Headlight Questions

Hi all, Pretty new to the forum, so first off let me say hi to all. From what I have read on here so far, let me just say what a great community you have. I'm currently looking at changing my headlights for the clear indicator option, and had a couple of questions that I'm sure you can help me out with before I pick them up this evening. The guy thta I am meetig this evening has both the litronic and standard lights so the first question is, is there a great deal of work and additional expense to put on the litronic lights to a car that did not have them originally. I know that they come wit the ballasts, but what else do I need or are they just plug and play? I know the car does not have the auto leveling on it, but not too fussed about that The second set of lights, which are cheaper, are off a 2001 Boxster, and I presume that they do not have the height adjstment ability. Please confirm. If that is the case, is it a big deal if? I dont carry passangers in the rear so if they are adjusted by an MOT place will they be OK afterwards? I know there is a lot of detail above and a few questions, but I would truely appreciate your feedback on this as I am scheduled o pick up one of the 2 options this evening. Many thanks in advance for your help guys. Nuri

The Litronics (xenons) are plug an play (on prefacelift 996.1) Definitely some of the Boxster headlights were non-levelling (although some may be levelling on later models or when spec'd with washers etc). As evidenced by the Boxster itself (and the fact Litronics as unofficial retrofit to 996s cannot access the simple level dial signals), the ability to level from the cockpit is not an MOT requirement. This is just a convenience feature. In fact most normal cars of the same age will not have remote levelling fitted at all. Once the alignment is set, just forget. That is, unless you start delivering bags of cement in your Porsche.

:welcome: It's a non-starter to retrofit the automatic levelling mechanism and sensors, but Porsche did a kit to retrofit Litronics to the earlier cars, so it can be done easily enough, but you won't have the self-levelling feature. Boxster headlights can be used in a pre-facelift 996. You can swap the levelling motors from your original lights to retain the manual-levelling function.

Thanks for the prompt responses guys, Just to clarify, if I get the litronic headlights I do not need to play with any electrics at all.... they use the same connectors and therefore plug straight in without any faffing? If thats the case, then I'm going for those!!

Correct. Here's some I made earlier:

Awesome!!! I'll be able to fit them before I drive home then!! Thanks for clarifying GT4. Will they only take moments to fit? Sorry for more questions, but I'm ammazed that they are that simple!! It just seems that nothing these days is, hence the scepticism!!! p.s. colour looks sweet!!!

The retrofit kit shows a small control unit added to the loom, and stuck inside the luggage compartment. I think this is to make the manual leveller work, but not sure. As GT4 says, they are plug-and-play otherwise. Check fuses A9 and A10 after fitting. If they are 7.5A, change them to 15A.

Thanks Ricjhard, GT4, as you have done this before, can you shed some light on the control unit that Richard mentions as well as the fuse point. I dont want to change them only to find out that I do not have everything needed to make them work. Hopefully the last question.... for now, i promise

Sorry if I have confused things. If you simply swap the light units over they will work straight away. The control unit is only part of the pukka retrofit kit, and not required for them to work. The fuses in a MY1998 car with standard lights are 7.5A, but they were changed in MY1999 to 15A. Of course, you will have to adjust the alignment with the mechanical adjusters when you have swapped them over.

Fantastic Richard, thanks for clarifying.... Looks like I'll be joining the litronic club this evening Thanks to both of you, another satisfied member

sorry to jump on thread, but can someone just confirm then that you can fit Porsche Boxster 986 headlight units with xenon in them straight into a 996 no hassle ? as ive been scouring for 996 litronics sets and they seem much much more if you look for 996 versions. thanks

Yes. They are the same light units.

I also found this on RennTech, which is interesting, and if correct explains what the control unit does: The Litronic light units will work just fine without installing the accompanying wiring harness. In a retro fit situation, leveling is not available, no matter how much wiring you install. That only works with factory installed Litronics. The benefit of the wiring harness that comes with a Litronic retrofit kit is that it enables the xenon portion of your new unit (the low beam) to rotate up to join the hi beam (still just a halogen bulb) when you select hi beam, thereby making hi beam a good deal more effective.

10 secs to fit each side. 986/996 interchangeable - one of the many advantages of the 996.1 is the number of shared components. Always search on eBay or get quotes for the Boxster part - sellers think you have less money (that and simple supply and demand). The optional £500 box is a waste of time unless you really need to use the internal level dial. Richard quotes RennTech discussing the loss of 1.5 degrees of projector (Litronic) rotation on high beam. High beam is just as high (high beams are halogens), however with the extra control box the xenons lift up to horizontal (no dip) at the same time. Marginal effect. Do a search on litronics or xenons. Like: http://www.911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=49973

IMHO one of the cleverest things on the 996 is the combined/integrated light units. Low beam, high beam, side lights, fog lights, indicators. All in one pop-out design that locks into place mechanically and connects electrically at the same time. EDIT: PS - it's Iris Blue. PPS - sorry for all the edits iOS4 makes my replies invisible during reply!