Experiences with LED high beam bulbs?

RobPC · 19 May 2025

Hey all, after a couple of dusk to dark countryside drives, I'v had it with the rubbish standard bulbs on my C4S (non Litronic). I've put some LED bulbs in one of my other cars and the difference was properly transformational. Does anyone have experience of LED high beam bulbs in our cars? I'm after something that's plug and play, safe, MOT legal and won't damage the units.

Thanks.

911UK · 19 May 2025

Which brand and spec of LED did you opt for ? might do the same to mine non litronic 996

wellsy · 19 May 2025

I have no experience to share but have bookmarked this site as a possible supplier to contact. https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/collections/headlight-led-bulbs

The non litronic 996 dipped beams are pretty poor as standard

911UK · 19 May 2025

for bulbs to be MOT legal they need to be E marked or have the British Standard mark.

IUI675 · 19 May 2025

going on Facebook, the most successful method is replacing the whole unit, rather than fitting a led bulb.

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Teilegott · 20 May 2025

The brightest and best LED Bulbs are BEVINSEE v45...

radish1 · 20 May 2025

H7 SL2 Pro LED Bulbs (pair)

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www.diodedynamics.com

I like Diode Dynamics.

I haven’t tried their H7 bulbs yet (I have a pair sitting on my shelf). I do have their turn signal bulbs and those are mega bright. In fact, I think they’re unparalleled in their brightness because I haven’t seen a pair of turn signals on other people’s car that are brighter than mine.

SilverSurfer13 · 20 May 2025

radish1 said:
H7 SL2 Pro LED Bulbs (pair)

<div class="ddescr dcol1"> <div class="block1"> <h3>Features</h3> <ul> <li>Advanced TST LED Technology for industry-leading performance.</li> <li>Internal cooling for superior reliability.</li> <li>Fully integrated design, no wires or external drivers.</li> <li>Direct replacement bulb with...

www.diodedynamics.com

I like Diode Dynamics.

I haven’t tried their H7 bulbs yet (I have a pair sitting on my shelf). I do have their turn signal bulbs and those are mega bright. In fact, I think they’re unparalleled in their brightness because I haven’t seen a pair of turn signals on other people’s car that are brighter than mine.

I want to swap out the amber repeaters and reverse lamps in my 996 rear cluster and wings. Are these canbus, or do I even need them to be owing to the age of the car (2004)?

radish1 · 21 May 2025

These LED repeaters are not CANbus, but you can purchase an LED compatible flasher relay to remove the error. To remove the error with the reverse lamps, I believe you will have to wire in a resistor.

Dovoda75 · 21 May 2025

Even the litronics on mine leave a lot to be desired, but AFAIK there is no legal, MOT-compatible way to improve them. I'm not sure what the people who've switched to LED do, perhaps put the old bulbs back once a year for the MOT?

RobPC · 21 May 2025

Thanks all. A couple of observations:

I've bought a few bulbs from classiccarleds before, always had a great experience. I've currently got all indicators, reverse and rear brake lights from them. The reverse lights in particular are fantastic for actually seeing where you're going, backwards. Their bulbs are all canbus compatible, no issues in 18 months.
I've just had a 2012 Range Rover with replacement Bevinsee V55 LED high beam lights pass its MOT with no advisories. Not only rare for a L322 Range Rover to pass but no issues recorded with the lights. I know the tests for dip beams are different, e.g. they need to comply with the beam pattern requirements. No such tests for high beam.

So either I'll stick with what I know and get some H9 Bevinsee bulbs OR see what Classic Car LEDs can offer. More later.

maldren · 22 May 2025

Dovoda, how are the reflectors, my Litronics were no longer any good, I'm going to swap to retrofitlabs units.
RobPC, I don't think main beams are tested in the MoT, just dipped.

Damo996 · 22 May 2025

Because i drive in both the uk and Europe i don't want to do the retro fit labs conversion as you lose this ability to change. I did see this thread which im hoping will help mine. plan on doing the refab this winter.

https://911uk.com/porsche/upgrading-the-bulbs-on-my-litronic-headlamps.123949/page-6#post-2726860

radish1 · 22 May 2025

Damo996, do you have Litronics? I highly recommend the Osram Xenarc Night Breaker Laser D2S, as someone else in that thread had suggested. With polished lenses, they provide such excellent illumination that I rarely ever use my high beams.

Damo996 · 22 May 2025

yeah Litronics, I think I fitted Osram Night Breaker 220 last winter but need to check as that could have been one of my other cars tbh. I can not remember what I have fitted in my 996. its not great either way.