ltc

Can anyone recommend the most popular 968 H4 headlight bulb upgrade?

I'm not looking to do major surgery (relays, wiring, etc); just replace the bulb with an upgraded one (if available).

I've seen H4 and some H1 (which I don't understand) upgrades on the web.

Thanks

John Etnier

I have been very impressed and happy with Sylvania Silverstars.

Dave in Chicago

Second the motion on the Silverstars. Cheap (sale/rebate common) and a nice little bump in light output. I've put them on all my cars now. A tad whiter and brighter light, not night and day, but seem to be one of the best major brand bulbs available as a standard replacement.

John Etnier

I know it's silly, but just in case, here's a link to installation information for the headlamps.

ltc

John/Dave,
thanks for the reply.

Am I correct in that I only need to purchase a single bulb per headlight, 9003ST? I don't need an H1 correct?


FWIW, here's the bulb list from the Osram Sylvania website's lamp replacement guide:

1995 PORSCHE 968

High & low beam headlamp
9003
9003ST Silverstar High Performance Lighting: the whitest and brightest Halogen
9003XV XtraVision Halogen Upgrade: Up to 30% Brighter
9003CB Cool Blue Halogen Upgrade: White Hot; Super Cool; 100% Street Legal

Parking light
7528

Front turn signal
7528

Rear turn signal
7528

Tail light
7528

Stop light
7506
7506LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp

Fog/Driving light
H3-55W
H3ST Silverstar High Performance Lighting: the whitest and brightest Halogen

License plate
6418

Back up light
7506
7506LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp

Dome light
6411

Instrument-general
2721

Shamus

right the high beams are in the lower light panel with the fogs

ltc

Wow, don't I look silly ......of course that's what I get for buying it, driving it 1 mile around the block after unloading it from the trailer and putting it away for the winter.

Huh, fog lights AND high beams.....I think I'll go take a look under the car cover.

Shamus

I was wodering how you concluded you wanted brighter lights given your brief drive.

ltc

It's just one of those 'reflexive' modification things.....like the H5 to H4 headlight swap on a 964, clear side markers, etc.

I probably don't need them, but I'll just buy the bulbs and have them if/when I do need them.

I've got a lot to learn about these cars...the easy part was knowing I liked/wanted one....now that I have one the work starts.

Thanks

John Etnier

The stock 968 lighting is unusually effective and bright, but the more even color temperature of the Silverstars and their higher output is a big plus IMHO.

oppositelock

You can use H4 in the headlamp. The fogs are H3 and the driving beam (in the fog lamp housing) is an H1

ltc

Thanks.
I stopped by my local Autozone on the way home tonight (yes, you get lots of looks when they ask what kind of car the parts are for and you say Porsche, then say 968...).

Interestingly, they had both H4 and 9003 Silverstars. Both look identical, but the package for the H4's were clearly marked 'For Motorcycle Use Only'.
Strange, as my RSAmerica had H4 bulbs and I don't recall seeing that on the box (Bosch or Osram IIRC...it's been a while)

Dave in Chicago

I think if you take them out of the package, you'll find the Silverstars are the EXACT same bulb, whether marked H or the 900x. Kinda silly.