axl911

I received my 55W 4300K kit yesterday and installed it in the car the same day. My last kit was a 35W 5000K. The old kit lasted 4.5 years and still works fine.

However, the light output on the 55W was something else. It lit up the road much more so than my Acura TL HIDs. It was as bright if not brigher than my high beam. The elipsoid design of the 993 lens provided a very sharp cutoff so glare is not really a problem.

I am surprised not everyone has done this. Cost is less than $100. My last set from so called China lasted me 4.5 years without any issue.

ilko

Have you checked with oncoming traffic to see how they are liking the glare? There's a reason why OEM HIDs are 35W.

CorrdoBrit

Yeah, those 55Watters will be light canons. There is a lot of light spill that can't be seen from the cockpit. Just look at the reflection from street signs. I'm always surprised how brightly they get illuminated even with my 35W HID's

nile13

Well, I've done HID conversions (not 55W, though) on both of my 993s. And the light output is great, you can actually see things at night.

But... And there's always a but. If I understand correctly, the regular lenses are not designed to focus the HID beam properly. Which makes it, by letter of the law, illegal to drive on the street. And probably makes it somewhat less comfortable for oncoming cars (and issue that I'm pretty serious about).

You are also talking about a kit that is 57% more powerful. Presumably it has 57% more light output going in every which direction without any concern for others. You see where I'm going with this?

axl911

With the sharp cutoff, I've adjusted the beam way down low. Driver side is even lower.

I've also make sure that the light only goes up to the trunk level of the car ahead of me, and not onto the rear windshield.

But will probably park it from far away and see how bad it is.

axl911

Reflection off the street signs is a good indicator. Street signs are not lit up while in my car....but the little reflectors & lane markers they put on the grounds now shines very brightly.

Stealth 993

You will get a TON more heat with the 55w kit, & it will pull a ton more wattage on start up. I would be concerned it might do something to the plastic in the light, or do something to the wiring over time.

Really 55w is to bright for the streets, it will blind oncoming traffic. Best bet would be to lower the beam a tad.

P-daddy

Glad you're liking the new 55w set up. Just remember to periodically check the condition of your oem wiring and harnesses.....melting or burning from hi current draw.

Canyon56

I think everybody's correct about sticking with the 35. Much wiser and safer all the way around.

And it's also true that the halogen lamps are not proper HID projectors so there's no shield cut off. Also there's no auto leveling like in modern cars with HIDs. With 35s you can kind of get away with it.

I think the reason Porsche put in the headlamp washers on all cars was in case they were optioned with Litronics. Although maybe that Euro law (HID plus washers are mandatory) was made later(?) Anybody know?

nile13

Europeans are very fond of putting washers on headlights. Early-80s Ladas had them, and nobody can accuse Lada of either following any European laws or knowing anything about HID back then (or now).

matt777

Just install the relay kit (which I did) and that problem is gone

sonny1

Regular lenses are the same as the HID litronic lenses.

CorrdoBrit

I think Nile13 is talking about the projector lens not the outer lens

Canyon56

fwiw, that's what I was talking about. The lenses are the same, the projectors are not.

nile13

Yep, as was mentioned, projector lenses are different.

Another nuance is that I'm far from sure that OEM Litronics have the same beam pattern as non-OEM HIDs. So while the front lens might be fine for OEM Litronics, it might very well be wrong for aftermarket HID bulbs.