Headlight Washers
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 164
Likes: 4
One of mine flew off without even using them. I was just throwing 15mph as an arbitrary low speed. I would never activate at highways speeds.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 119
Likes: 2
From: Berks County PA
Okay sometimes I go a little faster. But that's how fast I was driving when both of mine blew off within the first 15 minutes of 996 ownership which didn't make me happy. I was fiddling with the trip computer, hit the wrong stalk and then lift-off - the chrome discs fired out of their coves and onto the highway landing somewhere in indigenous Detroit. Scared the **** out of me and then hit the SUV behind me, scaring the **** out of them I would have to think. Two for one.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 322
Likes: 28
I didn't want them with a new build but they come with a package with dimming mirrors, heated seats and PDLS light system. If you chose the mirrors and heated seats only, it is still $500 more plus the very basic lights than the $620 option. Go figure. Will never use the washers. I had a Volvo with wiper blades on the headlights. Really ridiculous.
Last edited by RONGLOS; Aug 19, 2016 at 04:58 PM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 448
Likes: 108
From: Canada
When HID headlights were approved for use in Europe, the regulators fretted over the brighter more intense light output blinding oncoming drivers. Some design features help mitigate this: A clean sharp light-cut-off to keep all the low beam on the ground and good optics to prevent small shards of light from escaping the intended beam and hitting grandmas ancient eyes.
Mud splatters on the outside of the headlight will disperse some of the light as glare, again blinding oncoming drivers. Headlight washer/cleaners will keep the headlights within their design spec. Euro drivers must demonstrate knowledge of this and when to use the washers in order to pass their driver license test. Here in North America even the license examiners are ignorant of this.
Mud splatters on the outside of the headlight will disperse some of the light as glare, again blinding oncoming drivers. Headlight washer/cleaners will keep the headlights within their design spec. Euro drivers must demonstrate knowledge of this and when to use the washers in order to pass their driver license test. Here in North America even the license examiners are ignorant of this.
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 5,723
Likes: 2,290
From: Zuffenhausen, Georgia
I think the whole idea of headlight washers is a crap idea in my opinion. Unless you have a 4x4 and go mudding a lot, I can't see how they are useful. Talk about dispersed light... both of my Volvos have suffered scratched enclosures from using washers on a regular basis... you should see them... looks like a cat had a clawing conniption on both of them. Fortunately, headlight enclosures only cost $200 each on the Volvos unlike the $2000 each on the Porsche.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 351
Likes: 3
From: Central Pa.
True with today's 911 because our headlights are swept back and aerodynamic. They are still included out of tradition IMO.
The older 911 with the bug-eye euro headlight trims did get crap stuck in them. Back in the day you could turn the fixed nozzles that stuck out of the front bumper on the 930/911 to point to the side. Then you could shoot a 20' stream to the side on cars as you passed them or on the rare occasion, they were passing you.
The older 911 with the bug-eye euro headlight trims did get crap stuck in them. Back in the day you could turn the fixed nozzles that stuck out of the front bumper on the 930/911 to point to the side. Then you could shoot a 20' stream to the side on cars as you passed them or on the rare occasion, they were passing you.
I think the whole idea of headlight washers is a crap idea in my opinion. Unless you have a 4x4 and go mudding a lot, I can't see how they are useful. Talk about dispersed light... both of my Volvos have suffered scratched enclosures from using washers on a regular basis... you should see them... looks like a cat had a clawing conniption on both of them. Fortunately, headlight enclosures only cost $200 each on the Volvos unlike the $2000 each on the Porsche.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 7,697
Likes: 31
From: Chicago
However, for those of us that live in snow climates, this can be extremely helpful in washing off the salt and thus restoring the light output. But of course, how many Porsche drivers(other than SUV) drives their car when it's snowing outside and there is salt?
I've deleted mine to reduce my drag coefficient by 0.0003 so that I can increase my fuel mileage by 0.0000005 mpg.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 448
Likes: 108
From: Canada
I think the whole idea of headlight washers is a crap idea in my opinion. Unless you have a 4x4 and go mudding a lot, I can't see how they are useful. Talk about dispersed light... both of my Volvos have suffered scratched enclosures from using washers on a regular basis... you should see them... looks like a cat had a clawing conniption on both of them. Fortunately, headlight enclosures only cost $200 each on the Volvos unlike the $2000 each on the Porsche.
Reams of info are out there for your edification (NHTSA et al) on this subject. It became a hot topic when cheap poorly executed ricer car HID conversions became available.