Hello all,
I have been searching this forum and others to find an up-to-date answer to this question.
Since new items are released often, and companies are quickly trying to adapt
LED
technology for OEM replacement, I am unable to find a definitive and up to date answer.
What may have been available in 2015 may not be available anymore and may be vastly different/updated/improved.
I think a lot of people are looking for a
plug
& Play solution to go from halogen to
LED
(Either low Beam or both low/Hi)
If you guys can share links, Brand Names and model number for products that worked for you, I feel it will really help everyone in the same situation as me.
Thank you
Not an expert on this but I have been following with interest
LED
retrofits. Here are some observations:
any solution that just replaces the halogen bulb with an LED one (with or without a ballast) will not put out enough light to be useful. Just not gonna happen with any foreseeable technology.
if you notice the new cars with LED headlights have a large array of LED modules to address the above. However that would involve a major modification to the car's headlight projectors to accommodate the large array and correct the projection focus.
So I doubt there will ever be a retrofit for the 987 that doesn't involve replacing the H/L housings. This would be very expensive.
Although I am not looking for anything for the Porsches we own as they are all HID systems, I am continuing to evaluate (through research at this time, no purchases) a
LED
conversion for my 2015 Sierra 1500, it came with halogen lights in a projector housing.
This series of truck has an advantage in as there are a ton of them out there and therefore a lot of options, actually a dizzying array of choices. And although I don't have any first hand experience in a vehicle that I own with this type of conversion I am not sure that I would agree with RSchwerer that this is not a viable option, sure a factory designed system will likely be superior but the aftermarket folks are working hard at the bulb replacement strategy. The latest available systems are showing some real promise with extremely bright
LED
's and some unique cooling systems, and it is here that the factory has the real edge, they design their housing and cooling package to fit into the car where as after-market is trying to adapt to a non
LED
assembly.
For example we have all see the
LED
spar lights added after the fact to
Caymans
to replace the daytime running light, usually a simple strip of
LED
's in a plastic tube, the factory system is many times larger with purpose designed reflectors and a complete cast aluminum housing in back to dissipate the heat generated by the
LED
's
Where does that leave us for
headlights
, a simple add on
LED
bulb may not have quite the light output of a factory system, or I fear not near the longevity either, but may come close to the effect and results you are looking for. So depending on your goal and spending a few dollars that may be a bit if an experiment it may be worth the effort to see what could work.
I know that this is in the 987 section but I don't see a vehicle listed, so I don't have any suggestions because I don't know the exact bulb type you are trying to replace?
Believe me, I'd like to be proven wrong, but your post sure doesn't seem encouraging. Yes heat is an issue, but more than that is the problem of packing enough ultra-ultra bright
LEDs
into a small package that would fit into the stock H? socket in the HL enclosure, AND maintain the light projection profile needed by our projector lenses. Otherwise there will be bright glare diffused all over the place. As bad as those ricers in their Hondas.
I just finished an
LED
upgrade on my
987.1
and after some pitfalls found some
plug
and play brands that I liked.
I can tell you what not to buy for an
LED
.
-
LEDs
that have built in fans. Instead get passive cooling types
-
LEDs
that have seperate controller. Instead get a type that has everything built into one to be truly
plug
and play
-
LEDs
that aren't CANBUS safe. Instead get ones that have the necessary resistance to not trigger dash warnings.
For the low beams and high beams I went with these:
Porsche HID/LED Lighting
They just plain fit, just be sure you have the positive and negative wires correct or they won't light up. These have a nice OEM cut off for the light pattern.
For the side markers I have clear lens and didn't want amber colored bulbs when they are off, only when they are on do I want them amber, after going through a few brands the only ones that worked well, water tight, proper CANBUS safe resistance, excellent over packaging for shipment, and no problem actually fitting the housing were these:
https://www.amazon.com/Calais-Interior-Courtesy-License-Lights/dp/B01MFA3N8K
NOTE a 5W5 bulb is exactly the same as a 194. No dash warnings with these, but tons with other brands.
I can't tell you how many LED bulbs look unprofessional and not sealed or tested for proper resistance, its like some kid in China whipped up something on his soldering iron. The above actually are well made.
@toy4two
, how are your HeadlightExperts LED headlights working out for you? Still working?
Would also be interested in finding out how they're working out! Heavily considering picking up a set while they're on sale.
