Labatt

OK.. I've got Xenon headlights in my BMW X5 and there's no way I'm going back. My new 993 (when I pick it up this week) has what I assume are standard halogen (they aren't Litronic).

Not having seen Litronic, and not being 100% sure what HIDs really are, what are the primary differences? Which one has a stronger light (HIDs, Litronics, Xenon)? I have terrible night vision, and my Xenon's are a godsend.

I like the price of the HID kits I've seen out there. I don't like the price of the Litronics kits. I haven't seen any xenon's...

Help! Thanks!

914und993

"Litronic" is just a brand name for Bosch HID headlamps. What you have in your BMW, and in Litronics, and in the kits that have generated so much interest here are HID (High Intensity Discharge) lamps, which happen to use Xenon as the filler gas. Xenon is also used as filler in some halogen bulbs, so calling HID lamps "Xenons" is a little bit ambiguous.

Thats it!

Chip

Labatt

And one other followup question... It appears (based on research on the DIY sites and such) that replacing the stock headlamps with HIDs is more of a process than just a one for one replacement. Are there any kits where you slide out the old and slide in the new (perhaps a bit more complicated, but not much)? I'm hesitant to start drilling or filing this piece of art the day I get it... Thanks again!

David in LA

The factory kits come with new headlights that replace the old. You still have to mount the ballast and resistor inside the hood though.

bet

Chris,

To expand just a little on what David said. The factory "Litronics" (also know as HID or xenon if you will) are the closest thing to a slide in plug and play system, however, like David said you will still have to mount and wire the ballast in the front trunk. The kicker to this is they cost in the neighborhood of $2000 whereas the aftermarket products can be had in the $400-$600 dollar range.

I had a 3 series BMW with the BMW "xenon" and thought they were wonderful. If you have not driven a 993 at night yet, you are in for a not so pleasant surprise. The standard low beam lights on the 993 are down right horrible. Truthfully for the expense of these cars new and the performance caliber they offer in all other facets of driving the standard lights are an embarrassment and disgrace and arguably unsafe at higher speeds at night. I have not driven a 993 with factory Litronics so I can not personally comment on a comparison between them and the BMW lights (I received yesterday my aftermarket HID kit to convert my 993 lights and will let you know how they compare if you are interested). That said, I have read that while the Litronics are vast improvement over the stock halogen lights they are still not quite up to the output of the BMW lights (a recent thread indicated the shape of the light and reflectors are the cause of not unleashing the total potential of HID). However, if you truly can’t go back then you are going to have to upgrade your lights to some form of HID because the standard are not even close.

Labatt

Thanks for all the info. Has anyone here seen the difference between aftermarket HIDs and Litronic? Is one better than the other, or are they really close (which HIDs kit)? I'd rather spend $500-$800 on a HIDs kit and bring it to my local garage (that specializes in Porsche's) than >$1500 on the Litronics if there aren't too many differences.

swftiii

Labatt,

Everyone is right: HID = Litronic = Xenon.

As for the aftermarket Kits (I have only dealt with the Catz HID kit) - it is much easier than you may think and a great place to start your future DIY activities.

I'm a newbie to the DIY world and have always been extremely nervous about doing anything to my PCar.

I will also agree with bet. The stock lights are terrible, but the HID conversion makes them so much better - you can actually see at night!

Good luck!

Skip

Chris C.

I just installed the OEM litronics--as close to plug and play as it comes. There is no drilling or filing, the holes should be there on late model cars. They are available for a lot less than $2k.

Litronics performance equals that of my 540i Xenon lamps--no difference.

Others have reported no difference between factory and aftermarket HIDs. See archives for side by side photos.

John W

I have compared my Autolamps HID install with Genuine OE Litronics fitted to a 993ttS, and there was no visible difference in light output, or beam pattern.

I would suggest the Katz or autolamps options are roughly equal in ease of fitting, and if anything require less changes to the wiring than fitting a Litronic HID kit (which requires a loom alteration using parts supplied in the kit).

Fitting the Katz or autolamps HIDs simply requires one hole to be drilled in the plastic headlamp rear covers, and a bit of wiring.
Lots of people know how to od this now, so you should have no problems. It takes around 45 minutes per light ot do the job.

HTH.

Cheers, <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
John.