8" Euro 928 Headlights - upgrade options?

[MTN930]

Hi all - cross posting to the 928 forum as I have a bit of a freakshow 911. The front end is a BB (Ranier-Buchman) setup w/ 8" euro 928 headlights. I'm unfamiliar with this platform and are trying to explore upgrade options to LED, xenon, bi-xenon, projector, whatever. All I know is that the lighting as it is, is no good.

This is the car, but it is a very old picture of it (attached).

Any ideas? Many thanks.

[76FJ55]

First question is, are they H4 or H5 lenses? Euro would be H4 but wanted to confirm.

the 8" H4 produces a great pattern with H4 bulbs. I would suggest putting a good set of replacement bulbs (Philips X-treme Vision would be my choice but there are other options too).

I would also install a headlight relay kit to ensure that you are getting good voltage to the bulbs. and finally I would make sure they are aimed accurately.

There have been a number of people who have installed H4 LEDs, and I tried it on my 8" H4s, but the pattern isn't as good. The LEDs are definitely bright and whiter, but due to the scatter and pattern distance vision was actually decreased. there was too much light bright white light hitting the ground in front of the car that it caused pupils to constrict and reduced the more dimly light distance objects. There is also a good chance the scatter will be more likely to blind oncoming traffic, so it was not a combination I was willing to leave in place, and I reverted back to the traditional H4 bulbs. the light is definitely more yellow, but I have markedly better distance vision.

I'm sure there are others with differing opinions, but that is my suggestion.

[MTN930]

Thanks for the helpful information. The installed lights are H4.

I've tried the aiming thing, got that right. The voltage is good, have tested that. What I haven't done is tried different bulbs yet.

I'll give your ideas a shot.

Thanks again. Appreciate it.

[hbueno]

Several years ago, I bought (a closeout?) pair of 7-inch Hella H4's from a VW parts seller and put in LED's. The improvement from the previous sealed beams was phenomenal. Perhaps H4's differ in quality depending on who makes them?

[harborman]

I really dislike these high intensity head lights. They are blinding to on coming traffic.

[hbueno]

Originally Posted by harborman

I really dislike these high intensity head lights. They are blinding to on coming traffic.

H4 with a properly selected LED is not one of those. The situation you describe usually occurs when people use super bright bulbs in poorly designed housings or the wrong bulb for a given housing.

[harborman]

Originally Posted by hbueno

H4 with a properly selected LED is not one of those. The situation you describe usually occurs when people use super bright bulbs in poorly designed housings or the wrong bulb for a given housing.

Nothing like the old sealed beam glass head lights. They never fogged up like the plastic ones today. I still have the original head lights on my 928.

[Reanimotion]

first check voltage at the lights.
likely no relay and therefore a voltage drop causing dim lighting

if there is a relay and voltage is OK, have a look at https://www.protizmo.com/Store/928-H4-Cap/
this is a LED upgrade kit for the 928 H4

[hbueno]

On re-reading the thread, I realized I wasn't very helpful

If those are Euro 8-inch H4's from a 928, they are the holy grail of original factory headlights for 928 owners. Even with halogen bulbs, they should be pretty good. I had Euro H4''s on my 911 and they were pretty good too. I can say the 7-inch H4's I have on my 928 are excellent. I'm currently using LED's, but don't feel they are a radical improvment over halogen. I was just going for lower power consumption.

How would you characterize the problem on your car? Too dim? Bad pattern?

[MTN930]

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. Life got in the way and I got away from this project. Now a year on, I'm back at it.

These are 8" H4s. I'm hoping that technology has advanced and that there is a good option for LED that creates a little brighter profile.

I just adjusted the beam pattern a bit and it helped a little.

@hbueno: the project is to provide better forward light (brighter) and also to reduce power consumption.

Apologies for going dark to all of you who were so helpful. :-)