Alan

Ed - I half agree!

This weekend I added a HID system to replace my foglight bulbs so I now have H4's (55/100) and HID fogs (with the ROW fog configuration - they don't go off on main beam). This is a serious amount of high beam light when needed - and the fogs although not long range - give a great wide low illumination of the street (and both sides) Its a good combo with the H4's. I plan to add a DRL feature for the fog's - although I do not like the Porsche optional GTS solution for this.... this project still in the (thought) works.

The HID's (4300K) do make my super bright H4's look a hint yellow (at least until I turn the fogs off)

You can find genuine HID lighting at quite cheap prices now.. the cheapest are Chinese off brands of course, but its becoming rather commoditized.

Alan

Alan

Dave - did you get some furry dice too? looks very sharp with the pinstripes

Alan

Rich9928p

Those of you who own 1986 and older 928s don't need to go to 8 inch H4s. There are Hella replacement systems that provide the Euro "focus" and use H4 bulbs and fit in the standard 7 inch hardware. This is a much better solution than DOT sealed beams and is relatively low cost.

SharkSkin

I removed the pinstripes within a few months of getting the car.... no fuzzy dice... yet...

Jfrahm

I run 7" E-code lenses and 9003 (H4) bulbs on my 944, they are great. Much much better than DOT 7" lenses even with stock wattage bulbs. 7" can be had very cheaply for good quality. Offhand I do not know of an inexpensive 8" E-code lamp and given the number of rock strikes we get in CO I'm not that keen on paying $150 per each.

I think the Nichols article is incorrect in saying that the 9003 and H4 are different bulbs. It's the E code lenses that give you the sharp cutoff. If you get E codes make sure you get them for a country that drives on the same side of the road as you (US/Europe/China or UK/Hong Kong/Down Under) otherwise your lights will be aimed uselessly into oncoming traffic.

Overwattage bulbs can burn your stock wiring so you would have to run additional wires, relays, fuses, etc. to go to higher wattage options. Just the E code/ H4 setup with stock wattages is great however.

-Joel.

Bill Ball

The way I understand it, US version of H4 bulb is HB2 or 9003 and the pattern is supposed to throw light SAE style. Certainly the reflector and lens shapes the beam. I haven't tried HB2/9003 in an H4 E-code lamp housing. If you have and get the same knife-edge light distribution, then the Nichols tip and Wikipedia are not quite accurate.

I have run 100/80 as opposed to 65/55 stock with stock wiring for years with no problems. No evidence of wiring inadequacy.

SharkSkin

Rich, I have run E-spec 7" H4s and E-spec 8" H4s on my shark, and there is definitely a difference with the larger housings. The light is distributed more evenly below the same sharp cutoff point and the 8" throws a much better high beam. In this case, you get what you pay for IMHO. YMMV.

Jfrahm

I've seen the sockets burn with an overwattage bulb in a 928. Also yes I am running 9003 Sylvainia bulbs from the local auto parts store in my 7" E-codes, they have the expected beam shape and sharp cutoff. Looking at the Sylvainia catalog, the H4 and 9003 seem to have the same filiment type, size, location, and specifications. My understanding is that they are the same bulb but the 9003 is the US designation (for cars) and H4 is RoW. Oddly, motorcycles use the H4 designation in the USA. Whatever. Same bulb.

Overwattage H2 bulbs may also scorch and crack the driving light lenses in an S4 (my PO seems to have been a fan of overwattage bulbs.)

-Joel.

Alan

Joel - yes these are the same bulbs - different country specific markings.

The fog driving lamps are much smaller enclosures and if you run stongard it seems they dissipate less well too. however ROW cars can have the fog & driving lamps on together while US cans do not - so total dissipation of 110W is OK across both lamps I assume - but maybe not locally in one...

the H4 enclosures are much bigger with good ventilated rear surface area and I'd expect no issues with 100W bulbs - if the connectors fry that typically means corrosiion and heat build up at the terminals - easy to swap out and probably preventable with routine attention. H5's are far worse in this respect because the terminal are much smaller.

Alan

Bill Ball

I've examined the sockets and wires often enough. 100/80 seems fine. That's as high as I will go. My 79 Honda CBX motorcycle came from the factory with H4 but the tabs on the base are different from common H4, so you have to use Honda H4s. Aftermarket sources sell an adapter ring for common H4 bulbs.

Schocki

H-4's are much better than the DOT approved stuff for the US-cars. The first time I converted my 911 to H-4 I thought I had High beams on all the time