True HID retrofit

Has anyone converted their car to true High Intensity Discharge lighting and at what cost.
Thanks.

George Wroclawski
83 911SC Cab/Euro

I've been think about doing the same thing. SPP sells a Philips HID upgrade kit for $590. Check it out at
http://www.supremepowerparts.com/start.htm

I'm not sure there's enough room behind the headlights for the ballasts though. I'm also worried that the heat from the HID lights will melt or fog the reflector and lense.

It's on my list of projects to do. I'm planning to use it with my Euro updated H4 lights.

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Carlo
1988 911 Carrera 3.2

I've considered this mod too. Im not interested in those bluish bulbs for $60 each. I only want the real thing!

It looks as though those ballasts are on wires. If the wires are long enough, you could place them in the luggage compartment. You may want to think about your headlight switch too. If they burn out with H1's, it would definitly fry with these!

Nick.

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Nick Shumaker
1982 911SC Coupe

[johnnyo200]

Has anyone gone ahead and done this HID light conversion? I've been curious about them ever since I got back from Europe years ago. All the newer cars had them. They offered a aftermarket kit for @ $2000
US. (gulp!)

[RoninLB]

Gentlemen
.. I suggest that before you spend the bucks on HID that you make sure you really want HID.. I found that the beams were too narrow for me.. I wanted more "spread", to read signs, etc.. especially on big curves.. not that my eyeballs are in great working order, so it may be OK for you.. I suggest a ride in a 911 that has real bulbs, not PIAA Bull S bulbs.. I use Narva 130/100w, but Narva 100/80 will be a good test.. no info on other real bulbs.. look for the spread on curves and being able to read difficult road signs, and compare them to HID.. and the lens that's used is important.. I use non-DOT lens.. DOT does a poor job of aiming your bulb light.. and real 130/100w is doable on a 911 because it's low to ground, and doesn't disturb other cars.. unless you are going up hill on a 4deg. road and someone is going downhill.. I did a 17.9k big ride and I was flashed about 5 times. they thought I had my brights on..so, HID my be great, but make sure ................Ron

[TRE Cup]

Sylvania just came out with their Xenarc system. They have a 7" sealed lamp with hid low beam and h-3 high. The design of the reflector looks a lot like the Marchal amplilux of way back, but the lens is heavily fluted for the low beam section to disperse the hid beam properly. Not cheap, but it bolts into early 911- if you have 66-67 covered lens assemblies, you could install the Xenarcs, go with a lexan clear H-1 lens and have some pretty trick lighting that looks somewhat euro as well

[MIK911]

I know of a guy who installed HID H1's on his 993. No problems. Don't know about fit on SC/3.2 Carrera. HIDS4LESS.com sells em for approx $4-500./set

mike
'86 coupe

[Rustbucket]

So how come the first three posts are by guests?

This ain't one of those infomercials, is it?

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by Rustbucket
So how come the first three posts are by guests?

This ain't one of those infomercials, is it?

probably another top secret plot being hatched by Leland.. he was on board today.. he's sending secret code to other henchmen I bet...............Ron

[bell]

uh-oh.........it's another conspiracy

listen to ron when he speaks of lighting........he knows his optics

[jmohn]

Before deciding about a lighting "upgrade" you should look at this site (maybe you've already seen it?)

http://lighting.mbz.org/

I test drove a couple of cars with HID lights; compared to typical U.S. lighting it was a decided improvement, but compared to a well adjusted pair of H4's not that impressive, for the money. I find if I'm "over-driving" my H4's on high-beam I probably need to slow down

Good luck,

Jerry M
'78 SC

[cab83_750]

I was going to try the Sylvania the first time they came out; I ended up trying the Euro H4's from PP.

Guess what? I've taken my car to Viva Las Vegas and men.....are they more than enough.

I was advised by Tom to reconsider upgrading to higher-wattage bulbs because of the lenses; so far, so good. Lighting is more than enough.

By the way, I cracked one of the lenses of my fog lights. Bought a replacement and was shocked to find out how 'CLEAR' the lense was in its brand new state. Did not have a choice but to buy the other side.

Man, I never realized that the translucent property of the lense was due to years of gravel hits. Now my fog lights are so useable, even as driving lights!

[RoninLB]

I'm w/Jerry on this one.. what a great education on that site........Ron

[cab83_750]

Rustbucket,

Awesome observation! Yeah, kinda suspicious. Speaking of suspicious, please see my "Any James Bond out there" thread. I smelled something fishy today!