Need opinions on my next move. Xenons.

Called Suncoast Porsche to get an estimate on the HID retrofit. There isn't one. He said I'd be looking at close to 5k to replace the entire thing. This includes the lights, control units, wiring and all other sorts of stuff. I need to tell Jeremy at Bent Tree something. But $5000. I don't think I can expect that. I want to be realistic. Now, If I DO have to sue them, I will sue for the Max in small claims, $5k. Maybe I should just ask for half of the cost, and I'll just pocket it, or decide to spend the money and do it...or sometihng? Suggestions please!! Thanks.

Why start negotiating down low? Start higher...let them try to bring you down. Ask for the whole $5k. Remember, you are in the right. You should not start out by showing a weak hand. JMHO.

I would just move on, and start enjoying the car. Litigation, especially in small claims court, will be more trouble than it is worth...and in my opinion, detract from the overall joy having your car.

Xenon is not the *only* thing missed on your car, right? added up you are looking at a bigger number than 5K sorry i mistook the xenon as the direct swap in 99-01 996s. u don't have many options. either live with the car, or send it back to them. i don't think they will give you even the half. after all, they don't make that much on your car.

Its just not fair that they listed the options and I bought the car accordingly. I think small claims court would be worth it if I score 5 THOUSAND dollars.

can't they just take it back?

Kick yourself, headbutt the wall, chalk it up to experience and move on.

"Litigation, especially in small claims court" <- have you done one!? It is NOT THAT BAD....

Not legal advice, but I believe that if the seller mispresented the car as having the lights, your claim is not the amount which it would cost to install the lights. It is the reduced market value compared to a car with the lights. From looking at Edmunds, it appears that the lights add $450 used car retail. I notice in Edmunds that there was not a option for Xenons for the 2002 4S, so it might be part of a package. You might be missing other stuff, perhaps worth more (but probably still not a lot).

Correct... Plus I seem to recall that the dealership is out of state, so it is unlikely that a local court would even have jusrisdiction over the seller (unless they are registered to do business in arrOgant's state, or there is some other basis not otherwise apparent to me). What's more, a small claims court judge is not going to be very sympathetic to a plaintiff buying a used car (particular a Porsche) which was purchased AS IS WHERE IS where the buyer obviously made a due diligence error, despite how the car was advertised. (The likelihood of the court even appreciating the difference between xenons and regular lights is slim in my opinion). I'd put this in the rear view if I were you and enjoy what's left of the summer rather than fretting over it.

Let's just say I have some experience in the field... If you like spending hours of your time to (potentially) recover a pitance, I suppose it's Ok...but I think there are more productive ways to spend one's time. How many significant executives or people with responsibility spend their days messing around in small claims court? The litigants you see there (think "People's Court") tells you all you need to know.

I'm glad to see others chiming in with the advice to let this go. Really, if you're like me, then you put a high value on your time. The time/reward balance on this is not worth it. There is a learning here that you have to pay attention when buying a car (or anything for that matter!). Take it and move on. When you're going to look at a car, plan on being there as long as it takes - spend AT LEAST 90 minutes per car, inspect every inch, photograph everything, including the underside. Be systematic... panel by panel, don't be random... inspect paintwork, inspect electrical systems, inspect mechanical systems, do it all in order. Inspect it like every single minute scratch is important to you. If you don't pay attention to details, then they will (and did) come back and bite you in the ***.

How did you find $450 at Edmunds?

Ok, im just gonna ask for $450 and be done. It was their mistake and they shoudl at least pay that.

come on....5K for lights and wiring??? I converted my 99 into a 02 with litronix etc.....the wiring harness new cost for the left side 450 and for the right side a little less of more....total about 850....new at dealer.... the litronix go on ebay for 250 per light to 1000 for the set...so total wiringharness and all would be under 2K! You probably already got the the right wiring in your P and jsut have to pop out the old light and pop in the new lights...this takes seriously 5 seconds...there is one movement you have to make per light and the whole light comes out!! So tell them to give you a grand and buy the litronix......and put them in yourself!! I did it and if I can you can!!! And start driving that F-ing car.......and they should give you a 1K for you to buy the lights!!!

I used the Used Car Appraiser for a 2002 coupe: http://www.edmunds.com/used/2002/por...1/options.html I selected the Xenons as the only option. As I mentioned, it did not show up as an option for the C4S, so it might be part of a package that is worth more.

I think you should just move on and enjoy the car. If you could can $450 great, if not, move pn. I don't think you have a case. Bent Tree can just say that it was a misprint in the ad. You admit they didn't try to mislead you, they believed it had Xenons. I don't think you have a case because you picked up the car in person. I'm no attorney but the law is "Buyer Beware" maybe you would have a case if you bought the car over the phone and did not see it until it was delivered to your home. But if you saw the car in person when you bought it, it would be up to you to notice the mistake before handing over a check. You have a great car, enjoy it, after what you went through with the first C4S, I wouldn't worry about the Xenons. Have fun and start driving.

Nope, 2002 to 2004 have no retrofit. Brand new, at the porsche dealer, the lights are $2k a piece. On ebay, I found a pair in a junkyard, prolly damaged for over $800 a piece.

What does "prolly" mean? Enjoy the car. Be happy that Carfax does not show a naval decommissioning date.... Andreas

Prolly = short for Probably. "probably damaged" or badly scuffed.

Once again, i treasure the great advice I get here....and once again, I will follow it. I am going to start at $600+ and see what they do. If I get nothing, I will still be satisfied. THanks guys!! Gant

At my advanced age of 37, I am way out of touch with today's street lingo. Good luck with the lights. Andreas

Prolly is old... I was using it at least 15 years ago. Gant, glad to hear that you're taking the right attitude on this. If you get something, that's great, if not, just enjoy the ride of the new car.

There is no retrofit directly from porsche but that does not mean you cannot put xenons on your non-litronic car. Sunset is out of their mind to estimate $5k. It doesn't come close to that. Just buy the lights (under 1000 for a set MAX, I have a set sitting in my living room actually) and the wiring harnesses and then you will be done... Its really not as complicated as it may seem

Ok great. Who do I call? Anyone??

I have Litronics in my 996, but I put a set of retrofitted HID bulbs into my Lexus GX470 and bought a kit from here http://www.xenondepot.com/category.php?category_id=3 Install is very easy, and since the headlights in the GX470 were already projector types, the beam from the HID retrofit looks as good as the ones in my 996. You basically get a kit where they've made (I believe H7 for non-litronic 996?) HID bulbs that fit into the existing OEM headlight housing. Then there is an ignitor/ballast for each of the bulbs, a relay switch to connect to the OEM lights for juice, then the main harness will connect to the battery (where the ballast and ignitor gets the electricity). Like I said, its an easy install, and work pretty darn good. Only thing its missing is the auto-leveling, so technically its illegal, but I've never had a problem in the GX470 passing inspection. Let me know if you have any questions......Will

Ok, this seems too good too be true. Is it really this easy? Is there ANYBODY that anyone knows of anyone that has tried these in any 2002+ NON HID's?

they honestly just slide in the non litronix slots.....no need for a retro fit.....I put them in my 99 after convertion....simple.....you might have to wait a little for the right ebay offer! Don't pay 2-5K...noboddy can tell the difference...maybe only when you turn them on......spend the money on other mods...but than again you got a C4S and that one must be pretty complete!! DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE!!!

The reason why XenonDepot was attractive to me was that they used genuine Phillips bulbs and ballast - some of the stuff on Ebay is of not great quality....you get what you pay for when it comes to these bulbs/ballasts!! And it really is that easy - can't talk specifically for the 996's, but on the Lexus forums everyone complains about a $50K car not having HID headlights, and there are a ton of folks who have done this upgrade with no issues/complaints...

It is sort of that easy. The reason OEM stuff is expensive is that the lights move vertically so that, for example, you go over a bump, they move down so you don't shine bright light into an opposing driver's eyes. These easy retrofits are relatively inexpensive because they do not have this feature. Xenons are much brighter. I can see why they require the vertical ajustment.

why dont you start with a board sponsor... Eli at pelican will sort you out. As we said above, you should buy your lights used to save the most money. Then purchase the harnesses, etc. from eli.

Final answer from Bent Tree Sports. Im not really happy with it. but...I'll accept it. I guess... Bent Tree: The Bose and the Lumber were both addressed before you bought the car, so there is no reason to discuss those now..As for the lights Gant, mistakes happen, but you bought the car at a very good price..We could have gotten that amount for the car with or without the Xenons...We are sorry for the mistake but have can not discount the car any more than we have. The $650 we paid for tires was more than generous since we could have just bought you some good used tires for about $50 a piece to match the ones in the front..Good luck..

well said.

I will agree with them about the price Gant. I know I got ripped because I discovered Rennlist AFTER I bought my Porsche. I paid 51k for an '01 C2 cab with a long options list. The car had only 13k miles on it, and runs like a dream, but I relied on Edmunds and KBB values, which we all know don't reflect true market value. If they bought you new rubber, and the car is giving you great joy, I'd just move on. My indy mechanic told me as much, when I kept whining that I should have paid 6-7k less. Anyway, ymmv.