By any chance do you remember if at all how hard it was to put the headlight apart for this and after so if you had any problems with the sealing of the headlight against water?

 

just have them professionally taped and painted.

looks just as good/better and is way simpler/cheaper.

 

these items have been found in a local tuner here in greece which fits precicely on the 996 head lights and looks like 997.

note that in the photos the items are simply placed on top of the headlights, sit properly following the curvature of the headlights without any glue and yet not painted.

note2: the car IS NOT PHOTOSHOP picture. The items are real

i will keep you updated next week when the items will be painted and the final fit is completed

 

What about getting vinyl cut to fit on the headlights like the above post instead? I would think it would be very cost effective and you could have the foglight cutout or not have it cut out. You could also cut through for the washers and get the chrome piece wrapped as well. Does anyone know a company that makes something like that? I have a company that would be willing to do it, but they are in San Diego and I am in NY! I haven't really pursued it since the distance was too much, but if someone from San Diego would want them to try it on their car, maybe they will make a kit for others?

 

I originally was going to do this - except the vinyl guys here in san diego (by the way, a lot of guys do this kind of work, its the same clear bra/vinyl/wrap market) were concerned that the heat from the lights may melt the vinyl over time.

So they taped off the lights and suggested we spray and clearcoat. came out looking great!

 

Yeah, the paint really looks great, i'm just worried about making a permanent modification to my car. I'd hate to kill the resale more than it is in narrowing down the field of buyers with the mods on the car.

I might have to find a local vinyl guy that can do this for me and see how it comes out. Does anyone know a reputable vinyl guy in NY (specifically Long Island)?

 

I'm guessing I'm not the only one that thought it would be cool to lose the headlight washer, so I did that to the left side of the pic, and the right side is the pshop version of 'what if it were painted.'

 

first of all i think the mod. with vinyl idea it look very cheap
and dont forget that we have a porsche and dont something else.
then i really dont like the techart headlights cover because in mine
opinion always gives to the car a look that dont remember me a
porsche but something else
i still prefer mine cover lights because for 350e and not a hole fortune and modifications you get a 997 and 998 look.
dont forget that you can always open a hole for the washer and also if you want to reback
at the 996 look you can find a cheap second hand per of head lighits and
put them on the car whenever you want

 

All this is fine for a dark car IMHO.
I have seen no acceptable mod for a light colored car.......yet.

 

Well, i'd prefer to give it a shot with vinyl and then if I do like it and decide to keep it permanent (and the vinyl looks bad which I doubt), I could always paint it.

Plenty of high end cars with Vinyl on them!

 

Agreed...I really like what was done with the slate colored car...with the paint under the headlight itself...was curious about the same things though, sealing, condensation, fading over time, cost to get this done etc..etc..

anyone with experience in this method of the "headlight mod" please chyme in

 

Great thread!!!

I put the techart headlight masks and painted the washer caps.
Decided to leave the fog light opening and by adding the new "997 GT2 bumper it looks like more of a mix between 996 and 997 thus getting the best of both worlds... well at least that's what I tell myself to justify the $$$


Oh yeah and by using chromed blinker bulbs you can get rid of any trace of amber, helps to cleanup the look.

Cheers!

 

Sid that's a very clean and modern look...well done!

 

Couldnt you just remove the bulb or would that fire an error.....no bulb, no heat.

 

I guess you could but then you would not have working headlights. I keed I keed -

the vinyl guys did a bunch of lights but then had to deal with ppl coming back complaining bc the vinyl melted - so they were putting vinyl over the entire headlight.

I dont know whether the pattern would be too thin to reliably employ. You should ask your vinyl guys. Personally, I love the painted look as it is indistinct from painted fender/bumper material. The TA covers are nice too, but IMO they are a bit thick and change the contour, as well as show through the 90s-style plastic edges of the light housing.