{arlequin]

the lenses are usually sandblasted from stonechips and 30 years' of use... don't think they're repairable. just replace the lenses w/ new ones and clean up the rust spots and get them re-plated.

keep in mind, h1 lenses are different than h4 lenses so you can't substitute one for the other. you *can* but the fluting and resulting light focus will be wrong and will give you LESS light than you want.

there are some replica lenses out there so be careful of those.

[lateapex911]

I put bi xenon (HID) in my old 911.

Not plug and play, thats for sure, but the light quality....ooo la la!

But.....the comments above about NOT using one of those HID kits to fit into existing H1 or H4 setups is spot on.

HIDs create an arc (a spark of sorts) that is in a different orientation, and different location than a standard filiment bulb. You simply must use the reflector and the projector lens that was designed for that HID bulb.

Now, there are halogen projector units out there as well, but again, different light source and the optics are wrong.

In short, I used Audi A6/8 bi zenon projector units..... (the high beam is integral in the unit. It is a shade that pops up with a solenoid when the hi beam switch is flipped. No worries about the slow ramp up of the HID bulb this way) ......and fabricated brackets, etc to mount them in an early 356 bucket with clear lenses. Then I obscured the part of the lens that the HIDs don't use.

[}{arlequin]

sounds like a cool project jake, got any pics of the install?

[lateapex911]

yea, I have some progress shots, but I'm stuck on the final appearance part. I can't quite figure out how to "flute" the lenses! I'll snap a shot tomorrow that shows one lens "raw", with the whole mecahnical setup showing, and the other with the obscuring "fluting" mocked up.

[lateapex911]

OK, here it is. Drivers side is the one showing the guts, and the passenger side is currently mocked up with a inner reflector/valence and such to hide the guts, and an obscuring pattern on the glass to mimic fluting. Just to get an idea of the look before I commit to all the work to make it for real.

More shots are availble if anyone wants to see more.
Oh, and to explain further, the top is the HID projector unit, the bit on the bottom are Hella tungsten fogs I added. Visually I wanted to fill out the void. The fog lighting doesn't do a whole lot, but I like the appearance when they are on ...

Purists will hate this look no doubt, but I have no issues with mods like this that are essentially bolt on/bolt off.

[}{arlequin]

very cool. nice car too. how did you come to the conclusion to go w/ audi lights? found a wrecked one or did you go to the dealer for the whole rig?

[304065]

Somewhere, there is a black Audi wagon missing its headlamps.