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Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHAmber Litronics + Litronic Retrofit
Leading reported evidence
Check tub, and there seem
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Both seem to suggest that you need to drill out holes in the trunk tub walls to put the lamps in, but I just checked my tub, and there seem to already be holes of the correct diameter there, complete with stoppers.
Leading evidence: 'Check tub, and there seem' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check tub, and there seem' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Use autocrossing over the course of about a decade
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0
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0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Update: I've gotten a set of Litronics that got used for autocrossing over the course of about a decade from a local 996 owner, and a set of Boxster lamps that melted internally but were fine on the outer lenses, all for free.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I know for a fact that all Litronic cars from the factory, USA or ROW, had level sensors on all 4 corners and used a control unit and a wiring harness to connect everything up and do the self-leveling.
Replace headlight units outright, i may as well upgrade
Suggestion or failed attempt
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Discussions that contain suggestions
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Suggestion · Original poster
I figured that if I'm going to have to either open up the lamps and replace the optics or replace the headlight units outright, I may as well upgrade to HIDs since these Halogens are pretty underwhelming anyways (its not just the burnt lenses, I've got a friend with an unburnt 99 Halogen thats equally mediocre).
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
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Suggestion · Original poster
I figured that if I'm going to have to either open up the lamps and replace the optics or replace the headlight units outright, I may as well upgrade to HIDs since these Halogens are pretty underwhelming anyways (its not just the burnt lenses, I've got a friend with an unburnt 99 Halogen thats equally mediocre).
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
Check tub, and there seem
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Both seem to suggest that you need to drill out holes in the trunk tub walls to put the lamps in, but I just checked my tub, and there seem to already be holes of the correct diameter there, complete with stoppers.
Replace headlight units outright, i may as well upgrade
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
I figured that if I'm going to have to either open up the lamps and replace the optics or replace the headlight units outright, I may as well upgrade to HIDs since these Halogens are pretty underwhelming anyways (its not just the burnt lenses, I've got a friend with an unburnt 99 Halogen thats equally mediocre).
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
I figured that if I'm going to have to either open up the lamps and replace the optics or replace the headlight units outright, I may as well upgrade to HIDs since these Halogens are pretty underwhelming anyways (its not just the burnt lenses, I've got a friend with an unburnt 99 Halogen thats equally mediocre).
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
I figured the easiest way to get amber lenses on Litronics is to just replace the outer lenses outright with Ambered lenses, but don't want to ruin a good set of Ambers or Litronics in the process.
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
I've been trying to stick to OEM parts on the off chance I ever do need to make it compliant with some sort of regulations (would be easier to just replace the retrofit harness with the sensors/wiring from the original than redoing all of my work), so I've all but ruled out 3rd party projectors.
Use autocrossing over the course of about a decade
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Update: I've gotten a set of Litronics that got used for autocrossing over the course of about a decade from a local 996 owner, and a set of Boxster lamps that melted internally but were fine on the outer lenses, all for free.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I know for a fact that all Litronic cars from the factory, USA or ROW, had level sensors on all 4 corners and used a control unit and a wiring harness to connect everything up and do the self-leveling.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
8 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261027T044418Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
I have a 1999 Carrera with the Halogen headlights. They aren't UV yellowed, but unfortunately a prior owner ran overwatted bulbs and browned some of the plastic optics inside of the housing. I figured that if I'm going to have to either open up the lamps and replace the optics or replace the headlight units outright, I may as well upgrade to HIDs since these Halogens are pretty underwhelming anyways (its not just the burnt lenses, I've got a friend with an unburnt 99 Halogen thats equally mediocre). I do a fair bit of night driving, so this is really worthwhile to me.
Here is a pic of what I mean:
I stumbled upon this thread a while ago, and was wondering if anyone here had done something simlar:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/...1668289&i=1560
I do have a few other questions about the Litronic retrofit though. I know for a fact that all Litronic cars from the factory, USA or ROW, had level sensors on all 4 corners and used a control unit and a wiring harness to connect everything up and do the self-leveling. I also know that all ROW cars have that headlight "dipped bean" rotary dial next to the headlight switch, but that no USA cars should have that. Are there any other differences between the USA and ROW Litronic system? I'm pretty sure at least in Germany you had to option the headlight washers to get Litronics due to safety regulations, but beyond that, I'm not really sure. I know of at least one guy in Europe who retrofitted the factory Litronic system with all of the leveling gear, but I'm unclear on if its as simple as just putting all the sensors on and wiring everything up, or if there is ECU work that needs doing too. Anyone know? I'm in the USA, but frankly if I'm going through the effort I'd rather have the more featured ROW system (minus the washers).
I had my oem amber reflectors converted to HID using litronic bowls and morimoto projectors by 996retrofits. The light output was amazing, they looked OEM, and were plug and play. The outcome basically looked the same as the picture you posted above. Mine were also burnt and gross looking. Not only did my car look significantly better, but my night time visibility was significantly better.
Nice. I've been trying to stick to OEM parts on the off chance I ever do need to make it compliant with some sort of regulations (would be easier to just replace the retrofit harness with the sensors/wiring from the original than redoing all of my work), so I've all but ruled out 3rd party projectors. Mine aren't super badly burnt, so I do want to preserve them. I've been looking at prices from dismantlers for cheap Litronics and very burnt or electrically damaged Amber lights to bodge together. I figured the easiest way to get amber lenses on Litronics is to just replace the outer lenses outright with Ambered lenses, but don't want to ruin a good set of Ambers or Litronics in the process.
This is probably going to be a longer-term project. If I can find some UV damaged Litronics and some burnt/internally damaged Ambers I'll go through with it, but for now I'll just wait and see if those parts pop up anywhere.
I've been doing some more research while preparing to retrofit the Litronics, and have really been following this instruction set by Porsche (
https://web.archive.org/web/20100430...ntonicinst.htm
) as well as this guide on Pelican (
https://www.pelicanparts.com/techart...ic_Install.htm
). Both seem to suggest that you need to drill out holes in the trunk tub walls to put the lamps in, but I just checked my tub, and there seem to already be holes of the correct diameter there, complete with stoppers. Is this something that changed in production later on? My car is fairly early (4/98) so perhaps earlier builds get lucky and have all the holes/mounts in-place? Has anyone else done this and noticed the same thing?
EDIT: I just realized that I might be illiterate, the Porsche document literally says you don't need to drill if plugs already exist on the car. Stupid question.
Driver's side
Passenger's side
Just go here and convert your existing headlights -
https://retrofitlab.com/collections/...11-996-1-986-1
I have nothing to gain recommending them and those that have converted/upgraded seem to be extremely happy. It is on my list to do over the next two months.
Update: I've gotten a set of Litronics that got used for autocrossing over the course of about a decade from a local 996 owner, and a set of Boxster lamps that melted internally but were fine on the outer lenses, all for free. Both have dried weather stripping, and the Litronics have water ingress, so the plan is to open both up, swap the amber lenses off of the Boxster lamps and onto the 996 Litronics, and then do the OEM retrofit. I've ordered all of the necessary parts from Porsche. Total cost for me is going to be about $500, which is well worth it to me. I'll post pics and steps once everything arrives.
