Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

On a long evening trip on Friday in the rain, dark, and unfamiliar roads, I realised why I get so nervous: it isn't that I'm more precious about the 944 than the van, it's that the headlights are just terrible! They have been properly aligned, and recent new bulbs, but I find that dipped does not illuminate very far ahead, and full beam just isn't sufficiently bright.

Does anyone else have this trouble?

I can't remember who, but I'm sure I saw someone using upgraded lights from a MK1 Golf.

Should I try to get the lights re-silvered?

Any other ideas?

Golf lights are cheaper, even hella ones, just frame is slightly different. There's after market types you can make work as well

I fitted a HID kit to the cab, made a real difference on Dipped beam.Main beam is about the same tho'.

Toby

Have to say my dipped beams were scary bad when I got the car. I put in osram night breakers and the difference was remarkable. I hear what you are saying about dipped beams my jeep lights go a good distance further. Exactly the same type of bulb though. Could be that the jeep is higher on the road so you think the light shines further as the cone of light hits the road further away from the car.

This is weird as when I bought my 924 and about to drive it home I was a bit concerned about how bad the 80's headlights would be but was really surprised how good they are on both dipped and actually impressed on main beam. I can't find any evidence of them having any work or upgrades and comparing them to my Saab 93 who's headlights which are fantastic. I kind of presumed all 924/944 headlights are really good?

As I said, bit weird??

944 has amazing headlights. Especially on the hight-beam when the additional bumper lights kick-in. You get almost 180' of light - no need for fancy turning headlamps like on modern cars.

But make sure the reflectors are in good shape and you use good quality lamps, like Osram Nightbraker or similar.

HID kits are known to damage the reflectors quite quickly.

The wiring could be worth looking at. A popular addition on the Golf 'scene' is these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-MK1-MK2-GO ... 54024f60b9

This may be 'bypassing' the fact wiring is old and needing replacing but works, I know there's how-to's on the net on how to do this. It may be worth a look. It may be these kits will fit a square dash 944 as the headlight switch and lamps themselves are same as early MK1 Golf

I did manage to stumble across a VW forum with some bloke making these for their club. I'm a bit anxious of installing even a professional bodge like this, but at least it's completely possible to undo.

Can you expand on why this happens?

I'd also like to know about that.I've had the HID kit in for about three years and not noticed any deterioration in that time.

Toby

I made this type of loom for my MK2 Golf GTI, the difference really was visible. As an easy check remove one of your 944 headlight bulbs & check what voltage your getting at the plug when the car is running.I think I only had about 10V before I fitted the new loom & it then changed to 14.4V, just like changing old batteries in a torch for new ones you wished you did it ages ago!

I had gone down the HID route before doing the above but its illegal and not worth the hassle, really bright on the road and a huge difference. However it does give a fuzzy light when you look at the headlamps as the lenses are not suitable for that type of bulb resulting in glaring/blinding other road users.

I've since fitted a HID kit to my front driving lights (full beam) in the front bumper of my 944, as these are auxiliary lights you get away with them come MOT time.

Alan.

They're not hard to make, but if you're feeling lazy:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-944-Uprated-Headlight-Wiring-Loom-Harness-Plug-Play-Upgrade-/221262519175?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Model%3A944&hash=item3384461b87


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-944-S-Late-Uprated-Headlight-Wiring-Loom-Harness-Plug-Play-Upgrade-/321305971451?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Model%3A944&hash=item4acf540afb

Chris

Are they clean? When mine get dirty the visibility is terrible but they aren't bad when clean!

Really, lights whose power is supplied through the switch are a bodge. Direct wiring is superior but more complicated. I have seen scores of 924-derived headlamp switches which have melted because of this poor practice, exacerbated by the binnacle rheostat which they include.

Problems in no particular order:

Golf lights weren't ever great
Hidden lights are seldom inspected or cleaned
924/944 lights seem susceptible to stone damage leading to a semi-opaque surface
Supply voltages can be as low as 9v, which would make any headlamp under perform
All 924 derived cars have poor earths, which also affects performance

Do you mean that the stock wiring (at least for the square dash) means that the full current for the headlamps passes through the dashboard switch, much like the electric windows, therefore creating resistance and inefficiency?

It seems to me that the wiring upgrade (thanks for the link Chris!) uses a relay so that the existing switch triggers the new wiring, but doesn't rely on the old wiring for current, so a shorter circuit.