streckfu's

Is it possible to really improve the headlights without spending a lot of $$$. I read the post about the Iceshark kit and don't want to get into the wiring and can't really spend that much. I would like beter headlights though. What are the other possibilites?

Thanx


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Steve in New Hampshire

I improved mine at least 100 percent just by replacing the sealed beams with Hella H4 headlights...cost me about $80 including Xenon H4 60/55W Hella bulbs. They plug right in. Got mine at: <a href="http://www.rallylights.com" target="_blank">www.rallylights.com</a>

Steve

streckfu's

Did you get the 6024A Pair 7" Round H4 (H6024), with 60/55w H4 Bulb

or 6024D Pair 7" Round H4 (H6024), with 60/55w Xenon H4 Bulb

Daniel

ryeske944

Just flipping through Excellence real quick......Zims(1-800-356-2964) has the headlamps for only 39.95....not sure if they come with the bulbs....if not, GPR (1-800-321-5432) has H4 55/100W bulbs for $8 each. I bought my lights off of Ebay, and believe me you definitely should get these. They make a huge difference, and they just pop in in a few minutes.

streckfu's

[quote]Originally posted by ryeske944:
<strong>Just flipping through Excellence real quick......Zims(1-800-356-2964) has the headlamps for only 39.95....not sure if they come with the bulbs....if not, GPR (1-800-321-5432) has H4 55/100W bulbs for $8 each. I bought my lights off of Ebay, and believe me you definitely should get these. They make a huge difference, and they just pop in in a few minutes.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Which kit on Ebay? Do you have a link?

stefang

Yeah, but that's $39 EACH, And $55 for e-code. Rallylights has the ecode set for &lt;$80.
I prefer ecode, perhaps because I'm german , even though it's not DOT spec. Also, the Xenon bulbs are not HID lights, just so there's no confusion. Slightly brighter than regular bulbs, but apparently only noticeable on an ecode lens.

<a href="http://lighting.mbz.org/" target="_blank">This</a>is a great site for info on automotive lighting.

Stef

Jfrahm

JC Whitney has off-road 7" round assemblies with H4 bulbs for around $20 each. The bulbs are of poor quality but so far they work. I installed a pair with standard wattage H4 bulbs and they are a great deal better than stock. I would like better housings but headlights take a beating around here so I'd rather sandblast something inexpensive. The lamps were a direct fit, no wiring issues or anything. I wouldn't try overwattage bulbs with the stock wiring harness though.

<a href="http://www.jcwhitney.com/product.jhtml?CATID=5142&BQ=jcw2" target="_blank">http://www.jcwhitney.com/product.jhtml?CATID=5142&BQ=jcw2</a>

<a href="http://www.jcwhitney.com/product.jhtml?CATID=139405&BQ=jcw2" target="_blank">http://www.jcwhitney.com/product.jhtml?CATID=139405&BQ=jcw2</a>

The problem I had with the bulbs was that the mounting ring was thin and soft, I bent it accidentally when installing the bulbs. It was easy to bend back, and the bulb has not fallen out or anything. I just thought it seemed cheap.
My plan is to put in high quality standard wattage bulbs when one of these fail.

-Joel.

Waterguy

When I bought my 951 the headlights were down-right scary!

I was in my local parts supplier store (Lordco Parts) shortly afterwards and found they stocked Bosch E-code 7" headlight sets. The list price was only $105 Canadian for the set, including German H4 60/55W bulbs. Of course I grabbed them, but when they rang them up they gave me an additional unasked-for discount and the total cost was $80 Canadian plus tax. Thats about US$50!

I took them home, installed them and aimed them myself. The improvement was huge! The old lights were mismatched sealed beams, one was quite sandblasted and both were aimed at the ground in front of the bumper! Aiming the E-code lights was a piece of cake (instructions included in set.) I don't know how they compare to Hella's or Cibie's, but they seem to be great quality and the price was right! I love the E-code beam pattern.

Now, if I could only see my instruments at night...

streckfu's

[quote]Originally posted by Waterguy:
<strong>
Now, if I could only see my instruments at night... </strong><hr></blockquote>

I just fixed mine. I was surprised at how easy it is.


I just wish there was a cheap way to put on white gauge faces for the 180mph speedo cars.



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Steve in New Hampshire

I have the "6024D Pair 7" Round H4 (H6024), with 60/55w Xenon H4 Bulb" and am very happy with them. I for one prefer to get the REAL Hella gear rather than some of the junk you can get on eBay...it's not that much more expensive and it is much better quality.

Steve

ColoradoBill

Doing the H-4 conversion is def. step one. But I'd HIGHLY rec. doing the Euro driving light conversion. I got mine on e-bay for about $250. Then bulbs, wire, relay, 2n'd foglight switch etc. is probably another $50. Then be prepared to spend a lot more time than you'd expect doing the job, but the results are amazing. Hi-beams are beside the point when you have 100W bulbs in the driving lights.

By the way, there are threads on this (the install).

triscadek

Besides Rennlist, THE BEST MONEY spent on my car was Ice Sharks Ecode H 4 lenses AND his bulbs. You WILL NOT believe the difference in what you have now and what he sells. To save some $ with a HUGE improvement get his h4s and the 90/100 bulbs, you won't know how you drove at night before the improvement is very dramatic. I put his 55/60 bulbs in my bike with a very noticable difference, his bulbs are really magic...

IceShark

If you guys want to upgrade lighting on the 944 you are going to have to eventually bite the bullet and rewire the headlight system. No way around it .... you are leaving over 1/2 the potential lighting improvement on the table if you don't.

If you are going to do this in smaller steps, go first class on your components because this is one area where the old saying "you get what you pay for" really applies in spades.

You want the E-Code lenses. Get Cibies or the Hella Super (if you go Hella make sure it is the Super, not the standard Hella E-Code). Both of which are not the easiest to find at the moment. And they will run you over $100 for the pair but will last about 7 to 10 years before road rash etches the lens too much.

For bulbs, go with Phillips/Narva or Osram/Sylvania H4s with the clear glass envelope. If you are not rewiring stick with 60/55 watt high output bulbs. These are typically marketed as the "up to 30% more light than standard" bulbs.

If you rewire and have the aforementioned E-Code lenses you can step up to 100/90 or 100/80 overwatt bulbs. Then you will be in the true HID arc lighting ball game. You probably don't want the 130 watt high beam H4s as that filament will only last for about 40 hours. You are going to wear your screws out changing bulbs. <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />

Finally, there is no substitute for good 7" round headlights on our cars. The combo driving/fog light in the European flavor is a nice supplement on dark Montana roads but it can't replace your headlights. Besides that euro light costs over $100 EACH.

iloveporsches

Iceshark,
How much do yor kits run? I was thinking about getting my name on the waiting list for the next run sometime this fall, if the price isn't too high.

streckfu's

So, working the Hella E-code Super H4 angle, where's a good source? Do you sell them Iceshark?
If not, where should I start?

Thanx for all the input. I have a pretty good idea of what to do.

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