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Porsche 928: Headlight Legal Requirement

Headlight laws are an important set of rules to follow, especially for owners of a Porsche 928. The car has long been removed from the company's manufacturing line, which means owners of the vehicle have had to make modifications to it to keep it on the road all these years.

By Jeffrey Bausch - May 6, 2015

This article applies to the Porsche 928 (1978-1985).

There are several different types of headlight modifications that can be done, and before we dive into the legal language behind each type, one thing you should always keep in mind when purchasing an aftermarket part is to look for DOT approval before making the actual purchase. If the headlight doesn’t have DOT approval, then all likelihood, its legality is suspect.

LED Headlights
Figure 1. LED Headlights look great on the 928, but should be DOT approved.

LED headlights are all the rage right now, and quite frankly, they look great on a Porsche 928. So what do you need to be “legally” aware of before modifying your vehicle? Well, beyond the earlier suggestion that you look to see they’re DOT approved, also check to see if they’re “SAE certified.” The SAE is an international professional organization of engineers and related technical experts in various industries, including automotive. If the headlights you’re looking at have been certified by this organization, then it means, in layman’s terms, the lights you’re looking at are a really high quality product.

At the end of the day, though, a true headlight should have two main characteristics: (1) Separate low beam and high beam (or only one beam) and (2) some kind of focus of the beam so that it doesn’t blind other drivers. Do be aware, though, that LED headlights are considered the latest technology for this particular part of the car, and as such, you’ll pay for it. Most kits cost several hundreds of dollars, and having one professionally modified into your Porsche 928 will cost you a decent amount.

HID Headlights
Figure 2. HID headlights produce light with an electric arc and can look blue.

HID stands for “high-intensity discharge.” In short, they produce light with an electric arc, rather than a glowing filament. Formally speaking, they’re known as gas-discharge burners because the arc they produce comes from metallic salts that are vaporized within the arc chambers. Light from this type of headlamp can look a bit blue.

As a whole, a properly installed HID headlight system is considered a safety upgrade on account of the fact that it is able to produce more usable light than other headlight types presently on the market. In fact, studies have shown that drivers of cars with HID headlights react faster and more accurately to roadway obstacles than those with halogen systems in place.

The legality of HID headlights can be a bit confusing. This is largely due to the color it produces. As a whole, headlights are expected to be yellow or clear; yet HID produce blue. Where HID is able to get away with its color is in that it is argued the light produces a “white-blueish color.” Per the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, this is okay, though actual blue is considered an illegal modification.

One thing to keep in mind is that it is illegal to run HID bulbs into halogen bulb housing. So, if you want HID light in your Porsche 928, you need to install HID projectors, too, as this will better direct the incredible brightness these lights produce.

HID headlights are popular nowadays, and as such, you’ll pay a couple hundred dollars for them. They’re fairly easy to install, though, if you have a free afternoon, but if you plan on having a professional do it, expect to add another few hundred dollars to this modification.

Blacked-out Headlights
Figure 3. Blacked out headlights can look too cool for the road. In fact, check local laws.

Blacked-out, or “murdered-out” headlights, are a great way to get attention on the road. Unfortunately, though, they often attract the attention of the law. That’s because a majority of these modified headlamps are illegal.

The extent to which a driver can tint their headlights on their Porsche 928 varies by state, but generally speaking, any sort of screening modification cannot be done in front of a headlamp.

From Washington state: ". . . the addition of an aftermarket style ornament or other feature such as tinted plastic glass covers, a grille, or allotted covers must not be placed in front of the headlamp lens, or in front of any other lighting devices installed on motor vehicles which impair the effectiveness of lighting equipment."

That about sums up how a majority of states feel about this particular modification. If you own a Porsche 928 and want to murder-out your headlamps, you can do so following a few YouTube videos (which actually involve putting the lamps in an oven), but do expect to attract the wrong kind of attention when driving your car around.

(Related Article: How to Black Out Your Headlights - Rennlist.com)

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