Has anyone removed the high mounted center brake light? I have trouble seeing around it, it blocks my view, of cars behind me. Is it a straight forward removal, Has anyone replaced it with a smaller unit, LED maybe? Thanks

 

I second this request. That thing is my one biggest - and probably only gripe with my car. Other than doing its job as a brake light, it does nothing but block your view of the car and all traffic directly behind you. It makes open highway driving a constant struggle of leaning left or right to see if that car 1/4 mile back is a cop. It drives me absolutely nuts!!! <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

Has anyone put the 993 style light bar - the one that mounts on the top of the rear windshield not the handle bar - on their car, and does it help the view or just do the same thing?

 

I am looking for a Third Brake Light for my 73 911 and I like the idea of a LED Bar. Does the 993 Bar fit this requirement? Can I fit it to my antique?

I would be interested in others experiences in where they might have found one and how it affected our ability to see out of the rear window. A picture would be quite nice also.

Thanks.

 

I bought one of the 96+ 993 style third brake lights from Performance Parts for my 89 C4 when they had their 20% off sale. The body shop that was doing some work on my bumper couldn't figure out how to wire it so it was never installed. FYI, it is not a perfect factory fit but close. Something to think about if you are considering this route. I'm still putting it on when I get some time.

Ray
89 C4

 

Here's a Service Bulletin from Porsche on how to install a later-model light on a 964. Expensive, I'm sure...

Service Installation of Roof Mounted Third Brake Light
Number 9603
Group 6
Model
6 Cyl.
Part Identifier 6638
March 7, 1996
Subject: Service Installation of Roof Mounted Third Brake Light

ATTENTION: Service Manager / Service Technician

Models Affected:
911 Carrera 2/4 Model Years 1989 to 1994
911 Turbo Model Years 1991, 1992 and 1994
911 Carrera and Carrera 4 Model Year 1995

General Information:

The roof mounted third brake light found on 1996 911 Carreras and Turbos can be retrofitted to the above mentioned vehicles. This requires installation of locating pins on the rear window, the addition of electrical wiring (964 only), a changing of the rear wiper blade and wiper arm (Type 964 only) and painting of the outer roof cover in the vehicle color.

Important: When installing the roof mounted third brake light on 911 Carrera 2/4 model years 1989 to 1994 and 911 Turbo model years 1991, 1992 and 1994, the existing third brake light can remain installed and operational or be removed as the customer desires. However, if the inside mounted third brake light is removed, the black screening on the glass will be visible. This screening cannot be removed from the rear window. As an alternative, the rear window can be replaced with a version having no screening for the third brake light:
Rear window 964 545 107 04
Rear window W/ wiper 964 545 107 06

For 993 vehicles, the existing third brake light (mounted on the rear lid) can remain installed and operational or be removed as the customer desires. If the existing third brake light is removed, the mounting holes in the engine lid will require filling and the engine lid will need to be repainted.

Parts Required: Vehicle Type 964:

Installation Kit, Part Number 000 044 800 12
plus the following additional parts:
1 Cable Harness 993 612 893 00
2 Connector 944 612 546 00

Adhesive set (see Adhesive Requirements for details)
On Cars with rear wiper (964 only):
1 Wiper Arm 993 628 032 00
1 Wiper Blade 993 628 039 01

Adhesive set (see Adhesive Requirements for details)



Parts Required

Adhesive Requirements:
Only the following adhesive should be used when installing the locating pins on the rear window:
000 043 203 42 Adhesive set including:


2 component adhesive (B1/B2), mixing nozzle (B3 - 000 043 203 50), primer (B4), activator (B5) and applicator (B6).

The following additional parts will be required:
000 043 203 49 Mixing nozzle (B7) for installation of locating pins.
000 721 958 60 Applicator gun (A- part of minimum tool requirement for Porsche dealers)
The above mentioned materials are not included in the installation kit for the roof mounted third brake light.

For additional information refer to the 911 Carrera (993) Workshop Manual volume 5, page 66 - 23.

The remaining adhesive can be used again at a later date by leaving the mixing nozzle (B7) on the cartridges. To use the adhesive again, a new mixing nozzle is required.

 

Thanks for the detailed reply. Is nothing easy???

 

Wow! That's awesome Robert. Kind of gives you more to think about than just glueing the thing to the glass.

Thanks.

 

Rob,

I removed the third brake light from my Turbo 3.6 for the same reason as you I could not see directly behind the car. This is worse if you are tall.
Removing the light is easy, it is attached with two faced tape. The problem is, as Robert says the factory actually etched and painted the glass where the tape attaches the light. The paint will come off but you can't do anything about the etched areas.
Replacing the rear glass with one from a 993 will work but with the gasket included it was over $1000!
I look through the area where the light was and visability is better, but that black band around where the light was is still am annoyance.

I have seen a small led (6"x1") LED brake light, 12V which looked nice and small but the black band would still be a problem. Let me know if you want the light info and I will try to find it.

Mike

 

[quote]Originally posted by MB965:
<strong>
Replacing the rear glass with one from a 993 will work but with the gasket included it was over $1000!
</strong><hr></blockquote>

Ouch. As much as I'd love to do this modification, unless I could find a used 993 rear window, I'm afraid it's WAY out of budget.