Headlight Bulb Replacement???

[TeamAguilar]

So which bulb would you recommend? I see a lot of options for headlights, bulbs, etc?

I just need a quality bulb, I would like to get a nice bright bulb but it's hard to sort through all the options on this site as well as others.

Can you please provide a recommendation?

Thank you!

[Joe Bob]

Do you have sealed beams, H4 US style, H4 Euro?

[MrScott]

Assuming H4's I'd recommend a relay kit (from our host), Osram Hyper 85/80's and properly aimed headlights, let's not blind anybody.

[TeamAguilar]

Here is a photo of my front lights. What type of headlight, what do I have?

Sorry if I don't know,

[zippy_gg]

That rules out the sealed beams.
Not sure if they are H4s or H1s. Can you post a close-up frontal shot?

[TeamAguilar]

Does this help?

[zippy_gg]

Mine are H1s...

[TeamAguilar]

So H1 would be your recommendation? What is the difference between H1 and H4?

Originally Posted by zippy_gg

Mine are H1s...

[Arne2]

The OP's look like they say H4 on the lens.

H4 are dual filament bulbs, H1 are single filament, and the bulbs and light assemblies are not interchangeable. If you have H4s you will need H4 bulbs.

[TeamAguilar]

Will it say H4 or H1 on the lens cover?

[zippy_gg]

H1 is single filament bulb in its own reflector so you could have 1 for the low beam and 1 for the high beam, while an H4 bulb has 2 filaments - 1 for low beam and 1 for high beam- in a single reflector.
You can see the additional reflectors on my headlights. I could not see if you had the same setup or not. Also look for H4 embossed on the center of your headlight. That would be a dead giveaway...
There is a big physical difference between H1s and H4s so you cannot substitute one for the other. You need to replace like for like.
Can you post a close up of one headlight? Maybe we could read off the glass lens what model you have.

[darrin]

edit [what gilles said]H4 headlights have a single bulb inside (the bulb has 2 filaments, one for high beam and the other for low beam). H1 headlights have 2 single filament bulbs inside, one bulb for low beam and a second for the high beam.

You should be able to see the bulb behind the lens -- if 1 bulb, h4 -- if 2 h1s. I suspect you have h4 headlights (since they are more common than h1s) and I'd concur with Mr. Scott's recommendation for the 80/85 watt bulb -- I also strongly recommend installing headlight relays. For some reason, porsche chose to route all of the current going to the headlight through the high beam switch on the steering wheel. Over time, this causes the high beam switch to start randomly flashing brights (in my case at very inopportune times). Installing the relay avoids this problem and allows for use of higher wattage bulbs. The relay is super-easy to install.

If you do choose to upgrade to an 80/85 bulb, I'd also recommend replacing both of your headlight bulbs at the same so you have the same light intensity (and make sure your lights are properly aimed) --

[Porchcar guy]

If you stand in front of the headlamp, look in the middle of the glass lens, you should see the type it is or as darrin sez...look for 1 bulb or 2 bulbs

[TeamAguilar]

I see H4 right in the middle and BOSCH at the bottom so it looks like I answered that question.

Now, of the H4 options what BULB does everyone like or do I only have 1 option?

[porwolf]

I bought these H4 bulbs for the European asymmetric low beam road pattern:

US SELLER - OSRAM Night Breaker/NightBreaker PLUS H4 | eBay

They were rated highest in a German H4 bulb test. And, being Osram bulbs they are supposedly long life items. For these European H4 bulbs you should have also European H4 headlights with Euro lenses. US lenses have a different glass pattern that will not produce the asymmetric low beam road pattern:

[Jesse16]

If you want to talk to someone with alot of experience, speak or send a message to Daniel Stern, danielsternlighting. Of course he is in the business of selling lighting solutions but most everyone likes his contributions to this detail of our cars. Bought all my components from him last year to upgrade my car, high quality stuff.

[darrin]

This is what I went with from our sponsor:

1) a pair of these bulbs: Pelican Parts - Product Information: 31425-M97

2) this relay kit: Pelican Parts - Product Information: JWST-911-HLPR

Finally, be sure to confirm that your headlights are properly aimed! there are some good instructions for this on the internet

[zippy_gg]

Originally Posted by darrin

This is what I went with from our sponsor:

1) a pair of these bulbs: Pelican Parts - Product Information: 31425-M97

2) this relay kit: Pelican Parts - Product Information: JWST-911-HLPR

Finally, be sure to confirm that your headlights are properly aimed! there are some good instructions for this on the internet

In addition to these suggestions I would like to add this if you are going with a higher wattage bulb: High Temperature H4 Socket (ceramic) to handle the higher temperature. Besides it is possible that your original sockets are dried out and brittle. This would be a worthy upgrade for little money.

[Flat Six]

Literally hundreds of choices -- most are crap IMHO; plenty of threads on PP on bogus super-white bulbs. But as Jesse suggested, Daniel Stern is a wonderful resource -- the tech section of his site alone (Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply) will help you make a much more informed choice.

For my money, if you want to focus your search for H4 bulbs to a wide selection of quality offerings (i.e., exclude all the junk but still have a lot of quality options to choose from), you can't do better than Susquehanna Motorsports (Susquehanna MotorSports - Auto Performance Products Catalog).

Gilles & Kathy offer very sound suggestion re: upgraded sockets -- a must, in my opinion. Another source for hi-temp ceramic sockets is Automotive Connectors.

Also a must-do is to install headlight relays. Is both a performance upgrade (again, see DS explanation here -- Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply) and a safety upgrade. Plenty of threads here detail the process, customization, benefits, etc. Design/build your own, or order from our host: Porsche 911 & Carrera Lights and Lenses - Page 2

Good luck, HTH

[MrShades]

I am planning on putting a relay on each of the headlights so you don not run the power thru the light switch

I have noticed the bulb connectors on the headlights have been to warm but i suppose that does not help the headlight connector?

I suppose i have to use ceramic connectors as zippy_gg said