Should I switch to these headlights?

Jay Auskin · 03-21-2007, 07:00 PM

A co-worker of mine said he had some 911 headlights in the garage he wanted to give me. So, sure, free headlights. Anyhow, my car has H4's. The outside of these boxes said H1 on them. There are 3. Two are the same, and then there's a stray. Is it worth while cleaning these up, and installing them? If so, do they fit on a SC?

My car:

The two same ones. Lenses say E1 on them:

And the stray one...

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

H4s are the top of the line in MY book....sell them.

BTW.....If I can find a 6V bulb for them....they would look real trick on the 356 Outlaw I'm doing right now. Keep me in mind please.

vanwyk4257 · vanwyk4257's Garage

+1. The H1's are worth more $$ than the H4's, sell them and invest the money in a relay/wiring upgrade and higher wattage bulbs if you haven't already done any of that.

porsche911girl · porsche911girl's Garage

You can sell the H4s to me...

Jay Auskin · 03-21-2007, 07:39 PM

Yeah, I figured the H1's might be "desirable" to a lot of people. I can't just sell them, as they were given to me with the thought I'd use them. I might, but it seems like "work" to hook 'em up. Being in the middle of a top-end, "work" is not attractive to me. We'll see.

So they should just bolt right up?

vanwyk4257 · vanwyk4257's Garage

Jay, I don't think there's any difference in the wiring between H1's and H4's as it relates to the car's wiring for the headlamps, so they should mount right up.

randywebb · 03-21-2007, 07:49 PM

the H1's are "desirable" to a lot of people b/c they have 2 sep. bulbs that can be moved independently. that's what those look like to me but I'm not sure about the lens on them.

check to be sure it's the right lens and see if the elec. plug matches w/ your car

Wickd89 · 03-21-2007, 08:04 PM

Anyone know how to clean these lenses (inside and out)??
thx,

70SATMan · 03-21-2007, 08:04 PM

Jay, the lenses are correct on your H1s (red rings). Although that one looks like it's been used for a fishbowl. I prefer the H1s. You get more light out of a H1 versus H3 of the same rating. Not sure about the H1 versus H4. In my opinion the long range beam is more focused and you have more control with the placement. The H4 is a compromise between High and Low beam. Even though your circuitry can handle the H1's (used on the 911S since 68) I agree with recommendations to isolate your switch with the use of relays to handle the high current circuit.

randywebb · 03-21-2007, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wickd89
Anyone know how to clean these lenses (inside and out)??
thx,

slosh alcohol &/or a detergent around in it - pour out - use shoedryer or small blower for a few hours - sit in sun, etc.

or completely disasemble and clean/replate it like the fine German watch that it is

Wickd89 · 03-21-2007, 08:35 PM

thanks Randy. Sounds like CLR would work as well. Coooool.

randywebb · 03-21-2007, 09:19 PM

CLR?

MIK911 · 03-21-2007, 09:34 PM

You gotta use/keep the H1's. Free? that's crazy.
You see 'em in the classifieds for upwards of $800/pr.
Put on the H1's. Sell your H4's
The stray one looks like a H5--not worth much.

Cooper911SC · 03-21-2007, 09:39 PM

C Calcium L Lime R Rust Some nastyish cleaner for soap scum and hard water deposits in the bathroom etc. Should work pretty well...I might be a little worried about the chromed reflector surface inside the light though.

Cool freebie!

Cooper

randywebb · 03-21-2007, 10:30 PM

oh that stuff - isn't it a pretty strong acid?

you might want to try it on the chrome on your neighbor's Buick before you put it in the headlight

Jay Auskin · 03-22-2007, 03:26 AM

Thanks for the replies. I guess I'll refinish these and use 'em on my car. I live in the city, so I never really noticed, or needed to worry about headlight intensity. But, I don't like the H4's I have with the trim ring cover setup the PO put on.

Wickd89 · 03-22-2007, 06:55 AM

I guess it would be safer to start out with soap and water. Love my car, but the headlights look milky.......

Scooter · 03-22-2007, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jay Auskalnis
I can't just sell them, as they were given to me with the thought I'd use them.

Good answer!

Too many other people would just sell them.

70SATMan · 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wickd89
thanks Randy. Sounds like CLR would work as well. Coooool.

Don't, Don't, Don't. That stuff will most likely take the plating off.

If you have a lot of dirt inside the housing (like Jay's) you need to take the lense and the trim ring off. If you try to clean by the slosh method you'll end up sand blasting the plating with all the material in there. Also, don't clean the plating by hand. The aluminum coating is extremely thin (not chromed) and you'll take it off. It's best to use the slosh method on the reflector/housing seperately inside a big heavy duty plastic bag with Isopropyl alcohol and let it air dry.

The lense you can clean normally like any other glass. I use a mild detergent with a soft toothbrush to get in the flutes and then finish with a lint free cloth.

nineoneone · 03-22-2007, 10:24 AM

When I cleaned mine I used a plastic handle from my wifes duster. Like the one on a flyswatter!. Put a piece of paper towel thru the hole in the handle and it did a great job of drying out the inside and left no residual. Then put in sun or hair dryer for several minutes.