Headlights??

[engrguy]

I have read a couple of the threads on the H4 and H5 and Hella.

I have an 83 911 sc and would like to upgrade the headlights to a brighter light. I see on Ebay these headlights that have the LED's and one have any luck with these as they seem reasonably priced.

Can anyone offer any assistance or guidance on what works well with out a ton of conversion. I'm looking for a plug and play or very little mods to make it work.

[merlinfe]

Brightest output will be Euro H4's with good bulbs and relays. They also cost the most.

Minimal cost will be drop in H4 lenses to your Sugar Scoops with upgraded bulbs and relays.

Both options are plug and play.

Avoid the H5s, you will probably resell them and buy H4s later. The bulb selection and light output is only a little better than what you have now.

Skip LEDs. They don't fit car time period wise and will detract from it over all.

-Steve

[Quicksilver]

+1 on the Euro H4s. They are have the best beam pattern and the most useable light for the car.

Also look at adding the headlight relay update. Better power for the lights and will save the expensive headlight and turn indicator switches.

[engrguy]

for the euro H4 do I have to replace the the lens and bulb or just the bulb. Can you provide a link to this part?

[nineball]

you remove your existing headlight assemblies and install new ones. it's quite easy. you then need H4 bulbs if your new headlights did not come with them, and you need a relay (2 minimum, 4 max if you want one for each beam - l&r h&l).

[DRACO A5OG]

1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa - Lights and Lenses - Page 3

[darrin]

I upgraded the 7" round sealed beam headlights to "drop in" 7" round H4 european headlights -- similar to the Hella lights that our host sells for $59 each -- Pelican Parts - Product Information: 70476-M44

These provide dramatically better lighting than the sealed beam headlights and, in conjunction with headlight relays http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/SuperCat/911M/# have been a great upgrade for me.

I'm getting ready to fix a minor rust issue and repaint my car and have opted to pick up a pair of the bosch european h4 headlights to replace my sugar scoops. These are considerably more expensive than the drop in hella h4 lights linked to above (with add-ins, over $360 a side), but are specific to the Porsche 911 (outside of the USA) and I'm doing it for the different (better) look it will give my '86 targa -- I'm not expecting the light from these bosch h4 headlights to be significantly better than that output by my drop-in h4 bulbs. Porsche 911 (1974-1989) - Lights and Lenses - Page 3

Agree with the above posters re avoiding LED for now -- h4 halogen bulbs and lenses do a GREAT job and (imo) don't need to be improved upon

[grant lyon]

+1 on the Euro H4 replacements PP offers. The 55/60 W bulb are plenty bright and much better than the original sealed beam bulb. Need to also add relays to save the stalk light switch; can get by with a marginal switch (rebend the internal bar, clean contacts) carrying only relay coil loads. Might want to think about adjusting the beam pointing while the sugar scoops/trim covers are off -- not hard to do with laser beam clamped to a camera tripod.

[82 SC]

I believe I have euro h4's, they work great and if you need more light add hella! LOL! Relays are a must too.

[Jesse16]

I have a pair of 7" round H4 lense Cibies that will be posted for sale soon. Very very good condition, they were behind a glass cover so no nicks or damage at all, they are by some opinions a bit better light pattern than the Hellas. A little more difficult to find in general but available from Daniel Stern Lighting where I got mine. These will be listed for something like $100 for the pair.
The Euro H4's are likely 6 to 10 times more cost once you get everything required to install. They are a complete replacement unit an may even require painting of the trim rind. The Cibie H4's are equivalent in every way light output vs. the Euros. Just a different look (sugar scoop). I currently have high output bulbs in them.

[82 SC]

Jessie16 I messed you about the lights.

[Quicksilver]

This is the way to go. In addition to this...

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa - Lights and Lenses - Page 3

The Euro H4s come with a chrome trim ring. To get a painted ring you will need to get 911-631-141-00. It slips over the chrome trim ring to cover it and is attached with a single screw at the bottom (911-631-132-00). The mounting screw goes into a special hollow headlight mount screw (911-631-033-00).

Pelican lists a "PEL-H4HARDWARE" that includes all the hardware and it seems apparent that it must include the actual headlight assembly but it doesn't list it on the parts list. (That needs to be clarified.)

[Jesse16]

The Euro Headlight is a complete integrated assy, not separate like the old 7" round units. The only lens is what you see and the reflector is inside.
Bottom line, you do get everything you need to install and use minus the bulb. You just need to buy the extra screw parts and the trim ring if you want that to dress it up. I just purchased all this stuff and the pricing/availability of all is greatly in flux. Chrome ring assy. is like 1/2 cost of painted black ring assy.??? That's just stupid but these are old parts fitting old cars so some kind of supply/demand thing going on.

[Reifle]

I went 7 in. Cibies Z beams with a considerable increase in bulb wattage. I went 80/100 watts with relays and what a difference!! Also I noticed the gauges seem a bit brighter too since the relays went in. Sugar scoops are still in place and amazing light at night!

[Craig_D]

Go with the Euro H4s as listed above. Below is my thread showing you what the project entails. It's straight forward, and made a marked improvement over my already good sugar scoops w/relay and Hella H4 inserts. Euro H4s w/relays is really a great solution.

Thread: Upgrading from sugar scoops to Euro H4s

[HorstP]

I am surprised how excited everybody is about the Euro H4s. Having a 87 RoW with them (and a relay kit), compared to today's standards there are still just a little brighter than a set of candles.

I am actually looking into a LED upgrade, at more than 1000USD however not an easy decision.

[Jack Stands]

I think the look of the Euro H4s have as much appeal as the brightness. The 80/100 H4 bulbs with the relay kit should be bright enough to satisfy most users. However, either the Euro headlights or the sugar scoops should be able to provide similar brightness if using the same H4 bulbs.

[Craig_D]

Originally Posted by HorstP

I am surprised how excited everybody is about the Euro H4s. Having a 87 RoW with them (and a relay kit), compared to today's standards there are still just a little brighter than a set of candles.

I am actually looking into a LED upgrade, at more than 1000USD however not an easy decision.

There must be other variables at play. My brand new Euro H4s with 80/100 watt bulbs (and relays) throw more light onto and down the road, than my '06 Infiniti FX35 with bi-xenons. When I hit the high beams, it's like daylight for ~100 meters.

[HorstP]

Craig,

Good point on the bulbs. Those high power bulbs would be illegal over here. Legally I can only use 55W bulbs.

Thanks for pointing that one out.

[Craig_D]

Originally Posted by HorstP

Craig,

Good point on the bulbs. Those high power bulbs would be illegal over here. Legally I can only use 55W bulbs.

Thanks for pointing that one out.

Interesting! Hmmm...can you stamp "55W" on the side of higher power bulbs?

I'd wonder how the authorities could measure your headlight bulb wattage, or take the time to test it.