RHD to LHD lights

Can someone please tell me if the headlights on a 996, '98 model can be changed/replaced with LHD headlights, or do I need to replace the entire unit, indicators, parking lights etc??

They are generally considered a complete unit (although individual components may be swapped out, where are the LHD internals coming from if not from a complete LHD assembly :? ). Almost all swap-outs are non-trivial and may require significant dismantling of the casing. This may include "cooking" the assembly to split the front lens from the shell. Generally considered uneconomic.

I put some lhd litronics in my rhd car. After a couple of adjustments all was fine and passed MOT. Drag and drop on a 996.1

Don't you just change the switch over on the rear of the unit to 't' or something. It's in the manual... You can turn RHD to LHD and RHD to LHD by this method surely... For traveling from your native RHD (or LHD) home country. Have a read of this... http://www.911uk.com/viewtopic.php?...order=asc&highlight=france+headlight&start=10

I am not sure I understood your original question, it sounded like you wanted to change the main headlight assembly inside a headlamp unit (as you discussed this relative to the "entire" unit incorporating indicators, parking lights etc). The units as a whole are plug-and-play from LHD to RHD or halogen to xenon, or vice versa. The "Tourist" setting is not a handed conversion, it just shutters the beam kick-up (and is only available on the xenon or projector lens equipped models). See here for "shuttering" details. http://www.911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=61006 996.1: http://www.911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=58068 996.2 http://www.911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=60550

Surely that's all you need to do though. I may be missing something but isn't the only difference between LHD and RHD units just the angle of light 'throw' which you can change via the rear anyway? Could be wrong though... :dont know:

"shuttering" is to flatten the beam kick-up, so it neither favours LHD nor RHD (and therefore doesn't blind the "wrong-handside"). This is not the same as flipping the kick-up to the mirror image (although new Audi and MB can do this, 996 and 997 can't).

OK, maybe I need to be a little more specific. Firstly I had no idea there was "T" mode on the lamps, but for my needs that I am sure will not be OK in the Germans eyes. I bought a RHD car which I now use here in Germany with the possible future of taking the car back to Australia in a few years should the car prove to be a gem. The Germans will require LHD lamps to pass TUV, (German MOT equivalent) I am sure the Germans will not pass the "T" mode as acceptable. I just don't want to spend 700 Euros on changing out lights right now and was hoping a high/low beam unit only maybe installed as an alternative, and preferably upgrade to the better "litronics" type. Does a High/Low beam unit exist in Litronics to replace the current RHD Xenon as rajkumar911 suggests? And if yes, do the newer Litronics need any fuse wiring upgrading? And just a quick note, I have been a previous 3.2 owner for 6 years and relied heavily on Pelican parts forums for advice. There 996 forum is about as helpful as sedative at my own funeral, this forum on 911Uk is ACTIVE!!! Thanks for your help so far. Bez

Ah, so you did mean can you change the innards, still uneconomic, if even possible. "T" for Tourist will not do, it won't pass a UK MOT, let alone the far more stringent TuV tests. You will have to swap out units if you have the car permanently stationed in Germany (ie not just visiting and subject to TuV etc). I do not know enough about TuV rules on Litronics (xenons) to know if you can get away with the Plug-and-Play allowed in the UK. Here we do not require levellers or washers if fitted after-market. I do not expect TuV to be so lenient. Just buy a second set of LHD halogens, either keeping your old RHD for if and when you return to Blighty, or just eBay your old ones now and do the opposite if you ever come back.

I hear you, just suck it up and stop faffing about! Buy another set in LHD Halogen mode and be done with it! Cheers, BEz

Is this for BFG (British Army Germany) purposes?? If so I'm about to undertake the same ordeal - or maybe just hide it in the garage?!

No Nick, it's not an army gig I have over here. I met a girl on holidays in Bali and the rest is history! I think as an army guy you get some form of dispensation from the Germans, check it out with your local authorities, but it's something to do with your "tour of duty" length of assignment. Also, things here in Germany have changed since last October, apparently now all fines UK registered cars gather while on German territory will be sent to the UK... This is a new system and has taken all incentive to retain UK plates here in Germany anymore.

Paul, Thanks for that i'll bear it in mind when utilising the Autobahn to it's fullest

Hi Guys, Possibly a thread steal as I refer to lhd to rhd headlight conversions. I'm feeling that I'm missing a point on this one in as much as there seems to be a consensus (not just from this thread) that using the 'tourist' setting shutters the beam to avoid blinding oncoming traffic and satisfies most MOT testers. However, is there a legal requirement for a lhd car used on the UK roads to have rhd headlamps fitted? In the case of Litronic lamp fitted cars, swapping these units will cost circa £4k in new parts alone. The policing of this matter is an MOT issue but if the examiner is satified that the beam is within range, the ticket is issued. Does anyone have a clear definition of the legal requirements under these circumstances? Cheers, Keith

Get used LHD complete headlight units from German eBay. If there is a cost constraint - sell your RHD ones on UK eBay to recoup the spend (if not just keep them).