Litronics again!!
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: Stamford CT
At the last UK meet we had, I had Tito driving behind me on the way back, he also has the H1 HID kit from Autolamps installed. The focus of the light looked absolutely fine to me, same as you would see on OEM equipment.
Regards
Eric
Regards
Eric
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 611
Likes: 1
From: NJ
try autolamp-online's vision plus H1 bulbs. They claim it gives off 50% more light... I cannot say it does or it doesn't BUT its alot cheaper than HID system and its just a bulb swap 
My conclusion is that it gives off a whiter, brighter, and cast a wider field of vision. I love it...
My conclusion is that it gives off a whiter, brighter, and cast a wider field of vision. I love it...
Pro
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 631
Likes: 9
From: Cranleigh,England
Guys,
been a bit busy lately so not looked in for a while.
Anyway, to answer some of these questions :
I compared my autolamps supplied H1 HIDs with a 993 Turbo S fitted with OEM litronics.
There was no noticeable difference in colour, beam patern, or intensity.
The statement regarding beam focus is (was) mentioned on the autolamps web site.
The brightness plays no part in the focus, it is the positioning of the light source.
Put another way, it is a question of how deep the bulb is fitted into the light housing from its mounting base.
Some of the cheaper kits modify the base of a standard D2S bulb. This has the effect of the bulb not being mounted far enough in, which sounds like the problem 993C4 has on his BMW.
The autolamps bulbs are not regular D2S bulbs, and have a proper moulded H1 mount, which ensures the bulb is fitted to the correct depth.
The 993 never had 'autolevelling', but did have manual levelling via a dash mounted switch.
Most (if not all) UK and Euro cars have this feature. My car has manual levelling, and obviously the H1 HIDs now too.
The only concern is to ensure you leave enough 'slack' on the wiring to allow the headlamp bowl to move freely.
This can be added to any lights. All you need is the levelling motors, dash switch, and carry out the wiring. It is all shown on the wiring diagrams, and my pictures clearly show the inside of a headlight, with a big square block that is the motor.
It is true that the UK laws require auto levelling for cars equiped with Litronics/HIDs.
Unless a garage is really switched on though, are they really likely to fail your car for having HIDs and 'only' manual levelling ?
For a start you casnnot see the bulb, and the only clues are the switchon colour, and the intensity.
The added advantage of the autolamps route is that the procedure is reversible, so it is possible tyo replace the standard H1 bulbs in order to get a ticket if you are that way inclined (or indeed sell the car and want to keep the HIDs).
OEM Litronics were the 4300K D2S bulbs, and the difference with the bluer lights is purely the bulbs. While someone could change their bulbs to the later 6000K blue bulbs, they give slightly less light performance, and IMO its a rather expensive change just for cosmetic reasons !
I have a mail from Nick at Autolamps explaining this in more detail, so mail me if you want me to email it to you.
Finally, the vision plus bulbs.
Yes they are a great improvement, but simply not in the same league as the HIDs.
On a dark country road with no traffic stop and see how far you can see with low beam, and what detail you can pick out. Now flip to high beam and try the same.
With my HIDs high beam gives no further field of view, just fills in a bit above car height (i.e. signs, trees, etc.
I can honestly say that I rarely use High beam now, as I can see far enough up the road as it is. Unlessyou regularly drive at 120mph+ in the dark, you should be able to stop in what you can see. My lights even pick up cats eyes before I can see which direction the white lines turn !
Right, that's enough from me. Apologies for the length of this post.
If anyone wants the password for the discount from autolamps, send me a mail. As stated previously the condition ofther discount is to not openly publish it, so I will not post it tothe board.
All the best guys.
John. (94L Iris Blue 993 C2)
been a bit busy lately so not looked in for a while.
Anyway, to answer some of these questions :
I compared my autolamps supplied H1 HIDs with a 993 Turbo S fitted with OEM litronics.
There was no noticeable difference in colour, beam patern, or intensity.
The statement regarding beam focus is (was) mentioned on the autolamps web site.
The brightness plays no part in the focus, it is the positioning of the light source.
Put another way, it is a question of how deep the bulb is fitted into the light housing from its mounting base.
Some of the cheaper kits modify the base of a standard D2S bulb. This has the effect of the bulb not being mounted far enough in, which sounds like the problem 993C4 has on his BMW.
The autolamps bulbs are not regular D2S bulbs, and have a proper moulded H1 mount, which ensures the bulb is fitted to the correct depth.
The 993 never had 'autolevelling', but did have manual levelling via a dash mounted switch.
Most (if not all) UK and Euro cars have this feature. My car has manual levelling, and obviously the H1 HIDs now too.
The only concern is to ensure you leave enough 'slack' on the wiring to allow the headlamp bowl to move freely.
This can be added to any lights. All you need is the levelling motors, dash switch, and carry out the wiring. It is all shown on the wiring diagrams, and my pictures clearly show the inside of a headlight, with a big square block that is the motor.
It is true that the UK laws require auto levelling for cars equiped with Litronics/HIDs.
Unless a garage is really switched on though, are they really likely to fail your car for having HIDs and 'only' manual levelling ?
For a start you casnnot see the bulb, and the only clues are the switchon colour, and the intensity.
The added advantage of the autolamps route is that the procedure is reversible, so it is possible tyo replace the standard H1 bulbs in order to get a ticket if you are that way inclined (or indeed sell the car and want to keep the HIDs).
OEM Litronics were the 4300K D2S bulbs, and the difference with the bluer lights is purely the bulbs. While someone could change their bulbs to the later 6000K blue bulbs, they give slightly less light performance, and IMO its a rather expensive change just for cosmetic reasons !
I have a mail from Nick at Autolamps explaining this in more detail, so mail me if you want me to email it to you.
Finally, the vision plus bulbs.
Yes they are a great improvement, but simply not in the same league as the HIDs.
On a dark country road with no traffic stop and see how far you can see with low beam, and what detail you can pick out. Now flip to high beam and try the same.
With my HIDs high beam gives no further field of view, just fills in a bit above car height (i.e. signs, trees, etc.
I can honestly say that I rarely use High beam now, as I can see far enough up the road as it is. Unlessyou regularly drive at 120mph+ in the dark, you should be able to stop in what you can see. My lights even pick up cats eyes before I can see which direction the white lines turn !
Right, that's enough from me. Apologies for the length of this post.
If anyone wants the password for the discount from autolamps, send me a mail. As stated previously the condition ofther discount is to not openly publish it, so I will not post it tothe board.
All the best guys.
John. (94L Iris Blue 993 C2)
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 144
Likes: 3
From: Taipei
Do anyone of you know a quick and dirty way to adjust the HID lamps without fancy equipment? Reason I ask is because I had OEM Philips HID installed in my 993 about 1 month ago, but I don't think the guy adjusted them properly.
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
Addict & Guru
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,897
Likes: 3
From: St. Louis
John
The adjustment procedure is set forth in your owners' manual. Simply, you use the holes in the trunk to access the vertical & horizontal 5mm hex head adjusting screws for each light. Each light has both a vertical & horizontal adjustment scale just INSIDE the lens which is visible through the lens. As I recall, the vertical is a bubble guage at the bottom of the lens & horizontal is a ruled scale near one of the sides of the lens.
Assume you picked up a ball headed 5mm hex wrench as suggested in answers to your other post.
Hope this helps.
The adjustment procedure is set forth in your owners' manual. Simply, you use the holes in the trunk to access the vertical & horizontal 5mm hex head adjusting screws for each light. Each light has both a vertical & horizontal adjustment scale just INSIDE the lens which is visible through the lens. As I recall, the vertical is a bubble guage at the bottom of the lens & horizontal is a ruled scale near one of the sides of the lens.
Assume you picked up a ball headed 5mm hex wrench as suggested in answers to your other post.
Hope this helps.
