Porsche 996 Mk1 Headlight Conversion Covers

Hi All, A couple years back, I developed a set of headlight covers for the Porsche 996 mk2 that were pretty well received by the group here (you may remember me by username AndrewK996). I had a lot of requests to design a version for the 996 mk1 and spent the last year developing a new version. After tons of prototypes, design changes, and manufacturing challenges I'm finally at a point where I can share the finished product to this group. Like the 1st version I did for the 996 mk2, this is an all-original design that was created working with an automotive industry 3D designer referencing a 3D scan of the original headlight to ensure optimal fitment. I learned a few lessons from the mk2 design and made improvements to this one that make them look more convincing and easier to paint. The inspiration for the cover shape was the 993 headlights with the indicator cut out shape influenced by the 964 pill shaped turn signals. The headlight covers fit all 1999-2001 Porsche 911 (996 Mk1) models (excluding the Turbo) and 1996-2004 Porsche Boxster (986) models and are made of high quality polyurethane (the same material as car bumpers). They do cover over the fog lights, however the turn signals remain visible through the oval cutout. Cars with headlight washers will have to remove them for proper fitment. The price of the covers are $425 (shipping included) and for a limited time you can use code "RENNLIST" for $25 off. They will also be sold through Pelican Parts in the near future, similar to the mk2 version. For information on purchasing, please visit www.varielautomotive.com I look forward to hearing your feedback and another healthy debate on 996 headlights Cheers, Andrew

Those look really nice Andrew. And yes, I do remember you.

My 996.1 had TechArt ones when I bought it. Not a fan but to each their own.

Hey Andrew, it�s Mark from Vegas. Nice site man, glad product is up!

Wow....that is really beautifully done...blows away any other of the competing products. I like the look of the original headlights on my .1 (because of gt1 heritage) however I may buy one of these to try it out for a bit . Again really nice work and a great update. I look forward to seeing in other colors.

Hey Andrew, for those that need to cover, I think you've nailed the design as best you could without relocating turn signals. Oh and Mark from Vegas sent me

@TexSquirrel car is still looking great! Thanks for the support @alegrianyc Thanks Mark, hope all is well! @lowpue wow, that's quite a garage you have there. I'll definitely post some more pics to this thread as I get them in from friends/customers @Dr_Strangelove love your car, especially the techart wheels, super rare color too.

Hey Andrew. I own the car that I assume you once owned complete with those great looking headlight covers you designed. The look was part of reason why I chose to purchase this particular 996.2. Cheers!

I have your covers on my '02 C2 and love them. Get many compliments. Think I got a set from your first batch. These look excellently crafted. If someone wanted to relocate the directionals down into the grill might you at some point offer these without the blinker slots?

Quotes source post: 16299243

That's a great idea IMO.

These turned out great. It's about time someone made a good looking headlight cover.

Any pictures on a light-colored car?

@ninelevenick Wow! great to hear the car found a good owner. I really miss that car, particularly the color which can almost look purple in some lights and the fister D exhaust. As the previous owner may have told you, I maintained the car religiously so hopefully the mechanicals are still rock solid. Thanks for posting a pic! @Southern Man Thanks for the compliment. That's a good suggestion and I posted a picture below of a solution which is a "plug" I created to fit flush into the blinker cutout. It will probably require someone to glue in and then do some light sanding/bondo work if they want it perfectly flush and seamless but at least should make the job a lot easier than without the plug. On a side note, if you are an MK1 owner who wants a version of this cover with no headlight cutout from the start, please comment or PM me so I can see whether there is enough demand to warrant a new product. @Capt. Obvious Thanks for the complements! @dkraige I just started selling these a week ago so I don't have any pics yet, but I will post when I get some

Nicely done! I'd like to know more about the painting process. On the MK1 covers illustrated above it looks like there is chrome and black paint applied? Mike

Andrew, thank you for maintaining your old 996 to a high level! The guy I bought it from didn't hold onto it long. He decided a manual transmission was not ideal for LA traffic. I brought it up to Norcal. I've done a few mods to it, but the first thing I did was remove that smart phone holder that adhered to the windshield Interesting you mention Fister D exhaust because the exhaust was stock when I bought it. I soon had a muffler shop do the Gundo hack. Anyway, it is fun to reach out to past owners. You are a true entbusiast, and your headlight mods offer this community something that keeps our hobby fun. Okay, enough of me taking up bandwidth on your thread. Cheers.

@Rdrcr the covers are sandblasted and prepped for painting. Any bodyshop should be able to paint them. Being a polyurethane part (same as a car bumper), I understand it's standard practice to use a spray-on adhesion promoter. On the mk1 covers in the pictures the body portion is painted black and the bezel is painted seal grey. I've also seen Nardo Grey used. @ninelevenick Thanks for the complements. Good to hear the car is doing well. Funny that the previous owner took off the exhaust as that is the one mod I think everyone agrees on. He was a little picky about certain things and took off the wheel spacers as well. Fun fact for you, at the time I put on the 40th anniversary/4s bumper, I was planning on keeping the car forever so I bought everything new. There was a special part needed to attach the 4s bumper properly that was only on the 996 40th anniversary model and had to be ordered from Germany--i think it was called an "air baffle inlet". As you can imagine, it was pretty pricey. Most people hack together a solution with metal fasteners but I bought that part as well! So you can be pretty confident that your bumper isn't going to fall off at speed. Happy to answer other questions about the car over PM.

Interested in a painted set. My COA/PPS says my 2000 is Black/A1. My under hood sticker has L741 AG. Your color option drop down shows a 041. Are they all one and the same?

@su8pack1 It looks like it is also black but to be on the safe side please select "other" from the drop down menu and input the color code in the shipping notes or email [email removed] Cheers, Andrew

Very interested........nice work! How are these installed? Thank you

Quotes source post: 16319561

Order placed, email sent. Thanks, they look great.

yes terrific look....! few questions...will get my car delivered this week I don't rightly remember the configuration. there is a disk for washer-can that be just eliminated? not sure I have a washer or just a disc. and I was wondering are the fog lights beneath the headlight cover, in the structure. covering them is fine. I do like the cut out as i have a 964 too. the cut out is the directional correct? I noticed that the rings on all the pics are not painted in with the color of the car but something different - does this add a better look? Very interested in purchasing and do hope you have them available. Thanks, Fran Deleo [email removed] or call/text [phone removed] any time i live in New England

If you have a 2002-2004 (MK2) 996 and they have the chrome washers, the washers will need to be removed. Headlight washers can be removed by pushing the right stalk next to the steering wheel forward and having someone catch them when they come up. They pop off easily. You can then deactivate the washers by pulling the corresponding fuse in the fuse box. The headlight covers will cover over the washer hole completely. The washer hole itself is already sealed so you do not need to be concerned about water getting into the headlights. Yes, foglights are under the cover and will be covered up if you have a 996 MK2. The turn signal cutouts are only for MK1 cars (1999-2001). On MK2 cars the turn signal is integrated into the main circular headlight unit and are not covered up. Please visit varielautomotive.com for more info. Cheers, Andrew

These look nice, how much for the ones without the turn signal cut out? I put some projectors with integrated turn signals on my mk1 and I don't need the small holes

@Rickylandaverry there aren't versions without the turn signal cut outs but varielautomotive.com does sell plugs to cover over the holes. Will take some glue and sanding to look completely flush but it's easier than starting with filler from scratch.

Quotes source post: 16820577

Embrace the "fried eggs". Not a fan of cosmetic surgery. Fight peer pressure.