Problem: Fog light conversion to LED

[damntall]

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?



---------

Bryan
In-A-Band-Jose, CA

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

[lpsalsaman]

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




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.

[damntall]

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!

[lpsalsaman]

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!

[Koizumi]

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.

[Jack Stands]

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.

[Lyle O]

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....

[lpsalsaman]

Originally Posted by Koizumi

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.

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!

[964TargaC2]

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

[911pcars]

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

Sherwood

[Koizumi]

Originally Posted by 911pcars

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

[spoke]

Originally Posted by damntall

Hi folks,

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.

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

[lpsalsaman]

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/

[tirwin]

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*

[ADDvanced]

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.

[tirwin]

HIDs for fog lights?

[ADDvanced]

Sure. They are just H3 bulbs.

[ADDvanced]

Sure. They are just H3 bulbs.

DDM Tuning: HID and LED Lighting

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

[tirwin]

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

[Koizumi]

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