September 2009 In this issue... • Featured Members Eric and Becky ...

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“Let There Be Light” Story by Frank Cusenza PCAOCR member You already drive the best production sports car (Porsche) with terrific handling and braking. Just because the original owner didn’t opt for the Xenon package or the fact that your vehicle was manufactured before this option was available does not mean you have to miss out on this newer technology. Your daily driver no longer has to suffer with low visibility headlamps. First some basics: Halogen lights have a filament like a normal household bulb. Xenon bulbs do not contain filaments but are filled with gas much like a florescent tube. The color of the bulb depends on the gas mixture used in manufacture. Daylight has a temperature of 5,500 K (kelvin). Manufacturers assert that Xenon headlights will become the predominant type of headlight used in future cars. Not only are they three times brighter than traditional headlights, they provide better illumination for drivers, and the high intensity discharge system they employ is lighter and less expensive for car manufacturers to install in vehicles. Xenon headlights are also environmentally friendly. They typically last up to three times longer than halogen lights, while requiring half the current to function. My 2003 Boxster came equipped with H7 55-watt bulbs which give off 2,700 K temperature light. The conversion kit I chose gives off 6,000 K light while providing three times the lumens output and uses only 35 watts of power. This is a much better solution than increasing the H7 bulb to 100 watts which only frosts the inner lens of the headlight module making it useless. A misconception exists regarding the ratings of Xenon bulbs that a 12,000 bulb is a stronger light source that a 3,000 bulb. Wrong. The rating is used to indicate the color of the light produced and lumens decrease as the numbers go up: 3K bulbs are yellow, 5K yellow/white, 6K white/blue, 8K blue, 10K blue/violet, 12K violet. There are a couple of things to consider when making your choice. Daylight should be your first choice since this gives you the best night visibility and makes the light emitted look natural. I chose 6K; however, 5K might be a best choice. Xenon kits come with 2 bulbs, 2 ballasts, and 2 harness kits including rubber grommets for pass through into the lamp assembly. Let’s address the projector light provided as OEM equipment. The projector lens’ primary function is to project the beam of light to the driving surface. With factory-installed Xenon, during heavy braking the light beam would adjust up so as to maintain proper vertical height. This year the feature has been expanded to move to the side when turning. This is only available through factory installed Xenon; and although you could purchase the factory headlamp assemblies, you would not have the same functionality. I need to mention that factoryinstalled Xenon headlights are DOT approved but aftermarket Xenon kits are not DOT approved in California. We have all seen many Honda and Toyota cars on the road which enjoy the advantages of Xenon lamps. I checked the light pattern of my Halogen lights before I made the change by placing painter’s tape on the white cabinets on the back wall in my garage and having the car 20 feet away at the entrance. After making the installation I repeated the test using the Xenon lights with no headlamp adjustment and found the light patterns to be identical. Both bulbs have identical bases and thus are fully interchangeable. As a matter of fact, you can save the old Halogen bulbs to use as spares, put them back in the car when you sell it, and take your Xenon set to your new ride, if it does not come so equipped. Figure 1 Headlamp Assembly The reason I am writing this article is the fact that I was not able to find anyone to answer my questions on installing a HID (High Intensity Discharge Lamps) system in a Porsche. 1. Get one kit to replace the low beam lights. 2. Turn on your low beam lights and determine which bulbs you are replacing. No, Johnny...low beam does not mean that it is mounted lower than the high beam. In my Boxster the low beams are on top and the high beams are on the bottom. I had both assemblies in the car and had to redo them all. Save your time based on my experience. It’s not necessary to disconnect the battery. Just turn off the lights and do the work. Figure 2 Lamp Assembly Cover No wire cutting is required to install the harness; however, you will be required to drill a 1″ hole in the cover to allow the plugs to pass through. I used a 2x4 for support, predrilled a pilot hole and then used a 1″ wood bit to finish drilling the cover. I cleaned it all up with a Dremel tool to remove some support veins on the covers inside so that the grommet would fit snugly. Figure 3 Wired Lamp Assembl Do not touch the Xenon bulbs with your bare fingers. The oils from your skin will cause premature failure due to hot spots on the bulbs. Only handle the base of the bulbs and be sure that the Continued on pg. 39) SEPTEMBER 2009 29
La w Of f i c e s o f Jo s e p h C. Ne d z a Re t i r e d O.C. De p u t y District At t o r n e y Fo r m e r DMV Sp e c i al In v e s t i g a to r Te l e p h o n e: (949) 355-2943 Facsimile: (949) 640-7434 e m a il : n e d z a l a w @a o l .c o m Criminal De f e n s e Fr e e initial c o n s u ltat io n Fr e e r e f e r r a l s t o a l l o t h e r f i el d s PCA/OCR m e m b e r 30
Page 1 and 2: September 2009 In this issue... •
Page 3 and 4: Editor Garey Cooper gareycooper@mac
Page 5 and 6: President’s Message Story by Arma
Page 7 and 8: Editor’s Notes by Garey Cooper Su
Page 9 and 10: PROVEN ON THE TRACK REFINED FOR THE
Page 11: attends Capistrano High School as a
Page 14 and 15: Pamela Horton YOUR REAL ESTATE RESO
Page 16 and 17: Cleaning Your Engine - Part 1 By Be
Page 18 and 19: The key turns, the heart starts. Th
Page 20 and 21: Concours Tidbits From Dick DeRose..
Page 22 and 23: Porsches, both judged and on displa
Page 24 and 25: 2009 White Glove Concours Trophy Wi
Page 26 and 27: Walter’s is proud to sponsor the
Page 28 and 29: PCA Diagnostics | Corner Balance &
Page 32 and 33: Rice’s Ramblings Story and photos
Page 34 and 35: Autocross Corner (Cont. from pg. 11
Page 36 and 37: SEPTEMBER 2009 35
Page 38 and 39: Classified Ads FOR SALE: 930- 911 T
Page 40 and 41: Rice’s Ramblings (Cont. from pg.
Page 43: Porsche Club of America Orange Coas

September 2009 In this issue... • Featured Members Eric and Becky ...

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