The Halogen low beam is out on one side of my car. The owners manual stipulates the use of a 55W H7 bulb. Is this an industry standard bulb that I can purchace at a local auto parts store or does it have to be sourced at the stealership at a 400% markup?

Finally is the entire headlight assembly removed from the front of the car once it is unlocked from under the carpeting in the trunk? I do not see where the socket wrench is supposed to go after removing the rubber plug.

 

I thought you had to replace the whole assembly because it was sealed.

 

This is for a 997.1. Owners manual details the steps for replacement of individual bulbs.

 

H7 bulb is industry standard used on many cars and easily available, used in conjunction with the bi-xenons at low beam. Suggest replacing both sides as a pair. As you may know the glass must not be touched with bare fingers during install.

 

The socket wrench goes in the hole that the is opened once the rubber plug is remove. All it does is unlock the headlamp assembly and pushes it forward an inch or so...yes, the entire assembly is removed in order to replace the bulb. It's an easy job. Consider changing both sides so that both sides match color of the new bulbs.

 

Thanks a lot.

 

Every 997 owner should be familiar with the removal of their headlights. It's much easier to do than you think. The manual is a little vague at times. Do it when not under the pressure to do it--like at the side of a road at night time!

Once the headlight assembly is removed you will wind up removing about 4-6 regular #2 Philips head screws to access the inner workings of the headlight.

The Bi-Xenon bulbs are beneath a clamp arrangement while the halogen is separate.

Inside the area that receives the headlight is a stainless steel bar that ultimate operates as a sort of clamp to secure the headlight assembly. You rotate it with the special tool that is inside your tiny toolkit. Just play with it a few times when the headlight is out so that you can figure out how it works.

 

Swapped it out today. About 10 minute job. The diagram in the owner's manual did not quite match what my (likely early generation) assembly looked like but it was close enough.

 

Now you're 90% ahead of most other 997 owners. Good job.

 

Do you carry spare bulbs in case a headlight goes out? I'm not that 'stocked' as I assume at least one of the 4 lamps (2 on each side) is operational enough to get me to a parts store/through a night.

 

If someone references this thread, here is the bulb chart for the 997.2 from the manual

Low beam Philips - D2S 35W
Additional high beam without cornering light - H11, 55W
Additional high beam with cornering ligh - H7 LL, 55 W
Turn signal indicator light, side - WY5W
License plate light - C5W

 

I happen to have two spare Bi-Xenon bulbs if I needed them to get home.

 

That's for the Xenons. For the Halogens the low beam is an H7, 55 W (at least on the 997.1).

 

As stated, the chart was for the 997.2. I put it in here in case someone else bothers to use the search function. Your thread is a likely reference. The full chart for the 997.1 from the 2007 manual is below for future reference:

Halogen low beam - H7, 55 W
Low beam with Bi-Xenon headlight - Philips, D2S 35 W
Halogen high beam - H9, 65 W
Additional high beam with Bi-Xenon headlight - H11, 55 W
Fog light - H8, 35 W
Tail light, rear fog light - P21/4 W
Brake light/tail light - P21/4 W
Tail light, reflector - P21/5 W
Make-up mirror light - K3 W
Reversing light - P21
Turn signal indicator light, front and rear - PY21 W
Turn signal indicator light, side - WY5 W
Side marker light - W3 W
Door guard-/Curb light - W5 W
Parking light, front - W5 W Blue-Vision
License plate light - C5 W
Luggage compartment-/engine compartment light, interior light - K10 W
Reading light - 6 W Xenon

This may be duplicated somewhere else, but it doesn't hurt to add it to a thread titled "Low Beam Replacement"

 

Where can you buy the bi-xenons?