Problem: Fog light conversion to LED
 

Hi folks,

I'm new here! Sorta. :-) Anyway...

I'm attempting to convert the fog lights in my '89 911 to LED, but the back heatsink and housing of the LED bulb assembly sticks out a lot further than the well-set-in halogen factory bulb.

Thing is, I'm told that the plate at the back of the fog light assembly cavity (shown in the photo in red) is removable, and may thus provide an empty hole through which that assembly can poke, enabling its use. So my questions are these:

1. Is that plate removable?
2. If yes, how do I do it?? I have no clue how to even get at any fasteners that might be holding it in.

Any thoughts?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1525974846.jpg

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Bryan
In-A-Band-Jose, CA

'89 Silver Anniversary Carrera coupe in Satin Black Metallic ("8T9")
'03 Boxster S ("Voxster")

That plate is part of the assembly, behind it is the bolt that connects to the body and keeps the fog light in place.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1525976437.jpg


Are there any other H3 LED type bulbs that could be a bit less longer? Definitely don't want to mess with the assembly's bolt bracket unless you can rig it to stay in place without it.

Thanks! That's what I needed to know! I'll keep looking for alternative LED solutions for the fogs. And if anyone has suggestions, I'm open to that, too!

I did a quick search comparing the regular H3's to some of the LED replacements and there are several that seem to be just a bit bigger than the originals. Just keep looking, you'll find them. Good luck!

If you do find an led h3 that fits sans surgery, please post here at let us know. I’m tired of changing h3 filament bulbs every few months! I’d sure like led h3 bulbs to keep things cooler, I’ve wired my fogs as daytime driving lights.

They’d probably be better as DRLs than fog lights. I’m trying to do the same on my 914-6 as it uses a very strange bulb.

I found an H3 that fit pretty well, but I was disappointed at the light output. It was not as bright as the halogen at all. However, the color was much more cool, and matched well with my H4 LED head lamps (which really rock), so I kept them installed. I agree they would be better as DRLs, as front fog lights on these cars don't do much anyhow. If someone can post about an H3 replacement LED bulb that has high output (better than halogen) it would be interesting....

Same here, I wired mine a long while back like you to help my old sealed beams. I then got some Cibies H4's and it's much better. But definitely good H3's will be great to have!

I used HID conversion, 3000k (yellow light), for my fog lights and am happy with the result, they are fog lights not driving lights..

Find and ID the existing bulb number, then find it's equivalent in an LED form factor.

Sherwood

The trouble is that the equivalent LEDs that I’ve encountered are larger size-wise in length than the H3 bulb. In other words, they will not fit in the shallow foglight housing. LED equivalents vary in size, so I’m sure there is one that will fit Oem 911 fogs... But I have yet to fine one that does.

Again, if anyone knows of one that fits the housing, let us know [emoji41][emoji482]

What LED light are you trying to install? Do you have a part number?

The H3's height are 32.0 MM I believe, so you have to find one that is the same size to make it work. On our fog light housing's it seems that anything above that measurement will be a problem. I have seen pics of different brand H3 LED's and there a few that seem to match that size. The link below shows LED H3's for a Mustang but the size seems to be close to the original halogen ones that we use. Goo luck!

https://www.cjponyparts.com/diode-dynamics-fog-light-bulb-led-h3-cool-white-pair-gt-1987-1993-cobra-1993/p/BULBH3LED/

I tried the same thing with the fog lights on my SC. The LEDs are too deep. I tried taking a nylon bushing and making a spacer so that the LED was at the proper position in the housing. I ran into another problem that I can’t remember but I gave up on the idea.

I came to the conclusion that the fog lights are basically worthless. I would rather have an LED panel and wire them up as a DRL.

I did some searching for different DRLs that I could mount so I gave up an ordered a pair of Hella amber fogs for now.

Maybe one of the people that are building LED kits will come up with a solution. *hint hint*

Don't do it. LED replacement bulbs provide inferior illumination. The only type of LED lighting that is acceptable is something that comes FACTORY on cars. Retrofitting LEDs for illumination = hot spots, tons of marketing claims that have no basis in reality, and the fact that LEDs gradually get more blue as they age and the phosphorus coating wears off due to heat.

If you want more light, get an HID upgrade kit from ddmtuning. Will be $40-60 somewhere.

HIDs for fog lights?

Sure. They are just H3 bulbs.

Sure. They are just H3 bulbs.

DDM Tuning: HID and LED Lighting

Click H3. Click wattage. Done. Way more lumens than you had previously.

Never seen the HID H3 option before. Thanks. Looks interesting.

Isn’t one of the issues with our foglight housings: heat?

Every HID conversion I’ve done have run hot! 35w is even hot. Now it’s nothing as hot as HIR bulbs but...

I’m looking for non-ballast installs. No HIDs. Cooler LED bulbs would be ideal for me. Just for DRL purposes. The fogs for fogsakes are not vey good to begin with [emoji119]

LEDs still generate lots of heat, focused on the back of the bulb area.

I run my fogs tilted up a bit as DRLs and they are on for hours at a time. Heat has never been an issue. Used at the factory angle As fog lights they are Perhaps better than nothing. Also I have only replaced one bulb in two years. If changing to LEDs creates effective fog lights that would be a real benefit. If it is strictly for looking cool, go for it. I really don’t see any real problem here though.

Problem: Fog light conversion to LED
 

Interesting, Gents.

My 35w H3 incandescents run pretty hot. Like I mentioned, I use ‘em as DRLs (so they’re on all the time on my daily driver 3.2).

Well, I welcome all mentioned alternatives or options. Just trying to stay cool [emoji41]

Cheers all

Btw: is there a way to tilt them upwards? It only appears to me that they can be adjusted sideways. I’m referring to stock fogs for ‘84-‘89 (which I think would be different than the SC fogs that hang as opposed to being inset into the valance for 84-89 cars).

LED Fog Lights
 

Hi everyone! I wanted to make my ‘85 3.2L more visible, so I converted my fogs to DRLs but had concerns about heat and also wanted LEDs to improve efficiency. I tried the H3 bulbs from Diode Dynamics but they were too dim for a DRL. I found these from www.hidkitpros.com by a company called Lumawerks. They’re even made in the US!

https://hidkitpros.com/shop/h3-high-power-led-bulb-30w-philips/

I had to do a little filing to turn them 90 degrees from their intended orientation so the LED points toward the reflector properly and am happy with them. At $60 a pair they’re not cheap but also not exorbitant. Good company, nice product, and they fit. You can see that the LED is positioned at the proper distance from the base to basically be where the filament in the halogen bulb was.

Good luck!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1587822489.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1587822489.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1587822489.jpg

How are these working out for you? Visibility in the sunlight? I am running my stock fog lights as DRL and if you have any information on how you "modified" these (filing?) it would be much appreciated. Price seems fair and good to see made in USA.

Thanks for your original post -
Erik

Hey, thanks just gently filled the same shapes into the H3 flange at 90 degrees to their original location. Took ten minutes. Pardon the bad markup.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1588365884.jpg

I haven’t driven the car yet this year due to the lockdown...but their brightness was similar to the halogens in my garage.

This is what SPOKE (Jerry) made for me

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1588379334.jpg

Yes, the heat sink fits inside.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1588379443.jpg

Spoke’s LED fog lights
 

I’m also running Spoke’s custom LEDs for Fog lights in my ‘87 Carrera.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1588381081.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1588381081.jpg

Those are sweet. Didn’t know they existed. Does he still make / sell them?

Definitely

https://www.spokeworksled.com/911-led-solutions

Currently not shipping due to supplier issues related to COVID:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/854989-led-brake-lights.html

Those are definitely super cool. Bit more expensive than the bulbs I’m running...may try a set when the world starts turning again...

Thanks!

[QUOTE=Rleog;10848274]I’m also running Spoke’s custom LEDs for Fog lights in my ‘87 Carrera.

I’m running Spoke’s fogs on my 914. Like all his other products, they are great. Any trouble, he’s a real person who responds promptly. I haven’t had any issues.

I try to do likewise...Good to hear from you again Mark!

I got an email yesterday saying the supplier (for the heatsinks) can now fill all orders although there is likely a backlog with military/essential businesses getting preferential treatment. When I get confirmation of shipping I'll remove the "out of stock" condition on the foglights.