swapping regular for litronic

what's involved in swapping out the regular headlights for the litronics? is it as simple as just plugging the litronics into the same wiring as the regular headlights or do you need some special adapters or hardware?

Depends if you want the full features ... you can just swap the units and they will work, but if you want the lowbeams to automatically rotate up a little to enhance the high beams, you have to do a little drilling, wiring, splicing wires ... I didn't bother doing that part of it. The improvement on the low beams was what I was looking for. Vic 99 C2 cab

what about ballasts and wiring? is the ballast inside of the litronic headlight or do you need to buy that separately? is there any wiring you need to purchase?

The kit comes with everything. Ballast is in the headlight. There is a separate module that has to be installed and wiring if you want the headlights to adjust for highbeams. Leaving that part out, it's a five-minute install. Vic 99 C2 cab

what about re-adjusting & leveling the lowbeams so that they arent too high or too low? dont u need to do that?

Mine seemed fine (no one is flashing their brights at me, at any rate) but the beams are adjustable just like the regular lights are. Procedure is in the owner's manual, I believe. Vic 99 C2 cab

The litronic retrofit kit for pre 2002 comes with everything. Our local group has put in 2 kits and filmed one of the installs. The only thing that needs to be wired is the control unit for the beam rotation. Some people do not do this. The control unit simply involves hooking up 3 wires so I do not know why some people do not do it. There is no reason to drill any holes. Jeff

There is a need to drill depending on whether your car has the hole already there on both sides for running the harness ... mine, an early build 99, did not. Vic 99 C2 cab

WHO NEEDS Bi-XENON!!!!!!!!!! Right Jeff!!!!!!!!

You need Bi-Xenons - don't give up yet Kirby. I have both TSBs from Porsche on how to install the litronics, the old one and the new one. They do say to drill a hole to run the harness to the headlight if the car does not already have a hole. The 2 retrofits we did did not have the hole. We did not drill the hole. We simply ran the new harness along side the existing harness throught the existing rubber gromet. This is the way factory litronics are installed. A local 2003 Boxster owner had litronics installed by the dealer. They did not drill any holes and ran the harness to the headlight exactly the same way we did - through the gromet that has the wires for the headlight. We explain on the DVD how to do it both ways. Jeff

Hahah maybe at the next gathering I can sneak off with a set since they are Sooooo easy to remove and install!!! hahahaah Watch out!

thanks for the responses guys. this has been very helpful! i also posted this in flat-6 and somebody pointed me to these instructions online: http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...ronic_pg1a.htm

Those instructions say to use wire taps - becaused he could not be bothered with the pin removal tool. Both bulletins issued by Porsche say to use the crimp on connectors that are in the kit or to solder the wires. I would want the best electrical connection I could make. I found the equivalent pin removal tool for $12 and that is what I use. The good think about the tool is that it fits many other connectors and I have used it on other electrical projects. It has paid for itself many times over. Jeff

Jeff You have all the cool tools!

Where can you get that pin removal tool????

Tool Pants, " I have both TSBs from Porsche on how to install the litronics, the old one and the new one." Does that mean that there is a litronics kit for 2002 and later 996 models? thanks.

There is no retrofit kit for the new style lights that came out in 2002 on the 996 and in 2001 on the turbo. I think Kirby and Loren are trying to figure out how to do it. The old and new TSBs are for the pre 2002 headlights. The new instructions say to solder the wires instead of crimping, and make note of wiring changes on the newer cars. The pin removal tool is made by Sir Tools #9701 and there are many places to buy it. I bought mine from Skyway Tools in Chico, California.

Tool Pants, Can you share your two TSBs on litronic installations with me. I'm considering doing the install but I want to make sure it isn't too difficult. Also, can anyone tell me where some of the better places (and prices) are to purchase the litronic retrofit kit? Thanks, Mark P.S. I know I can find the TSBs here at Renntech, but I'd really like to be able to print them out so that I can use them in the garage during install and have them to file afterwards.

get the xenons they are VERY worth it once you drive a xenon equipped car, normal halogens will seem stone age.

Moogle, I'm seeing postings that the kit comes with a transformer and wiring but many people don't bother to install that stuff, rather just plug n play the new lights. What does that not give you if the control unit isn't installed? I've also seen that the lights don't rotate when shifting between high/low beam... what does that mean and is it essential??? Thanks, Mark

mark: if you get the xenons installed from the factory, they will move up and down when switching from hibeam and low beam and also move up and down depending on road conditions (this is required by law in the EU) ive never heard of people retrofitting the litronics without the control unit, as most retrofit kits are sold with this with this type of install, one does not get the road autoleveling, but for the most part that is un-noticable. however, you still get the hi-low beam auto-level as well sa the self test when starting the car with the lights on. basically the reason for this is the litronics are rotated slightly higher into a different lens, that focuses the light in a different manner for the 'high-beams'. i would suggest installing the control unit, otherwise, you lose too much functionality and it may become hindering to performance. hope this clears things up.

Thanks for the good info. Be sure to post pics of your new Turbo S when you get it! Mark