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I get the criticism, want, and need...but comparing a $120K+ Porsche to a $20K average car isn't exactly a fair comparison, even when it comes to headlights. Th

I get the criticism, want, and need...but comparing a $120K+ Porsche to a $20K average car isn't exactly a fair comparison, even when it comes to headlights. The replacement cost on that headlight is probably astronomical, where I can replace a bulb for $40. I don't even know if the Boxster which is around ~$60K comes with these headlights. A quick lookup and those Porsche headlights cost ~$2K EACH.

wil421 6y ago
The ones on this website say they are £3,800 each for a 2019+ 911 Turbo (992). https://www.design911.com/Porsche/Porsche-992--911--2019--/992-Turbo-S-38L/Headlamps-RHD/pt70_187_-cma81-cmo2840-ct2955/ https://www.design911.com/Porsche/Porsche-992--911--2019--/9...
- partiallypro 6y ago
  Yeah, I was looking at used prices, but I can't tell if your link is for the pair, or just for one.
bArray 6y ago
As with all automotive parts, eventually the price will come down. Currently they are luxury, in some years they will be commodity.
- taneq 6y ago
  They're also from a luxury brand that commands a premium price above and beyond its actual cost of supply. Give it five years and an entry level Hyundai will come with equivalent headlights and they'll only cost $100 to replace.
  - BoorishBears 6y ago
    Brands like Hyundai and Toyota have been coming out with sealed LED units for years, and they cost thousands to replace The headlights are not that cheap. Expensive optics, expensive LEDs with carefully selected emission spectrums, cooling solutions.
    - taneq 6y ago
      I checked and wow, you're right, they're expensive! Cheapest I could find for replacement LED headlights was $620 or so per headlight.
    - oblio 6y ago
      But do they break down as often? If it's about physical breakage (car crash), you're going to change more than just the light bulb for either tech. And it will cost more with traditional bulbs, too.
  - formerly_proven 6y ago
    Why would you want to replace LED headlights? LEDs themselves are typically specified for 50k hours, a much longer useful life than car engines (~10k hours / 180000 km). Also, because these are individually dimmed array lights, even if a single element dies, it's not a big problem and wouldn't require replacing the unit.
    - taneq 6y ago
      Maybe in case of a fender bender?
- linuxftw 6y ago
  By then, the lights will be tied to your VIN number and only replaceable by the dealership.
- duxup 6y ago
  >eventually the price will come down Not for Porsche owners. They sell at a premium, all the time.
- arethuza 6y ago
  A bit like dual clutch transmissions - a few years back only to be found on exotics now I have one on my very modest 1l Škoda.
kube-system 6y ago
> A quick lookup and those Porsche headlights cost ~$2K EACH. That sounds low. My Toyota's headlights are $1,200 each.
- partiallypro 6y ago
  But you can replace your bulbs for less than $100, it would appear due to the housing mechanics, etc you'd have to replace the entire headlight unit if one went out for this particular setup. Also the quote I looked at was used, someone else here posted it might cost more like $5K each, new.
  - kube-system 6y ago
    No, I can't. There are no replaceable headlight bulbs on my Toyota either. Just like this Porsche, you replace the entire unit if it goes bad. This is the norm for OEM LED headlamps -- they're considered lifetime parts, not wear items.
    - mdtusz 6y ago
      I'm not sure why you think this but it is very incorrect. I can't speak for your Toyota, but most car headlight assembly's absolutely allow for replacing the bulbs inside them. Your dealership may not tell you this because they're incentivized to sell you that 2k housing, but do some research and you will almost certainly find that you can replace the bulb for $50 or less.
      - kube-system 6y ago
        > most car headlight assembly's absolutely allow for replacing the bulbs inside them. Yes, because the vast majority of OEM head lamps are still not LEDs. You must be thinking about HIDs. OEM LED housings almost universally have no user serviceable access for their LED components, nor do they have standardized "bulbs". You can find plenty of videos of people 'opening' LED headlamps on YouTube [0][1] -- it is a destructive process. The housings are sonically welded with the LED components inside, and the only way in is by cutting them open. While there are retrofit bulbs for halogen housing (made in the shape of halogen bulbs) for the aftermarket, no OEMs use these for factory LED lighting. But you don't have to take my word for it: 1. Go look up any vehicle with factory LEDs on the websites of Sylvania, Philips, Hella, etc. You will find that they do not list bulbs for those lamps. 2. Read the owners manual or parts diagram for any vehicle with factory LEDs -- you won't find bulbs in the parts diagrams, and the owners manuals will explain that the housing must be replaced. [0]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Im62XNqgFU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Im62XNqgFU [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqIV0M9fpY4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqIV0M9fpY4
mberning 6y ago
It’s a really poor argument and also very misleading. They make it sound as if this is something special that is not found on this continent. Many manufacturers have excellent LED headlamps. They just have a static beam pattern. I’m sure over time as cost becomes less of a factor and as regs change these adaptive units will become more common.
dx034 6y ago
Matrix LED are available with most large manufacturers in Europe. You can buy a $30k car equipped with those as well. They always cost extra but are not exclusively sold with high end cars.
hans_castorp 6y ago
> I get the criticism, want, and need...but comparing a $120K+ Porsche to a $20K average car isn't exactly a fair comparison, even when it comes to headlights. You get matrix light as an extra from nearly all manufactures in in Europe (or at least Germany). Certainly from all "premium" manufacturers but e.g. also from Opel or Volkswagen. In fact Opel (formerly owned by GM) was one of the first to introduce them.
resist_futility 6y ago
What a bargain! The Ferrari ones are $2600. /s
pskinner 6y ago
My Peugeot has these lights, cost me £16800 new. The lights last the lifetime of the car.
- lrem 6y ago
  You probably could take them out after the car dies and use for another decade or two, if you found a good use for them ;)
  - NullPrefix 6y ago
    >Peugeot >after the car dies I see what you did there :D
  - pskinner 6y ago
    :)
throwaway0a5e 6y ago
>but comparing a $120K+ Porsche to a $20K average car isn't exactly a fair comparison, even when it comes to headlights It's not fair but it gives software devs an opportunity to bike-shed on the tech and clutch pearls over other people's behavior (god forbid the poors install $10 Ebay LEDs that aren't even as bright as the halogens they're replacing) so 300+ comments later here we are.

wil421 6y ago

The ones on this website say they are £3,800 each for a 2019+ 911 Turbo (992). https://www.design911.com/Porsche/Porsche-992--911--2019--/992-Turbo-S-38L/Headlamps-RHD/pt70_187_-cma81-cmo2840-ct2955/ https://www.design911.com/Porsche/Porsche-992--911--2019--/9...

partiallypro 6y ago
Yeah, I was looking at used prices, but I can't tell if your link is for the pair, or just for one.

bArray 6y ago

As with all automotive parts, eventually the price will come down. Currently they are luxury, in some years they will be commodity.

taneq 6y ago
They're also from a luxury brand that commands a premium price above and beyond its actual cost of supply. Give it five years and an entry level Hyundai will come with equivalent headlights and they'll only cost $100 to replace.
- BoorishBears 6y ago
  Brands like Hyundai and Toyota have been coming out with sealed LED units for years, and they cost thousands to replace The headlights are not that cheap. Expensive optics, expensive LEDs with carefully selected emission spectrums, cooling solutions.
  - taneq 6y ago
    I checked and wow, you're right, they're expensive! Cheapest I could find for replacement LED headlights was $620 or so per headlight.
  - oblio 6y ago
    But do they break down as often? If it's about physical breakage (car crash), you're going to change more than just the light bulb for either tech. And it will cost more with traditional bulbs, too.
- formerly_proven 6y ago
  Why would you want to replace LED headlights? LEDs themselves are typically specified for 50k hours, a much longer useful life than car engines (~10k hours / 180000 km). Also, because these are individually dimmed array lights, even if a single element dies, it's not a big problem and wouldn't require replacing the unit.
  - taneq 6y ago
    Maybe in case of a fender bender?
linuxftw 6y ago
By then, the lights will be tied to your VIN number and only replaceable by the dealership.
duxup 6y ago
>eventually the price will come down Not for Porsche owners. They sell at a premium, all the time.
arethuza 6y ago
A bit like dual clutch transmissions - a few years back only to be found on exotics now I have one on my very modest 1l Škoda.

kube-system 6y ago

> A quick lookup and those Porsche headlights cost ~$2K EACH. That sounds low. My Toyota's headlights are $1,200 each.

partiallypro 6y ago
But you can replace your bulbs for less than $100, it would appear due to the housing mechanics, etc you'd have to replace the entire headlight unit if one went out for this particular setup. Also the quote I looked at was used, someone else here posted it might cost more like $5K each, new.
- kube-system 6y ago
  No, I can't. There are no replaceable headlight bulbs on my Toyota either. Just like this Porsche, you replace the entire unit if it goes bad. This is the norm for OEM LED headlamps -- they're considered lifetime parts, not wear items.
  - mdtusz 6y ago
    I'm not sure why you think this but it is very incorrect. I can't speak for your Toyota, but most car headlight assembly's absolutely allow for replacing the bulbs inside them. Your dealership may not tell you this because they're incentivized to sell you that 2k housing, but do some research and you will almost certainly find that you can replace the bulb for $50 or less.
    - kube-system 6y ago
      > most car headlight assembly's absolutely allow for replacing the bulbs inside them. Yes, because the vast majority of OEM head lamps are still not LEDs. You must be thinking about HIDs. OEM LED housings almost universally have no user serviceable access for their LED components, nor do they have standardized "bulbs". You can find plenty of videos of people 'opening' LED headlamps on YouTube [0][1] -- it is a destructive process. The housings are sonically welded with the LED components inside, and the only way in is by cutting them open. While there are retrofit bulbs for halogen housing (made in the shape of halogen bulbs) for the aftermarket, no OEMs use these for factory LED lighting. But you don't have to take my word for it: 1. Go look up any vehicle with factory LEDs on the websites of Sylvania, Philips, Hella, etc. You will find that they do not list bulbs for those lamps. 2. Read the owners manual or parts diagram for any vehicle with factory LEDs -- you won't find bulbs in the parts diagrams, and the owners manuals will explain that the housing must be replaced. [0]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Im62XNqgFU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Im62XNqgFU [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqIV0M9fpY4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqIV0M9fpY4

mberning 6y ago

It’s a really poor argument and also very misleading. They make it sound as if this is something special that is not found on this continent. Many manufacturers have excellent LED headlamps. They just have a static beam pattern. I’m sure over time as cost becomes less of a factor and as regs change these adaptive units will become more common.

dx034 6y ago

Matrix LED are available with most large manufacturers in Europe. You can buy a $30k car equipped with those as well. They always cost extra but are not exclusively sold with high end cars.

hans_castorp 6y ago

> I get the criticism, want, and need...but comparing a $120K+ Porsche to a $20K average car isn't exactly a fair comparison, even when it comes to headlights. You get matrix light as an extra from nearly all manufactures in in Europe (or at least Germany). Certainly from all "premium" manufacturers but e.g. also from Opel or Volkswagen. In fact Opel (formerly owned by GM) was one of the first to introduce them.

resist_futility 6y ago

What a bargain! The Ferrari ones are $2600. /s

pskinner 6y ago

My Peugeot has these lights, cost me £16800 new. The lights last the lifetime of the car.

lrem 6y ago
You probably could take them out after the car dies and use for another decade or two, if you found a good use for them ;)
- NullPrefix 6y ago
  >Peugeot >after the car dies I see what you did there :D
- pskinner 6y ago
  :)

throwaway0a5e 6y ago

>but comparing a $120K+ Porsche to a $20K average car isn't exactly a fair comparison, even when it comes to headlights It's not fair but it gives software devs an opportunity to bike-shed on the tech and clutch pearls over other people's behavior (god forbid the poors install $10 Ebay LEDs that aren't even as bright as the halogens they're replacing) so 300+ comments later here we are.