High Performance 996 Headlights: Build Log
#61
Yea I would imagine the market for both is only going to increase as the cars get older and OEM parts are more expensive and harder to find.
#62
Could you remove the lenses polish both sides and reseal them (rather than replace them)? My lenses have gotten a little foggy. I wouldn't want to lose the headlight washer, even though I never used it.
#63
There is a special coating on the inside of the lenses, but you shouldn't need to polish that side anyway.
#65
You polish the outside not the inside.
#68
Personally I believe there is just too much to gain from proper headlight performance and there are too many "headlight specialists" who charge thousands of dollars to add paint and some fancy LEDs (which usually fail) so I am stubborn and want to show others "the light" with headlights that perform, if they happen to look cool that is simply a bonus.
To clarify I am not saying "no" but rather I will do my best to break you down with pictures, data, and feedback from others to convince you the performance upgrades are worth it, if you are standing fast on paint only then I still might do it but reluctantly.
Evan
#69
My headlight projects are performance-centric so I rarely take take on aesthetic only builds (I have but rare).
Personally I believe there is just too much to gain from proper headlight performance and there are too many "headlight specialists" who charge thousands of dollars to add paint and some fancy LEDs (which usually fail) so I am stubborn and want to show others "the light" with headlights that perform, if they happen to look cool that is simply a bonus.
To clarify I am not saying "no" but rather I will do my best to break you down with pictures, data, and feedback from others to convince you the performance upgrades are worth it, if you are standing fast on paint only then I still might do it but reluctantly.
Evan
Personally I believe there is just too much to gain from proper headlight performance and there are too many "headlight specialists" who charge thousands of dollars to add paint and some fancy LEDs (which usually fail) so I am stubborn and want to show others "the light" with headlights that perform, if they happen to look cool that is simply a bonus.
To clarify I am not saying "no" but rather I will do my best to break you down with pictures, data, and feedback from others to convince you the performance upgrades are worth it, if you are standing fast on paint only then I still might do it but reluctantly.
Evan
#70
#72
I am unfamiliar with the projectors fitted to the 997.2 lights so can't comment on the performance HOWEVER the 997.1 projectors are really nice and with a clear lens swap and a solid HID bulb it a great setup, the factory ballasts made by Densos are also top tier equipment their performance is only eclipsed by the Hella ballasts found on the 996s. Your 997.1 has great components a clear lens and fresh HID bulb would really make it shine, yes pun intended.
Evan
#73
Hi Evan,
Thanks for looking into this. Yes, from my understanding you're correct -there's more that's required to get the 997.2 dynamic motors to work in the 997.1.
I already have a set of 997.2 headlights in my 997.1 Turbo, they drop right in. The lights work just fine and aesthetically they look fantastic, I think the 997.2 lights are one of the best looking headlight designs out there with the satin gunmetal paint and inner detail.
I was hoping that if someone made some sort of plug and play harness so the dynamic motors work, I'm sure many 997.1 owners would convert over!
Thanks for looking into this. Yes, from my understanding you're correct -there's more that's required to get the 997.2 dynamic motors to work in the 997.1.
I already have a set of 997.2 headlights in my 997.1 Turbo, they drop right in. The lights work just fine and aesthetically they look fantastic, I think the 997.2 lights are one of the best looking headlight designs out there with the satin gunmetal paint and inner detail.
I was hoping that if someone made some sort of plug and play harness so the dynamic motors work, I'm sure many 997.1 owners would convert over!
My background is with BMWs and sometimes retrofits like this can be as simple as coding to enable the feature and in other cases it requires a module, sensors, wiring, and coding. I did some quick research for the 997 and unfortunately it looks more like the latter than the former as there is a module which must be wired up (presumably some coding).
I am unfamiliar with the projectors fitted to the 997.2 lights so can't comment on the performance HOWEVER the 997.1 projectors are really nice and with a clear lens swap and a solid HID bulb it a great setup, the factory ballasts made by Densos are also top tier equipment their performance is only eclipsed by the Hella ballasts found on the 996s. Your 997.1 has great components a clear lens and fresh HID bulb would really make it shine, yes pun intended.
Evan
I am unfamiliar with the projectors fitted to the 997.2 lights so can't comment on the performance HOWEVER the 997.1 projectors are really nice and with a clear lens swap and a solid HID bulb it a great setup, the factory ballasts made by Densos are also top tier equipment their performance is only eclipsed by the Hella ballasts found on the 996s. Your 997.1 has great components a clear lens and fresh HID bulb would really make it shine, yes pun intended.
Evan
Last edited by acf; 08-22-2017 at 05:48 PM.
#74
Hi Evan,
Thanks for looking into this. Yes, from my understanding you're correct -there's more that's required to get the 997.2 dynamic motors to work in the 997.1.
I already have a set of 997.2 headlights in my 997.1 Turbo.
I was hoping that if someone made some sort of plug and play harness so the dynamic motors work, I'm sure many 997.1 owners would convert over!
Thanks for looking into this. Yes, from my understanding you're correct -there's more that's required to get the 997.2 dynamic motors to work in the 997.1.
I already have a set of 997.2 headlights in my 997.1 Turbo.
I was hoping that if someone made some sort of plug and play harness so the dynamic motors work, I'm sure many 997.1 owners would convert over!
Do you by chance have any wall output shots? or would you be willing to take some? I am curious if the 997.2 projectors are the same as the 997.1.
As I stated above the 997.1 projectors (known as the close relative to the "Muranos") are an excellent performer and comporable heavy-hitting bi-xenon projectors were all mounted in a fixed position in their respective housings. If they are in fact "Muranos" and connected to a dynamic AFS system that would make for a killer setup.
Here is an example of a wall output shot:
#75
When I have a chance, I'll try to take a picture of my 997.2 headlights in a similar night lighting scenario for you.
Yes these 997.2 lights literally swap right into a 997.1 and function perfectly sans the moving adaptive feature. I'm so happy with this mod and having the dynamic motors functioning properly would be icing on the cake.
I'm sure it would take some engineering but if some sort of non-invasive plug and play harness was created for the dynamic function, I'm sure there would be huge interest from 997.1 owners (and some 997.2 owners who didn't opt for this option from the factory).
Yes these 997.2 lights literally swap right into a 997.1 and function perfectly sans the moving adaptive feature. I'm so happy with this mod and having the dynamic motors functioning properly would be icing on the cake.
I'm sure it would take some engineering but if some sort of non-invasive plug and play harness was created for the dynamic function, I'm sure there would be huge interest from 997.1 owners (and some 997.2 owners who didn't opt for this option from the factory).
Interesting so 997.2 Headlights are a PNP upgrade and functional sans the adaptive feature? At least they swap right in!
Do you by chance have any wall output shots? or would you be willing to take some? I am curious if the 997.2 projectors are the same as the 997.1.
As I stated above the 997.1 projectors (known as the close relative to the "Muranos") are an excellent performer and comporable heavy-hitting bi-xenon projectors were all mounted in a fixed position in their respective housings. If they are in fact "Muranos" and connected to a dynamic AFS system that would make for a killer setup.
Here is an example of a wall output shot:
Do you by chance have any wall output shots? or would you be willing to take some? I am curious if the 997.2 projectors are the same as the 997.1.
As I stated above the 997.1 projectors (known as the close relative to the "Muranos") are an excellent performer and comporable heavy-hitting bi-xenon projectors were all mounted in a fixed position in their respective housings. If they are in fact "Muranos" and connected to a dynamic AFS system that would make for a killer setup.
Here is an example of a wall output shot: