Recent production tail light lenses quality

[javadog]

Regarding the '74-'89 rear lenses, specifically the ROW version...

I'm curious about what you get if you were to order a set of genuine Porsche tail light lenses now. Are they identical to the Bosch-made lenses that were available for years? Do they still say Bosch, in the usual place?

The reason that I ask is that I see "genuine" pairs available for sale and in stock, for about $315. I've also seen NOS lenses listed for more than $1,000 elsehwere. Is there really a market like that for the older, NOS stuff? Was it a problem with lack of supply for a while? Is there a difference in the details of the lenses, and you can't get something that is exactly the same now?

I'm not looking for a discussion of URO lenses, or other aftermarket parts. I'm only interested in the genuine parts that come through the Porsche parts distribution network.


Thanks,

JR

[turbo owner]

If you're in the market, eBay is the place to look. I picked up a pair of Bosch that looked almost new for $100 and shipping.

[javadog]

I have a pair of Bosch lenses sitting on my shelf, I'm not looking for a set. The question is, what do you get if you buy new ones, now?

Are they made in Germany? Are they made in the Czech Republic? Are they exactly the same quality as the older ones, or are they noticeably different? Etc...

JR

[amg463]

I've heard porsche lenses are simply branded URO lenses nowadays. that was from a URO employee so take it with a grain of salt.

[Arne2]

Originally Posted by amg463

I've heard porsche lenses are simply branded URO lenses nowadays. that was from a URO employee so take it with a grain of salt.

I strongly doubt that. I have a pair of recent URO on my car, installed with new seals when I updated to spoke's LED brake lights. For a driver like mine, they are actually quite nice. But while they do have both SAE and DOT marks, they do not have any of the normal E-code marks on them, so they don't appear to be legal for use in Europe.

More than likely, I suspect that new production lenses today will not say Bosch, but will probably have the AL logo similar to today's H4 lights. Not certain how the quality would compare.

[GeorgeM]

Originally Posted by Arne2

I strongly doubt that. I have a pair of recent URO on my car, installed with new seals when I updated to spoke's LED brake lights. For a driver like mine, they are actually quite nice. But while they do have both SAE and DOT marks, they do not have any of the normal E-code marks on them, so they don't appear to be legal for use in Europe.

More than likely, I suspect that new production lenses today will not say Bosch, but will probably have the AL logo similar to today's H4 lights. Not certain how the quality would compare.

Agreed. Unless you're looking for concours originality, recommend considering the UROs. Although not all URO products have such great reviews, I think these are an exception, especially for the price. I have sets on both my 911 (US) and 930 (Euro) and am pleased with both.

[javadog]

I'm interested in originailty, so I have no interest in the URO lenses. I'm interested in the Bosch lenses. What I want to know is whether or not a recent production lens, obtained through the Porsche distribution channels (so a Genuine lens, as opposed to an OE or OEM lens) is identical to the old ones. It seems like Bosch H4 lenses are different now, so I wonder if Bosch tail light lenses are also different.

I see older H4 lenses being much more expensive than recent production versions, and I see some really high asking prices for Bosch-labeled rear lenses, and I am trying to understand why. Either there is no difference and the prices I am seeing are just wishful thinking or there is a difference and older lenses might be selling for stupid money.

JR