Only944 LED Headlight Kit
 

Has anyone replaced their sealed beam headlights with the ones Kyle offers? I just ordered a set since the lights on my 84 944 are just not quite bright enough for my liking.

I don't want to be a dick and blind other drivers but I feel like having brighter headlights will be a big safety improvement for me. The price for the whole kit is impressively low so just wondering if anyone has tried them out. If not I will report back in a few days.

I haven't used them or a similar kit but I have been considering ordering the kit from only944.com. Keep us updated on how you like the kit, ease of install, and the difference it makes!

I like the stuff from Only944. This is a new kit and I don't think anyone has it yet.

It's really cool that the kit uses a brand new glass H4 lens. Seems like you can't go wrong.

Kyle is great to deal with; his products are excellent quality.

Happy to report that the headlight kit worked great. Totally plug and play to replace the older sealed beam ones, probably took me 20 minutes this morning and it was freaking cold out too.

Went for a drive tonight and they are definitely better than the stock headlights. The low beams have more coverage to the sides, and the high beams are more narrow and straight forward. I feel like my chances of hitting a deer are slightly lower which was my goal. They are not crazy bright, which could be nice in some circumstances but not the best for other drivers. It's probably a good balance.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1605059059.jpg

Also excuse the messed lower bumper. You should've seen the other guy (it was a very sad encounter with a coyote last summer). Does anyone know about pulling these off and rebuilding them with epoxy/fiberglass? I've done some work on boats so I'm inclined to think it's possible.

Looking at it it won't be an easy fix,those are not fiberglass ,there are made of polurethan ,your best & easiest fixe will be buying a use one then repainte it....Look at the ...924-944-968 Used Parts Classified ...here on the forum,there is always someone parting out 944.Good luck:D

Ok thanks for the tip, I'll have a look over there

My dad has fixed several of those lower valence with fiberglass!

1986 951: PO had an animal strike: front bumper covering was repainted but nothing else was repaired. I had the bumper covering off to do other work and rejoined all the fractures using epoxy and fiberglass cloth. I assume this has worked as the covering has retained its shape but I cannot validate that all repairs are intact...

Unfortunately, the photo of the bumper covering repair is not a good one:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1605097472.jpg

Other damage (not repaired/addressed):
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1605097233.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1605097233.jpg
Sometimes it's hard to understand what body shops do not replace/repair...

Peter

trivgar...... Yes but take a good look a his valance ,it's not only a ? of fixing it ....how the heck are you gone to bring it back to it's original shape lol:D

Heat gun (or hair dryer): heat will usually make these plastic bit very pliable; if done soon after damage is inflicted (before creases take a set), damage will push out without hardly any residual deformation.

Peter

You could heat it up and then brace it with something. Hard to tell from the picture but I bet it's fixable. I had one that looked worse

its very possible to rebuild it from fiberglass or epoxy!

Good luck to you if you can bring back that valance using an heat gun or hair dryer ,just saying because mine was just a little off on my ex 944 & we had all the trouble briging it back to it's oe shape.But the ? really is,does it worth all the PIA troubles & time + $$$ trying to fixe it, when you can get a straight use one,my opinion is NO.:D

My bad:eek:my opinion will be Yes ,even if you have to repaint it.:D

The coyote-strike was last summer, didn't know to hit it with the heat gun at the time...

I'll pull the valance in a few weeks and let you guys know how it does

Would love to see pictures of the lights from inside the car or against a garage door. I'm curious what sort of spread the lights have. I'm considering these for my 944 and its really nice to have someone that has a set to be able tonget feedback from!

Same here, if the spread is good I'm all for using this inexpensive kit rather than going through the trouble of installing an otherwise unnecessary harness.

I’ll be driving tonight and can take some photos for you guys.

Would anyone be interested in the original sealed beam headlights that I had in there before the swap?

Only944.com LED's
 

Did the headlight swap last week...easy and huge improvement over original sealed beams. Both low and high beam work well if properly directed. Was not blinding on-coming drivers and visibility was greatly improved.

Also was wondering what the bulbs looked like installed. Its great to hear that the kit is a good improvement over the original units without costing a fortune.

Put the lights through their paces last night, driving across most of Colorado and Kansas on our way across the country. They continued to work well and didn’t cause any eye strain for us because of the color.

The low beams have more light in the peripherals and the high beams are directed more narrow and further forward. Pics of high and low beams below:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1605374798.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1605374798.jpg

And Madeverx7, they look very similar to the originals, just a big round piece of glass of a slightly cooler color (slightly less orange). If that answers your question?

Finally, an LED option that doesn’t put out patches of light, color looks good and it has a clear cut-off. All the others I’ve seen on 944’s are brighter but everything else about them was bad. Good job Kyle!


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1605386515.jpg

Based on the pictures and your review, I will definitely be ordering a set! These are exactly what the car needs as the original headlights are very dim. Thank you very much for following up!

I went ahead and ordered a set from Kyle based on these pictures and your review. I think they will be an amazing upgrade!

Just preordered two sets: one set for the 944 turbo, one set for the 68 912 SWT!

Peter

These lights look great...but jeeesh! - my "to order" list of stuff from Kyle keeps getting longer!

Now is the time to order as Kyle is running his black Friday 10% off storewide sale! I think it only runs until the 30th!

I would take it off and then see if you can bend it back into shape - setting heavy objects on it/clamping it. Maybe with a little heat (heatgun).

If you can bend it/press it back into shape, you can fiberglass a metal support to the underside. I've done that before on mine (on the center, horizontal crossbar) and it worked well.

Is the vertical support in the center torn off from the bottom panel? That would have to be fixed back in place.

The valence is pretty soft plastic. It's not hard to work with.

.... in addition to Mr. Pellegrini’s excellent advice, I’d urge you to look for the right adhesive(s), something professional, mail ordered or from local auto body supply house. 3M, SEM et al make such products. And, it’s wise to use splints or other supports that remain after the repair ... OK if no one can see them and they don’t interfere with anything else.

Best of luck, John

Shipped 22 December, USPS finally delivered these today!!

Question for those who have installed them: how did you manage to install the rubber dust boot?

Without the boot, the Cibié Z-Beams go back in...

TIA,
Peter

Snow at night...not good.
 

I did recently encounter a situation where these very clear and bright replacement headlights were an issue...at night, in reasonably heavy snow. They lit up the falling snow to the point where driving was dangerous because I could not see anything beyond the falling snow. I had not planned to drive in these conditions, and I was able to pull off the road to let the snow squall pass, but will certainly avoid going forward.

Wow! Installed: <almost> too much dispersion above low beam cutoff, especially from the passenger side. Removed the headlight and the bulb was loose (and was twisted) from its base, causing a light 'leg' up in the air.

Question on how to install boot solved: twist base from bulb about 20° until dimples in base align with grooves in bulb, remove base.

Next problem: base is no longer fits tight to the bulb... peen dimples in base a little deeper (gently as base metal is very soft). May need to mechanically bind (read: 'glue') base to bulb after boot install (turn boot inside out for installation into headlight, then back to complete dust/water protection).

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1609888991.jpg

Jury still out on this one...
Peter

I installed mine last week and I did not use the boot.

I received my kit yesterday and have put the lights and boots together without any problem. It is raining and so I haven't put them in the car yet.
My question is about the orientation of the bulb inside of the headlight unit. Do the yellow LED strips in the bulb face up and down inside of the headlight unit or to the right and left, or does it make any difference? It would be nice to be sure about this before putting them in the car.

edit: I did a little research online on this topic and the bulbs like ours with one LED strip on either side of a flat plate should be oriented with the LED's facing in the nine o'clock and three o'clock position.

This bulletin board is great but you could also email Kyle at only944. He always responds to me when I write with questions.