[tamathumper]

I really don't like my headlight pattern - the low-beams have a drastic cut-off, and they seem to light up right in front of the car, but then there's a very sharp line and there's not much light, if any, thrown ahead. I'd have to drive 35 mph to really be within the safety factor of this lighting pattern. On high-beam, they're OK.



I've searched the forum several times for "headlight aiming", and "headlight replacement", but there's not much talk (here, anyway) on the stock vs. other headlights.



I'd prefer not to replace the lenses, as I just put Xpel on them not too long ago. The bulbs seem bright enough... So I guess I'm looking at a re-aiming procedure to bring them up quite a bit.



Any comments from the peanut gallery before I do that?

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[DaveN]

Sounds like there is something up. I put Xpel on last year which did not alter the quality of the lighting. My car has the best lights I have every used, low beam is excellent and high beam is rediculous for distance. Porsche spent a lot of time engineering those reflectors to not project above a cut-off line and refocus what would have been lost scatter light back into the main beam. Maybe the elements tend to weaken over time? Dunno, but I hope it's not a sign of an aging system.

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[flash]

it took me a while to get the headlights aimed where i wanted them. the silly little adjusters were hell on my fingers too. should have used a tool.

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[Langley968]

I agree with Dave that the 968 headlights are probably some of the best I have ever had on a vehicle.

Someone was riding along with me very early Saturday morning on our way to the local Saturday Porsche Breakfast run and he asked if my headlights were "new" because of the amazing intensity that they throw on the pavement! Not bad for an 18 year old car!

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[tamathumper]

To be clear, the Xpel did not alter the lighting quality. I'm guessing I just need to bring them up quite a bit, as the cut-off is much too close to the car.

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[gbarrier]

On my first 968 the headlights were great. On the current model they were terrible. Finally took time to dial them in and am quite happy. Don't forget to aim the lower high beams also.

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[tamathumper]

Don't forget to aim the lower high beams also.

As Scooby would say,... "ArrooOOO?!"

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[flash]

lol - the fog/driving lights have a "high and low" beam setting - they are adjustable too

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[DaveN]

One of the great features of the car, that's where the "Flash to Pass" lives without having to have your lights on.

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[tamathumper]

I remember the early days with my first 924, trying to "flash" my lights at someone, and thinking "Man, these things pop up really slow, what dummy thought this was a good idea?" Then I realized there was a "Flash to Pass" feature. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blush.png" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Langley968]

"flash to pass" feature?

Something "new" to look forward to on my next outing... <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/EmoticonCar.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[tamathumper]

Finally got around to re-aiming the headlights tonight. It would be really great if the procedure in the workshop manual told you which little knob to turn to go in which direction. Yes, there is a picture with arrows on it, but that is for the driver's side light only, and that is not indicated AFAIK. So I spent a few minutes adjusting the wrong one on the passenger side. (As it turns out, the outboard knob is the one that adjusts the up/down of the headlights.)



I had to turn those suckers at least 70 clicks to get the headlights up out of the dirt and feel moderately safe! The sharp cutoff is still at a reasonable distance and is below the line of sight of approaching drivers.



Looking ahead on the road, I have a pattern somewhat like this __/ __/, is this correct, or should the beams be converging?

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