Rennlist - Porsche Discussion Forums

Porsche 993: Headlight Legal Requirements

Avoid a costly ticket; find out if the headlights on your Porsche 993 meet the legal requirements.

By Charlie Gaston - April 6, 2015

This article applies to the Porsche 993 (1993-1998).

Lighting makes a significant difference between low visibility and high visibility on the road, particularly on very dark nights when turning hard corners or when traveling over unfamiliar or uneven terrain. While the law is clear when it comes to when you should have your headlights on, you do have some leeway on the type of bulbs you use. However, whichever bulb you choose in accordance with the law, they must be in proper working order and provide excellent side-to-side distribution, without cutting off visibility at certain heights. Not all headlight bulbs are the same; in fact, some are quite expensive and require professional installation for the best result.

Component Breakdown

HID Headlights

The biggest consideration when choosing to install HID bulbs is the cost to install a new projector. It is illegal to run HID bulbs into a Halogen bulb housing, meaning you'll need to install HID projectors to use this type of bulb. The upside is that HID lights achieve two to three times greater illumination and come in a variety of colors; however, to remain in compliance with the law, you must stick to yellow or white to avoid a ticket.

Here's a breakdown of HID bulbs:

  • Rated over 8,000K.
  • Give off a blueish color when in use.
  • Provide an increased level of visibility at night.
  • Noted for their unique look.
  • Achieve excellent side-to-side distribution without cutting off at a certain height.
  • Provide optimum visibility on very dark nights.

Costs and installation:

  • $300 to $1,000 per set.
  • Due to a range of "plug and play" kits, installation is easy.
  • Requires only basic mechanical skills and simple tools that you probably already own.
  • For professional installation, add another $200 or so to the price.
Figure 1. HID chart.

LED Headlights

Aftermarket headlight housings that feature strips of LED lights around the lenses (also known as "halo" housings) are popular with Porsche 993 owners for a number of reasons, including excellent illumination. However, only headlight housings that produce white or yellow light while driving are legal. Although LED headlights are considerably more expensive than HIDs, they do not achieve the same level of brightness, and for some, this is a drawback.

A number of consumer installation kits are on the market today, driving the cost for LEDs to somewhere between $300 and several thousand dollars. Add a few hundred more for professional installation. With the variety of "plug and play" kits on the market today, it's recommended to simply do the installation yourself. All you need are a few basic tools.

Figure 2. LED color chart.

Blacked-Out Headlights

There is no way around it; the law requires your headlight to be uncovered and maintained in proper working condition (i.e., able to provide visibility on the road while you drive). If you were to cover or "black-out" your headlights, which some Porsche owners do for styling purposes, it would be considered illegal and could cost you a ticket. While not all police officers enforce this law, if you are ticketed, you would be required by law to install clear headlights going forward in order to avoid subsequent violations.

You could black-out the headlights on your Porsche 993 using a home oven (yes, they must be cooked in an oven in order to achieve the desired effect). However, the process is hazardous and could result in permanent damage to your headlight(s), which might prove costly in the end. Leave this modification to a trained professional. (The cost is usually around several hundred dollars at a local mechanic's shop.)

Figure 3. Have a professional black-out your headlights.

Common Questions

What are the best replacement headlight bulbs?

It's recommended to replace defective headlight bulbs with more technologically advanced LED filament bulbs. An alternative to traditional "stock" bulbs, which contain incandescent filament, LED filament bulbs provide greater illumination and color than traditional headlight bulbs and boast a general lifespan of at least 50,000 hours.

Is it legal to install headlight bulbs that give off non-traditional colors?

You must install headlight bulbs that are white in color. In some cases, a blue-white or yellow color is acceptable; however, the light must be vibrant and illuminate the road up ahead to ensure safe driving.

Related Discussion