Porsche 911 and 997 Get New Modernized LED Headlights

Porsche is the world’s largest race car manufacturer and bleeds a rich history on the racing track for over 5 decades. The first road-production Porsche ever, the 356, went on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans on its very first try thanks to Porsche’s advanced engineering in performance. Later, the infamous Porsche 911 was added to the line-up and changed the standard in road-worthy sports cars. For those of us that can’t afford a 911 chassis, you might consider the 997 as a real bargain between affordable price and exciting performance that exhilarates you as a driver. With the introduction of the 911 also came the introduction of the performance vehicles we know and love – the GT3 and GT2 Porsches. With these options that have been on the market since 2004, of course, there are some aspects of these vehicles that lack in today’s modern world. One of the biggest things missing is quality automotive lighting – specifically the headlights.

When you pull up to a Porsche dealership and see all the new models on the showroom floor, one of the first features that will catch your eyes is the modern headlights with the crisp LEDs inside of them. Most new models of Porsche feature their four-point design, where the lights illuminate as a cube inside the headlight. But what if you own a Porsche that wasn’t made in the last 5 years, and you want better headlights too? Morimoto recognized this issue and created a solution for those 911 and 997 owners out there. Morimoto now offers XB LED headlights for 2005-2013 Porsche 911 and 997 models, this includes the GT models as well.

A Closer Look at the Morimoto 911 and 997 XB LED Headlights  

If your Porsche has been sitting in your garage for the past decade with the same stock headlights, it might be time to consider a facelift. Your Porsche has aged so gracefully over the years – we’re willing to bet the headlights have done the opposite. Over time, headlights will haze and fade and take away from the overall beauty of your sports car. This hazing and fading is also a leading cause of underwhelming headlights. The team at Morimoto understands how much you admire your Porsche and created headlights that will complement and modernize the front end of your vehicle.

The facelift design of the new XB LED headlights was designed and inspired by the latest 992 generations. The daytime running lights within the headlights fit perfectly to Porsche’s original 4-point design and won’t leave you sticking out like a sore thumb. The only thing that will stick out is your insanely bright DRLs powered by Osram LED chips. This insanely bright DRL makes sure that you are just as visible during the day, making your presence known in traffic and around other drivers. These DRLs will dim during the parking light or low beam function to ensure your headlights only produce useable light – not glare.

One of the best features of the Morimoto XB LED headlights is the ease of installation. Morimoto’s XB LED headlights are designed to work on any 911 or 997 model without modification. They are compatible with both 997.1 and 997.2 models that come with single and dual projector headlights. It is worth noting that you will need to flash the ECU to eliminate any error codes for the .2 model cars. For any 911 or 997 owners that would like to watch Morimoto’s install video, you can view it by clicking here.

Porsche 911 997 (05-13): XB LED Headlights
$1,800.00

What Makes the Morimoto XB LED Headlights the best Option for My Porsche?

Besides the headlights being the perfect modernized design for any sports car, the Morimoto XB LED headlights will leave your OEM stock headlights in the dust. The XB LED headlights use a single high-output bi-LED projector, like the OEM 992 headlights. Thanks to the modern optics and engineering of the headlights, they will perform even better than they look. The LED low beam provides a much brighter and wider output on the road. The LED high beam will penetrate further into the distance giving you even more view of the road ahead. Even with all the added brightness and intensity of the XB LED headlights, they meet and exceed all SAE and DOT standards when aimed properly.

In Morimoto’s comparison video, we can easily see how much of an improvement just the low beam is alone. The OEM HID low beam is rated at 700 max lux, whereas the XB LED headlights are rated at 2,010 max lux. If you would like to learn the difference between lumen, lux, and candela, click here to read Headlight Revolution's article that explains in depth how headlight brightness is measured. The new LED low beam is 187% brighter than the OEM HID headlights, an impressive upgrade for any vehicle.

When you compare the high beams of the OEM HID and XB LED headlights, you can see the same difference. While the LED headlights are only 40% brighter than the OEM HIDs, you can see that the beam pattern provides a much wider light distribution in front of you. On the road, this means you’ll be able to see further down the road with a wider range of sight.

Morimoto is known to keep performance and quality at the top of its priority list. The Porsche 911 and 997 headlights are no exception to this – the XB LED headlights are built with UV-coated polycarbonate lenses. These UV-coated lenses will resist the test of time making sure your new headlights look just as good as the rest of the car for years to come. Morimoto also backs their XB LED line-up with a 5-year warranty, the longest warranty offered for quality LED headlights.

Porsche 911 997 (05-13): XB LED Headlights
$1,800.00

CONCLUSION

We hope this article will bring you confidence the next time you decide to upgrade your Porsche’s headlights. The Morimoto XB Headlights will nearly double your output from their modern bi-LED projectors. Your Porsche will thank you for modernizing the front end with a 992-inspired facelift. The XB LED headlights will be a direct plug-and-play replacement for your factory headlights, making installation as easy as possible. The XB LEDs are truly a no-compromise product. They are made from the best materials, backed by a 5-year warranty, and designed to meet and exceed all lighting standards.

Our team here at The Retrofit Source is dedicated to helping you find the best automotive lighting upgrades for your vehicle. If you are more of a visual learner, check out our YouTube channel where we test and review new headlight upgrades. While you are there, do not forget to like and subscribe to our channel for the latest lighting upgrades for your vehicle.

Have any questions about any of the products we mentioned? Contact us today, and our customer support team will be happy to help.