uicnick

So, I determined that my igniter/ballast is my passenger side headlamp is faulty. I've got the Bosch part number 307 329 019 of course it is out of production superseded by new part numbers but has anyone actually replaced their igniter with 307 329 059 or 307 329 025? Are there any risks? I searched the forum with that part number only 1 post came up with no definitive answer. After a phone call to sunset, it sounds like a dealer kit is required consisting of ballast and control unit for no less than $525. I'm really looking to just replace the ballast for <$150. Anyone have any experience with this?

CorrdoBrit

I would scour Ebay both here and in Europe and see if I could find NOS parts. Failing that try the Porsche breakers.

No HTwo O

Uicnick, your new avatar looks great!

Rear through this long post, and possibly it will prove helpful:

https://rennlist.com/forums/993-foru...litronics.html

ilko

My experience is that the connection could be bad, not the ballast itself. Have you tried to connect the ballast and the headlight by moving the connector out of the slot inside the fender?

If you've done all that and switched the ballast with the other side, etc. then check Ebay - they run in the $150-200 range IIRC. I almost bought one last year before realizing it was the connector that wasn't snapping into place properly.

JM993

Some Mercedes ballasts are identical from that era and should be easier to source used.

Cheers,
Joe

Bradford

Unfortunately the Mercedes ignitors do not work on our cars, I tried. Trust me, I wish you could prove me wrong, it would save us a lot of money



Yes, the ignitor is part of the Litronics package and does not have a Porsche part #. To confirm whether yours is bad or not is very simple. Just swap the left for right and that will tell you. I was fortunate enough to get one from LAPD. Since I bought mine, I have been back to LAPD to source one for another Rennlister and they refuse to sell them individually.

Keep an eye on e-bay. Good luck

AOW162435

I had issues with my factory Litronics 6 years ago. Swapped ballasts, purchased new bulbs, etc. Then I decided that it may simply be the connections at the back of the headlight assemblies. I rotated the 'body-side' connectors out of the black plastic bracket, plugged them into the headlights, and carefully re-inserted the headlights.

Issue free since 2005. My assumption is that the plastic bracket itself is a bit too flexy, so if the connector does not mate perfectly into the headlight as you re-install, the bracket will flex backwards, rather than insuring the connector seats fully.


Andreas

uicnick

Thanks for the responses it's looking grim. NoH2 I and contacting the seller but i'm not sure we'll find anything. Andreas, I actually read your previous post. I swapped my bulbs and determined it was not the bulb that was bad. I then swapped the ballast and the blinking light followed the ballast swap. I don't think the body connection is bad because the blinking followed the ballast swap. Basically the light will flicker out, and stay off. If i turn the headlights off then back on, the previously "dead" light will come back on. thanks for the help!

JM993

Never tried to substitute ignitors but the ballasts do interchange. I have an MBZ ballast on my car. You can (or at least you could in the past) even buy the yellow warning sticker which goes on the ballast from Porsche.

AOW162435

This sounds very much like an issue that Ken (993Porsche) had. When he brought his 993 over to rebuild a brake caliper last week, we did exactly what I described above.

His issue went away. It's worth 3 minutes to at least try...


Andreas

Afrika

I say go 'aftermarket'. I had one dead ballast a few weeks back. Dealer wanted $800 for a new one (just the ballast!). I fitted a complete Philips aftermarket kit myself -Total cost $170 and an hour of my time. My reasoning:
1) if one ballast has failed, the other side might also be nearing the end of it's life.
2) A Litronic replacement BULB only -$80 vs Philips -$10

Linnm

My '96 had a Litronic problem a year or so ago. We switched units from side to side as part of the investigation, etc and ended up buying the Porsche "kit" to repair the light. Worked like a charm

Pete Lech

Indeed. I bought a MBZ ballast on Ebay for about $100. several years ago. It needed a minor bracket mod to work, but the basic part number was the same.