H6W Litronic Parking Lights Led Replacement Update

phaphaphooey · 12-19-2007, 01:50 AM

I posted a thread a few weeks ago inquiring about certain topics pertaining to replacing the burnt out H6W bulbs in my litronic headlights with leds. Based on the comments posted in the thread, I made the jump and ordered a pair from www.42draftdesigns.com and I am very pleased. I opted for newer high output versions of the Bax9s led bulb that they recently began selling. The total for both shipped was $16, and for about the same price as I would have paid for replacement bulbs from Porsche, I am very pleased. Now we will see if they last the "life of the car" as promised.....

Included are two quick camera phone shots after I finished the install. Quality is poor, but it gives you a general idea of color and brightness.

AutoEuropeCars · 12-19-2007, 03:50 AM

Looks good.
Those are the parking lights? They look like the headlights...tempted to buy a pair

phaphaphooey · 12-19-2007, 04:43 AM

Yes, those are the H6W parking/driving lights on a litronic headlight assembly. My stockers just burnt out and the options are basically to go Led for 8 bucks for 2 regular Leds or 16 for the brighter ones, buy stock replacements from Porsche for approximately 15 bucks (I think), or pay 30 bucks to have blue bulbs (Phillips Bluevision) shipped from Europe. It seems that this bulb configuration is quite rare in the U.S.

The color matches the Xenon headlights quite well, but the photo makes the lights appear brighter than they are. I would say they are about as bright, if not a little bit less bright, than the stock halogen parking lights. In the pictures above they look blindingly bright, which isn't the case in real life.

mickey6 · 12-19-2007, 10:12 AM

I have the same and can say for sure they look great. They are not too bright but not too dim either. Just perfect.

nycebo · 12-19-2007, 11:54 AM

Those look fantastic. Very nice option to consider.

RF5BPilot · 12-19-2007, 11:59 AM

I didn't see H6W actually listed in the LED products, which LED did you buy?

gota911 · 12-19-2007, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RF5BPilot

I didn't see H6W actually listed in the LED products, which LED did you buy?

He listed in the first post that he bought the High Intensity Bax9s bulbs.

Here is a link to the site and the LED. 42 Draft Designs

phaphaphooey · 12-19-2007, 01:23 PM

Thanks for the compliment Edward, they do look much better than the stock halogen lights and were definitely a good upgrade for $16. Tim is correct, the H6W bulbs that Porsche lists in the manual have a Bax9s base so the push-turn Bax9s bulbs have the same physical dimensions as the stock bulbs. For anyone that is going to order, check out the specials page on the site before you do. Through the end of December they are running 15% (I believe) off on all their Leds, only adds up to a buck or two but I will take any discount.

nycebo · 12-19-2007, 02:43 PM

By the way, out of curiosity, what are the city lights for. Did a search on the forum and the web and while everyone acknowledges them, nobody really describes what purpose the fulfill. Basically, I never really did understand their purpose 'under' the headlights. Incidentally, I don't remember having city lights on my 1998 BMW or 1992 VW. Maybe it's a newer model addition?

wwest · 12-19-2007, 03:33 PM

Not to rain on anyone's parade but bright "high" wattage LEDs REQUIRE adequate heat sinks and those look like they might allow the LED to last maybe a year of so. The is NO air circulation within the headlight assembly and the HB halogen plus the HID will make things a little WARM on their own.

The LED's themselves generally drop no more than 4 volts so a resistor must be used to reduce the 12-14 volts. That resistor is obviously mounted in the base thereby contributing to the overall HEATING level which MUST be "wicked" away if the LED is to have its forecasted long life.

You might want to find a way (relay??) to turn off the DRLs with the LB and/or HB on.

judd944 · 12-19-2007, 04:26 PM

I have one of my driving lights out now. maybe I will upgrade.

Quote:

You might want to find a way (relay??) to turn off the DRLs with the LB and/or HB on.

Does it stay on with the xenon headlight on? I will check that tonight. It seems silly if it does.

blinkwatt · 12-19-2007, 04:38 PM

What is the wattage of the OEM and you replacement bulb?

judd944 · 12-19-2007, 10:53 PM

I checked, the running light stays on with the xenon light. strange, seems redundant.

phaphaphooey · 12-21-2007, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwest

Not to rain on anyone's parade but bright "high" wattage LEDs REQUIRE adequate heat sinks and those look like they might allow the LED to last maybe a year of so. The is NO air circulation within the headlight assembly and the HB halogen plus the HID will make things a little WARM on their own.

The LED's themselves generally drop no more than 4 volts so a resistor must be used to reduce the 12-14 volts. That resistor is obviously mounted in the base thereby contributing to the overall HEATING level which MUST be "wicked" away if the LED is to have its forecasted long life.

You might want to find a way (relay??) to turn off the DRLs with the LB and/or HB on.

I specifically asked the company before I bought the lights about the necessity of a heatsink per your previous posts. They replied and assured me that their leds are entirely plug and play and that no heatsinks need be used. I made sure that they understood that it would be used in a headlight assembly with no air circulation. They further assured me that if the lights were to burn out soon, they would replace them at no cost. They don't seem to put out much heat, and with xenon bulbs not putting out as much heat as traditional halogen lights, I wouldn't think that it would get terribly hot in there if just the low beam and city light were on. We will see what happens.

phaphaphooey · 12-21-2007, 08:50 PM

As far as the purpose, I believe they are required for european cars and serve as daytime running lights in canada. I may be totally off in that regard but I remember reading something about that. They don't really serve a specific purpose in the U.S.

12-19-2007, 11:54 AM	#5
nycebo Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,751	Those look fantastic. Very nice option to consider. __________________ Edward The Garage: -2000 Porsche 911 Cabriolet (Polar Silver / Metropol Blue) / Aerokit I (Front Spoiler / Side Skirts / GT Rear Side Trims) / Clear Side Markers / RoW M030 Sport Suspension / 5mm Wheel Spacers / Short Shifter / BMC Air Filter / RSS Intake Plenum / Ruf Exhaust Muffler / Farnbacher Loles ECU tuning / Bridgestone Potenza RE050A / SmartTOP -1998 BMW R1200C (Black) -1994 Honda CBR600F2 (White/Black/Red) -2010 Triumph Speed Triple 15th Anniversary Special Edition (Black)

12-19-2007, 11:59 AM	#6
RF5BPilot Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mercer Island, WA Posts: 559	I didn't see H6W actually listed in the LED products, which LED did you buy? __________________ '03 996 Cab; Escort SRX, PSE. Prev. '65 356 SC; '69 911S; '96 993 Once you learn to fly, you find that daily life on earth really is flat. http://www.rf5b.com

12-19-2007, 02:43 PM	#9
nycebo Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,751	By the way, out of curiosity, what are the city lights for. Did a search on the forum and the web and while everyone acknowledges them, nobody really describes what purpose the fulfill. Basically, I never really did understand their purpose 'under' the headlights. Incidentally, I don't remember having city lights on my 1998 BMW or 1992 VW. Maybe it's a newer model addition? __________________ Edward The Garage: -2000 Porsche 911 Cabriolet (Polar Silver / Metropol Blue) / Aerokit I (Front Spoiler / Side Skirts / GT Rear Side Trims) / Clear Side Markers / RoW M030 Sport Suspension / 5mm Wheel Spacers / Short Shifter / BMC Air Filter / RSS Intake Plenum / Ruf Exhaust Muffler / Farnbacher Loles ECU tuning / Bridgestone Potenza RE050A / SmartTOP -1998 BMW R1200C (Black) -1994 Honda CBR600F2 (White/Black/Red) -2010 Triumph Speed Triple 15th Anniversary Special Edition (Black)

12-19-2007, 10:53 PM	#13
judd944 Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Lexington, KY !!!! Posts: 2,577	I checked, the running light stays on with the xenon light. strange, seems redundant. __________________ '01 986 S Seal Gray/Boxster Red 6-speed, Xenon, Full Leather, 6-speaker, Heated Seats, 18" Twists, New and improved with laser blocking ZR3 ! '03 745i Sterling Gray Metallic/Pearl Black Sport, 15% tint, 19" crazy expensive tires '94 F-150 Black/Gray "the car parts hauler" Past: 83, 84, 85.5(3) and 86(2) all 944's!

12-19-2007, 03:50 AM	#2
AutoEuropeCars User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 51	Looks good. Those are the parking lights? They look like the headlights...tempted to buy a pair

12-19-2007, 04:43 AM	#3
phaphaphooey User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 256	Yes, those are the H6W parking/driving lights on a litronic headlight assembly. My stockers just burnt out and the options are basically to go Led for 8 bucks for 2 regular Leds or 16 for the brighter ones, buy stock replacements from Porsche for approximately 15 bucks (I think), or pay 30 bucks to have blue bulbs (Phillips Bluevision) shipped from Europe. It seems that this bulb configuration is quite rare in the U.S. The color matches the Xenon headlights quite well, but the photo makes the lights appear brighter than they are. I would say they are about as bright, if not a little bit less bright, than the stock halogen parking lights. In the pictures above they look blindingly bright, which isn't the case in real life.

12-19-2007, 10:12 AM	#4
mickey6 User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 126	I have the same and can say for sure they look great. They are not too bright but not too dim either. Just perfect.

12-19-2007, 01:23 PM	#8
phaphaphooey User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 256	Thanks for the compliment Edward, they do look much better than the stock halogen lights and were definitely a good upgrade for $16. Tim is correct, the H6W bulbs that Porsche lists in the manual have a Bax9s base so the push-turn Bax9s bulbs have the same physical dimensions as the stock bulbs. For anyone that is going to order, check out the specials page on the site before you do. Through the end of December they are running 15% (I believe) off on all their Leds, only adds up to a buck or two but I will take any discount.

12-19-2007, 03:33 PM	#10
wwest User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: redmond wa Posts: 1,244	Not to rain on anyone's parade but bright "high" wattage LEDs REQUIRE adequate heat sinks and those look like they might allow the LED to last maybe a year of so. The is NO air circulation within the headlight assembly and the HB halogen plus the HID will make things a little WARM on their own. The LED's themselves generally drop no more than 4 volts so a resistor must be used to reduce the 12-14 volts. That resistor is obviously mounted in the base thereby contributing to the overall HEATING level which MUST be "wicked" away if the LED is to have its forecasted long life. You might want to find a way (relay??) to turn off the DRLs with the LB and/or HB on.

12-19-2007, 04:38 PM	#12
blinkwatt User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sacramento Posts: 600	What is the wattage of the OEM and you replacement bulb?

12-21-2007, 08:50 PM	#15
phaphaphooey User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 256	As far as the purpose, I believe they are required for european cars and serve as daytime running lights in canada. I may be totally off in that regard but I remember reading something about that. They don't really serve a specific purpose in the U.S.