I just completed the greatest performance mod on my 987 Boxster with base halogen headlights - the performance of good night vision.
I hated the weak, orange glow of the H7 base halogens. I successfully installed HID retrofits previously in other cars but really hoped that LED bulb life and tech had improved enough to switch to LED's. After a lot of online research, I chose to go with Morimoto 2STROKE 2.0. The install is super straight forward and they come with a 3 year warranty. Total out of pocket (including shipping) <$150. Sure, you can get cheaper ones on Amazon, but why risk it.
What's needed for the 987/997 are:
(2) H7 2STROKE 2.0 Morimoto Bulbs (the kit contains two bulbs and two adaptors to go from 9006 to H7)
(2) Morimoto 2STROKE Anti Flicker harness (optional, but I didn't want to risk bulb flicker with our CANBUS setups

I won't detail the headlight removal; you can look this up on YouTube - lots of helpful videos. If you can't remove your own headlights, you shouldn't be messing with the bulbs.
The photos are just to show component placement and how well the components fit within the factory headlight housings.

1. Remove headlights (see YouTube)
2. Remove rear covers (remove 4 Phillips screws and depress three tabs)
3. Replace existing H7 bulb with Morimoto LED bulbs
4. Using Command strips, attach LED driver (that is inline with the bulb) along the inside of the housing. See photo for placement.
5. Using Command strips, attach Anti-Flicker adapters to the back side of the cover you removed to gain access. See photo for placement.
6. Connect the factory plug to the H7-9006 adapter. The Brown harness wire is negative, the Yellowish wire is positive.
7. Connect the adapter plug to the anti-flicker harness
8. Connect the anti flicker harness to the Morimoto LED bulb
9. Carefully route the harness into the large void within the housing and re-attach the rear cover. See photo - lot's of space for all of this bright goodness
10. Reinstall housings into the car
11. Enjoy driving at night now that you can finally SEE!!!!

Hope this helps convince some of you to get off the fence and go LED.
P.S. I am in no way affiliated with Morimoto or the vendor that sold me the kit.

Kit contains 2 bulbs

Be sure to get H7's for o



This is the best place to stick the Anti-Flicker.

Two strips of Medium Command Strips (Velcro type)

This is what the anti-flicker looks like once installed

One small piece of Command for the in-line LED driver - I cut a medium in half I believe

This is where I stuck the in-line driver. Look at all that empty space

Carefully tuck the harnesses into the remaining cavity - plenty of space, I assure you. Reinstall headlights and go for a night drive!!

 

What about heat? Do they run cooler than halogens? I realize they have cooling for the unit, but what about the headlight covers?

 

This is what we know about light from electricity: In the case of an electric bulb, the electrical energy is converted to light and heat. The amount of electrical energy put into a bulb = the amount of light energy (desirable form) plus the heat energy that comes out of the bulb (undesirable form).
These are the relative specs of LED vs. Halogen headlight bulbs:
- H7 Halogen low beam: 35W, 2.92 Amps
- Morimoto LED's: 23W, 1.9 Amps
The Morimoto's draw 43% LESS energy and produce more light in exchange for that energy.

Fact: LED bulbs consume less electrical energy and produce far less TOTAL heat than Halogen bulbs.
Then why the cooling fans?
Even though LED's consume less electricity (while producing more light - depending on application), they produce localized heat at the diode that must be removed to increase the longevity of the emitter.
Halogens primarily create heat within the front cavity of the headlight assembly (lens area).
LED's also produce heat the front cavity but they draw some of that heat away via a heatsink and a cooling fan into the rear cavity. I postulate based on the reduction in total consumption that the heat produced ion the front lens (headlight cover) cavity is far less with LED's than with Halogens.
I haven't measured the heat generated in the rear cavity of the headlight assembly but considering the huge reduction in total energy and heat, I am comfortable running modern LED bulbs in place of the ancient Halogen ones, especially ones from a respected aftermarket bulb manufacturer.

Hope this helps.

 

Yes, it does.
After having cars with HIDs, halogens are just unacceptable. It's the only real flaw in driving the car.
Thanks!

 

How is the light scatter due to the different output pattern of the LED versus the halogen bulbs?

 

No front shot? Did you just replaced the bulbs? I'm finishing up on mine. Went with the Panamera shrouds.

You just do the bulbs? No pic of the front? Im just finishing up my retrofit. Went with Panamera shrouds.