For the many people who didn't get litronics on their 993s, have you tried any aftermarket HID kits? A few on Rennlist say that the aftermarket HIDs are great. Have any of you done it? If so, which brand did you go with and how do you like it?

I hate the look of artificial, bright-white or purplish aftermarket HIDs that I see on ricers and I'd want to avoid that look.

 

I am a Rennlister and I installed some aftermarket HIDs on my '96 C4S. They are great and an inexpensive mod. They are a vast improvement over the stock set-up for sure.

I went with a 4300K bulb set, which is bright white bulb color. You can choose different colors, depending on your tastes. I got a set from pilothid.com, and a 5-year extended warranty added (includes replacement bulbs, which are not cheap) for $275 or so. Very happy I did it.

Not affiliated with the company in any way, just a satisfied customer.

Good luck!

 

Thanks GB. I just spent 30 minutes reading up on threads over at RL, and I feel like I have a handle on what I need.

 

The price of the kits has really come down, I paid about $120 for the kit I installed on the 993 (extensieve install thread on RL) and just about a month ago got a similar kit for under $50 for our 08 Sienna. I also went with the 4300K bulbs, very white, and not ricer looking at all. one of hte best value mods for any car.

 

KIka, where did you buy a $50 kit?

 

http://stores.ebay.com/wholesale-hid...2BSI%26otn%3D4

my only comment is the bracket that came with the kit was kind of flimsy, so I went to the HW store and got some angle brackets and made another one that is a bit more stout. GL

 

KIKA - thanks. My research shows that for the 993, you need the slim H1 bulb, right? People are split on 4300 vs 6000K bulbs.

 

Go with 6000k

 

I don't know if there is such a thing as "slim" H1 bulb, vs a regular one. I ordered the H1, and I had to file the bulb opening slightly so the bulb would fit. I held the bucket upside down so the shavings didn't go inside. oddly, I only had to shave one of the buckets, the other one fit.

I don't know if one can really see the difference betwee 4300 and 6000. 4300 has a slightly higher lumen output, which is why I went with them, but they are so bright, I doubt it makes much difference. I have heard that 6000 is closer to the factory color.
either color will be fine. As temp increases, they will become blue in color.

 

Kika - if you had to do it again, would you go with the $65 HIDs or with the ones you ended up buying for your 993. I assume they all fit pretty much the same? Did you consider whether one brand of bulbs is better than another (e.g. Philips vs. generic)?

 

Both are about the same, I think the cost differntial is more representative of how technology and manufacturing are reducing the cost of bringing the item to market than quality difference. I bought the $120 units over a year ago, and the $50 ones last month. The ballasts are all made in china, as are the factory Porsche Litronic ballasts incidentally. I don't know where the bulbs are made, but how often do you replace headlight bulbs? for $50, I will just buy new ones, and at this rate, by the time I need to replace them, they will be <$20. The only difference is that the ones I got recently were 9006 bulbs and the ones for the 993 are H1s.

I would go with either kit again, since the factory Litronics are ~$2K, I can go thorough 10-20 kits begore I equal the cost of one factory set. It came down to the math.

 

Can't argue with that logic, and that assumes that the factory litronic bulbs are so special that they will last a lifetime...

Man, I hope I get the 993 soon. I have a list of 10 mods ready to go as soon as I get it. With the one I'm negotiations over, I'm just worried about overpaying for it since it has 75K miles. No 75-100K mile car is a true "collectable." I will probably post on Rennlist to see if anybody in a financial pinch wants to get rid of their mint 993 C2S. Ideally, I'd find somebody who's tastefully modded a really nice, low mileage example....


-Bobby

 

I wish you luck, but since you are focusing on the C2S, you will need to be patient, there just aren't that many C2Ss compared to C2s.

 

Well Bobby, though it's true that a 993 with 75K is not as collectible as a lower mile one, as time goes by that becomes less of an issue. Case in point: no one asks how many miles are on a 1955 Porsche Speedster or a 1963 Mercedes 300SL. Now, I know those cars are among the most collectible on the planet, but my point is that all 993's are now about 10 years old or more. As time goes by, mileage becomes less important than the condition of the car.

 

Goof - here's the $$$ question.

Do you buy a 75K mile car that is solid all around (brakes, tires, serviced, etc.) but which will likely need a top end rebuild at 100-125K miles (right?) for around $40-43K?

Or do you buy a 30-45K mile car that is equally solid, properly serviced, with fewer miles on the clutch, and naturally, less wear on the paint and interior, that won't need a rebuild for another 50-75K miles, for around $55K?

This assumes that I have like-optioned models that are readily available to me (which I don't).

The one I like has other mods that I appreciate, plus it's a great color. Emotion is getting me, but logic is telling me that the latter category is the better buy and quasi-investment, even though it's about $10K more at the outset. This is worthy of its own thread on RL! (I can't post there for some reason)

-Bobby