H 1 Vs H1 Bosch headlights

[alexmaxfield]

Hello What year did Porsche install H 1 or H 4 light in the car's?

Was it an option and if so what years?

Thanks

[spuggy]

Nice lights!

H1's were early cars. Longhoods/orange bar badge territory.

AFAIK, H4's started around the arrival of impact bumpers, perhaps a little before.

US market, thanks to DOT regulations, got sugar scoops with H4 sealed units, while RoW got Bosch H4s with separate reflectors/lenses (and a paintable trim ring usually painted to match body color, 'coz that was a status symbol thing in the 70's and 80's).

Later cars (964 in Europe, 993's etc) got H5's, which can be retro-fitted to 911's if they don't have the auto-levelling system. They throw about as much light as Bosch H4's, but dont' focus it in any kind of useful pattern, which really isn't what you want on an fast unlit country road ...

In rising order of desirability, lighting effectiveness and cost/value:

• Sugar scoops
• H5
• H4
• H1

If I had sugar scoops and didn't want to splurge for Bosch H4's (they're great, but I bought mine 10+ years ago when they were merely expensive, instead of eye-wateringly silly like now), I'd probably fit a Cibie or other quality H4 reflector/lens into the sugar scoops. Cibies might even be better than Bosch for light pattern; Z beams had an awesome rep back in the day.

I almost scored a set of good condition H1's off Craigslist for $200 a while before I bought new H4's from Pelican for almost double that... Missed them by about 20 minutes. Seller seemed surprised how many phone calls he was getting...

[Canada Kev]

Originally Posted by spuggy

Nice lights!

H1's were early cars. Longhoods/orange bar badge territory.

AFAIK, H4's started around the arrival of impact bumpers, perhaps a little before.

Yep, I agree with this. However, some early cars, pre-H1, had a high/low beam light behind a clear outer lens similar to VW beetles of the day. People might replace these lights with Marchal Ampilux or Cibié's version with separate high and low beam reflectors similar to the later H1s.

Originally Posted by spuggy

US market, thanks to DOT regulations, got sugar scoops with H4 sealed units, while RoW got Bosch H4s with separate reflectors/lenses (and a paintable trim ring usually painted to match body color, 'coz that was a status symbol thing in the 70's and 80's).

The headlight rings for Euro H4s are either chrome or flat black. The painted trim rings are body colour to provide a visually seamless transition from the fender to headlight. Some like the chrome, which looks good on earlier cars especially with bright window trim. Others don't like the flat black ring around their headlights and so opt for the painted cover. As well, the uncovered black just looks ugly and unfinished on many car colours.

My RoW car came with body coloured trim rings from the factory. This was not an option and was standard fitment to the H4 lights on cars with no bright trim.

Originally Posted by spuggy

Later cars (964 in Europe, 993's etc) got H5's, which can be retro-fitted to 911's if they don't have the auto-levelling system. They throw about as much light as Bosch H4's, but dont' focus it in any kind of useful pattern, which really isn't what you want on an fast unlit country road ...

Euro 964s got the same H4 lights as the earlier Euro 911s. H5s were on North American 911s from 1987 through to the end of the 964 run.

The 993s got completely different headlights with halogens as standard using H1 bulbs for both high and low beam, and optional Litronic lights which used HID bulbs. The halogens were not known for providing terribly good illumination to the road, and thus some convert to Litronics using factory and after market parts.

The H5s on NA cars were universally known for their lack of light to the road due to their compliance with US DOT regulations. They also get dirty inside. As the lenses are non-removable, they and the reflectors are difficult to clean effectively.

Originally Posted by spuggy

In rising order of desirability, lighting effectiveness and cost/value:

• Sugar scoops
• H5
• H4
• H1

This is accurate for cost only. However, some excellent condition sets of Sugar scoops are raising in price, especially when compared to H5s.

However, I strongly disagree with this list having any accurate ranking in light effectiveness to the road. And desirability is subject to personal taste which in many cases will differ from yours.

The H5s generally suck, as do all DOT compliant lighting of the day. The sugar scoops can be easily retrofitted with relatively inexpensive (compared to Euro H4 or H1 replacements) H4 bulbed sealed beam replacement lights. These give typically good illumination if using quality lights / lenses such as Bosch, Cibié, Hella, IPF, etc. Their light may not be of the same calibre as the Euro H4 and H1, but they're not far off.

The Euro H4 vs H1 debate is moot in my opinion. Both give great output for a halogen light. The H1s have the benefit of independently adjustable main and dipped beams which gives great flexibility to adjust and customize to your specific mode of driving conditions. Plus, they're uber cool with the separate lenses. Euro H4 lights, when equipped with relays (as all headlights should be) and higher watt bulbs, such as 85/75 or 100/80, are very difficult to beat except by modern engineered HID or LED headlight assemblies.

Originally Posted by spuggy

If I had sugar scoops and didn't want to splurge for Bosch H4's (they're great, but I bought mine 10+ years ago when they were merely expensive, instead of eye-wateringly silly like now), I'd probably fit a Cibie or other quality H4 reflector/lens into the sugar scoops. Cibies might even be better than Bosch for light pattern; Z beams had an awesome rep back in the day.

I have no argument here and completely agree. But try to buy a NOS Z-Beam light today - makes Euro H4s look almost affordable.