13 captured repliesPartial discussion capture · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCH996.2 headlight retrofit & restoration
Leading reported evidence
Install with (4) retaining clips makes it very hard
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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
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
What makes things worse is that the way it is installed with (4) retaining clips makes it very hard to remove without destroying it.
Leading evidence: 'Install with (4) retaining clips makes it very hard' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Install with (4) retaining clips makes it very hard' (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.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
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
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
Trying to decide on having mine either rebuilt or replaced with used or new.
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 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
For the Turbo 996, the only solution at this point is to send in your lights so I can re-use the main connector plugs from your lights to build a new harness.
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
For the Turbo 996, the only solution at this point is to send in your lights so I can re-use the main connector plugs from your lights to build a new harness.
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.
13 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
6SpeedOnline: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
4 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
But that didn't solve the issue with the internal wiring harness with peeling insulation.
When I bought my 2002 996 Carrera in 2021, the headlights were in awful shape.
Not just the lenses, but more importantly the internal harnesses. Also, the light output was not great.
As I was researching what it would take to bring them back to near-new condition, I learned that many 996.2 owners struggled with the same issue.
Sadly, Porsche does not offer any spare parts for these lights, except the headlight washer. For many, the only option was to purchase a set of new OEM lights, which are incredibly expensive. Of course there's the option to get aftermarket lights, but frankly I don't like any of them and their quality is questionable at best.
Researching, first I "found" Retrofitlab of the Netherlands. They make projector upgrade kits for all 996 models. I ordered their kit for my litronic lights and was thoroughly impressed with the result. So much, that I became their US distributor for the Porsche kits!
But that didn't solve the issue with the internal wiring harness with peeling insulation. Now I’m fairly handy with wiring, so I decided to take on this project myself.
I’ll admit opening these lights without any prior experience was stressful knowing how much it would cost to replace them if I messed up! I found out that these harnesses have many specialty connectors that are very hard to find to say the least. I ended up re-using most of the connectors and soldered new wires in place. It was a tedious job, but it worked and I was very happy with the result.
As US folks started to contact me to order the RFL kits, I was often asked about a solution for the wiring issue. Building a replacement harness was not an option because of the main plug on the back of the housing. This is Hella part that has been discontinued. What makes things worse is that the way it is installed with (4) retaining clips makes it very hard to remove without destroying it.
Then someone approached me and asked if I could fix their harnesses if they sent me their headlights. I reluctantly agreed, and fixed the lights re-using the OEM connectors and soldering in new wires as I did on my own set.
Since then, I’ve spent a lot of time sourcing and I am now at the point that I can build the harness with almost exclusively new parts. The exception is, still, the pesky main plug.
When you do something enough times, you get pretty good at it, so this is now my new pastime. I have done almost a dozen headlight sets now.
If your headlights need some TLC, shoot me a PM and I’ll be happy to look at them! There is a way to get them to near-new condition without spending 5 grand for new lights!
--Adrian
When I bought my 2002 996 Carrera in 2021, the headlights were in awful shape.
Not just the lenses, but more importantly the internal harnesses. Also, the light output was not great.
As I was researching what it would take to bring them back to near-new condition, I learned that many 996.2 owners struggled with the same issue.
Sadly, Porsche does not offer any spare parts for these lights, except the headlight washer. For many, the only option was to purchase a set of new OEM lights, which are incredibly expensive. Of course there's the option to get aftermarket lights, but frankly I don't like any of them and their quality is questionable at best.
Researching, first I "found" Retrofitlab of the Netherlands. They make projector upgrade kits for all 996 models. I ordered their kit for my litronic lights and was thoroughly impressed with the result. So much, that I became their US distributor for the Porsche kits!
But that didn't solve the issue with the internal wiring harness with peeling insulation. Now I’m fairly handy with wiring, so I decided to take on this project myself.
I’ll admit opening these lights without any prior experience was stressful knowing how much it would cost to replace them if I messed up! I found out that these harnesses have many specialty connectors that are very hard to find to say the least. I ended up re-using most of the connectors and soldered new wires in place. It was a tedious job, but it worked and I was very happy with the result.
As US folks started to contact me to order the RFL kits, I was often asked about a solution for the wiring issue. Building a replacement harness was not an option because of the main plug on the back of the housing. This is Hella part that has been discontinued. What makes things worse is that the way it is installed with (4) retaining clips makes it very hard to remove without destroying it.
Then someone approached me and asked if I could fix their harnesses if they sent me their headlights. I reluctantly agreed, and fixed the lights re-using the OEM connectors and soldering in new wires as I did on my own set.
Since then, I’ve spent a lot of time sourcing and I am now at the point that I can build the harness with almost exclusively new parts. The exception is, still, the pesky main plug.
When you do something enough times, you get pretty good at it, so this is now my new pastime. I have done almost a dozen headlight sets now.
If your headlights need some TLC, shoot me a PM and I’ll be happy to look at them! There is a way to get them to near-new condition without spending 5 grand for new lights!
--Adrian
I think my reflectors on my 2002 996 Carrera 4 are also in poor shape.
I purchased the Retrofit kit from the Netherlands, but was surprised that the instructions are not very detailed.
Also found that the wires have deteriorated.
I became reluctant and have had the kit sitting in my closet for the last 6 months.
Anybody seen more detailed video's of the install?
Quote:
Hi, as posted earlier in this thread, I'm the US distributor for Retrofitlab, specialized in Porsche 996.
Since you mention the wires in your lights have deteriorated, I don't charge installation labor for the Retrofitlab kit if done in combination with my harness replacement service.
So if you are interested, you can send me your lights and the RFL kit and I can get them completely upgraded and good as new!
www.PorscheRetrofits.com
For the Turbo 996, the only solution at this point is to send in your lights so I can re-use the main connector plugs from your lights to build a new harness.
I am looking into having that connector made, but it appears to be expensive as it would have to be reverse engineered.
