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Cayman LED Spars with Radiator Guards (fits 2006-2008) Group Buy

184K views 1K replies 182 participants last post by  K-Man S 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
http://www.planet-9.com/gallery/files/3/ledlightbarnews.jpg Eliminate your 2006-2008 Cayman's circa 1995 fog-lights while updating it beyond the Gen 2! Manufactured in the U.S.A. of polypropylene T20 (just like Porsche original equipment), these 2006-2008 Cayman LED Spars with Radiator Guards absorb impacts, and with 100% color impregnation, chipping is eliminated. The wide-angle ultra-high-output LEDs on these spars create greater visibility and yield over 10 years of service. The extra strong polypropylene mesh protects your A/C condensers and radiators while adding a touch of the Porsche GT3 aesthetic.

Providing a truly a plug-n-play installation, anyone capable of replacing a fog-light bulb can install these LED Spars. The water resistant installation is easily reversed to return to the stock configuration. The 2006-2008 Cayman LED Spars with Radiator Guards will ship to you as a pair (driver and passenger side) complete with easy to follow step-by-step instructions and all of the necessary supplies to produce a professional installation. Cayman enthusiast Ken Kushman was one of the first to receive the "First Article"*. His installation, complete with 40 pictures is documented here: LED Spars with Radiator Guards - Articles

This product has a limited one-year warranty against any electronic defect within the LED array (circuit board or component LEDs), the wiring pigtail or its BAX9S connector (which interfaces with the OEM wiring harness). This warranty has no provision for damage due to misuse, modification, impact, accident, collision or failure to follow the waterproofing step as described in step #15 from the supplied installation instructions.

In the unlikely event that one or more LEDs malfunction (out of warranty) or are damaged, replacement LED array assembly complete with circuit board, 15 component LEDs, pigtail, BAX9S connector and installation supplies are available for $49 (per each; plus S&H). We will be happy to provide the labor and potting material to install your replacement LED array assembly. You would assume shipping costs to return a damaged or out of warranty unit to us along with your payment for the replacement LED array.

To take advantage of the group-buy, click here : LED Lightbar Group Buy on Dealbird - Order Here!. Orders will be shipped in the order they are received; first orders in are the first orders shipped!

* "First Article" are parts manufactured prior to the start of production for the purpose of ensuring that the mold is capable of producing a product that will meet specified requirements.

******Please see this topic thread continued for the purposes of showing what buyers have done with their installations, as well as any product revision information:

http://www.planet-9.com/site-vendors-sponsors/77155-2006-2008-cayman-led-spars-radiator-guards.html

Please direct all posts and questions to the new topic thread. Thanks!
:thanks:
 

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#887 ·
Hello!

It is really very gratifying to me when I see the wide variety of pictures of the many beautiful Caymans with my LED spars with radiator guards installed.

With that said, I'd really appreciate anyone that would take a few moments and post their favorite LED spar picture or two.

Thank you!

Joe
 
#895 · (Edited)
Hi! Chad from DealBird here. You may recall that we are Joseph's ecommerce partner for the Cayman LED lights. It has been our great pleasure to serve 200 Planet-9 members worldwide through this group buy.

If you haven't already ordered your Spars, there is a new, secure way to order: You can now place your order right here on Planet-9. Just go to:
Enthusify Marketplace
Select the Spars and click buy.

Let me know if you have any questions with the new online ordering option.

-Chad - 1 (424) 272-0291

 
#900 ·
Hey Joe... I've been loving my spars & I get lots of great compliments on them. I can't wait to tell people about them here at Porsche Parade this week. "Where'd you get those?" I'm sure I'll get asked that question a lot!

But... I have a problem. :( tonight I pulled into a pit stop & noticed something off in the reflection. Upon closer inspection I found the image below:


I have a set of three LEDS that are no longer functioning on the right side unit. :( I assume this is covered by your warranty. How can I get that process started?

Thank you for making such a great product! My heart sank a little knowing I won't be able to show them off in the best way possible this week...
 
#907 ·
Hey Joe,

Thanks so much for getting in touch with me in Monday. I appreciate the very fast service! I wanted to let you know that for some unknown reason they started working again on Wednesday. I'm not sure if it's an intermittent problem... Is there anything environmental that could cause that?

I got a lot of jealous inquiries from 911 owners and 987.2 owners that loved the look!

Anyway, I got up to Payson Canyon here in UT on Wednesday and got some glamour shots. I think the LED spars look great here, if you want to use this photo feel free!

 
#909 · (Edited)
Hello GatorPhd,

My pleasure! I'd still recommend for you to replace the temperamental unit. I'm confident that it is a cold-solder joint which has the potential to act up again.

Thanks for posting the beautiful picture. I don't know what's more striking, the dramatic pose of your Cayman or the varied sky!

Best regards,

Joe
 
#910 ·
Hi Joe:

I'm having the same trouble as GatorPhD (same set of lights too). It seems to be somewhat intermittent and they go to full brightness if I touch them, so it's probably something loose on the inside rather than anything broken.

I'd love to hear from you on how to resolve. I sent off an email on Monday (?).

Thanks!
Nick
 
#911 ·
Hello Nick,

I'm sorry to hear your having trouble too. I'll take care of it tomorrow.

Also, I never received an E-mail from you, possibly you have the incorrect address.

I would prefer to keep this thread exclusive to marketing questions and installed pictures. Per my product instructions page, if any of my customers experience difficulty, I'd appreciate to be contacted via my E-mail (not PM or via this thread).

Thank you!

Joe
copjsd@comcast.net
 
#912 ·
Wow! Just got off the phone with Joe about the fix for my lights. It sounds like he became aware of the possibility for this issue right around the time I ordered mine and completely changed the manufacturing process to improve the quality. He's sending me a new spar for the passenger side with the latest manufacturing techniques, so it's like a free upgrade.

I'm blown away at the service and effort Joe's putting into this!

Anyone who's on the fence about this, you can feel safe about Joe taking care of you, I know I do!

Nick
 
#920 · (Edited)
Hello kentb,

Thank you for posting the picture of your Cayman, I can't see enough of my LED spars on Speed Yellow Caymans! I'd really appreciate if you'd capture the same picture at dusk with your LEDs turned on, and then again with the LEDs and headlights turned on!

Best regards,

Joe DeSimone
Central Optional Products
copjsd@comcast.net
To order: http://www.planet-9.com/classifieds.php
 
#922 · (Edited)
Hello All,

I hope you might find this interesting. I was invited by Vu Nguyen, the executive director of the Porsche Club of America to their impressive headquarters in Columbia, Maryland on 8/3/12. His purpose was to produce a video regarding my 2006-2008 Cayman LED Spars with Radiator Guards. Vu feels that my story, spanning 28 months from inspiration to product delivery will make a great Porsche owner interest story. Through the PCA's Cayman Register forum, a volunteer (his handle is Speedy) was selected to receive one pair of my LED spars in exchange for his honest and object review (coming soon in the Cayman Register) of their quality, installation, fit finish and function.

More importantly I must let my fellow Porschephiles know that the PCA is in amazingly capable hands! Vu was very generous with his time as he gave Speedy and I a historical perspective of the PCA along with a full tour of the PCA Headquarters. Throughout this experience, evidence of Vu's genuine passion, creativity and vision for the future of the PCA was everywhere. A lover of Porsches since childhood, Vu was selected from a field of well over 100 applicants, bringing to the PCA years of experience and education in the field of managing non-profits.

His influence on the direction, growth and improved fiscal wellbeing of the PCA cannot be overlooked. This guy is as very smart as has ambitious visions for the PCA. He certainly isn't a status quo type of executive director and I'm confident Vu will keep the PCA relevant and a great value to its members!

Sincerely,

Joe DeSimone
Central Optional Products
copjsd@comcast.net
To order 2006-2008 Cayman LED spars: Enthusify Marketplace
 
#924 ·
That's great! Congrats. You were up in my neck of the woods.

-Moto
 
#927 · (Edited)
#929 · (Edited)
Hello Mathelo,

Thank you for your interest! Regarding your question:

The 1mm diameter reflector located in the center of each 5mm epoxy resin LED is actually many times brighter than any single 1mm "spot" on the reflector of the OE fog light. There is a video soon to be released on the Cayman Register and also through the PCA's eBrake Email newsletter. There, you will be able to compare an illuminated LED spar to an illuminated OE foglight, side by side.

Please know that the Cayman OE fog-lights are provided for styling and the benefit of visibility for the oncoming traffic. They are not functional as illumination for the Cayman driver.

The original and effective fog-lights, eliminated over two decades ago by the U.S. DOT (NHTSA) for safety reasons, used a low mounted (below the line of sight), powerful light source that would project the light out far and down at an angle that would reflect off of the road's surface. Reflecting up to illuminate the fog far ahead (rather than reflecting directly back to your eyes as your high-beams do!).

The driver of the fog-light equipped vehicle would have improved visibility to see into the fog much like an observer walking along a sidewalk at nighttime would be able to see into a well lit room in a home even through sheer window curtains.

Unfortunately, the lights' reflection angle that served so well in the "old school" fog-lights created very dangerous and temporary blinding glare to drivers' of oncoming vehicles. Hence the reason all late model fog-lights are ineffective in the fog. They are simply a design element in almost every application. Next time you are driving your Cayman at night, try turning your fog-lights on then off in a variety of locations...you won't see a difference!

The LEDs incorporated in my design are extremely bright. Although individual LED output can be expressed in millicandelas or converted to lumens with a formula, these values can be misleading. Each LED has an extremely high output relative to its reflector's surface area (1 mm) within the 5 mm epoxy lens. This provides great intensity that penetrates fog and the elements actually more effectively than your OE fog lights. This will help your car to be seen.

Here is a link to a great article that explains scientifically the advantage of LEDs in fog: http://www.imsasafety.org/journal/jf09/16.pdf

Also, LEDs are actually flashing at the rate of 60 times per second. This pulse is seen by your brain however is smoothed much like watching a motion picture. In all weather conditions, this highly energetic release will catch the attention of a persons' vision, much the same way as does a neon-sign or an arc-welder. Just think about how quickly the many cars equipped with LEDs catch your attention everyday on our roads and highways today! Likewise, you'll find they catch the attention of drivers in vehicles very quickly as you approach from the rear (finding that many drivers move over like never before ). Really great on track-days!

I hope this helps,

Joe DeSimone
Central Optional Products
511 14th Street
Arnold, PA 15068
Ph: 724-339-7555
copjsd@comcast.net

To order 2006-2008 Cayman LED Spars with Radiator Guards: www.planet-9.com/classifieds.php
 
#932 · (Edited)
I'm surprised that somebody hasn't purchased my limited production (one pair) Carbon Fiber 2006-2008 Cayman LED Spars with Radiator Guards. See my special add in the Planet-9 classifieds: Limited Edition Carbon-Fiber 2006-2008 Cayman LED Spars with Radiator Guards - Classifieds

Thank you!

Joe DeSimone
Central Optional Products
511 14th Street
Arnold, PA 15068
Ph: 724-339-7555
copjsd@comcast.net

To order the standard 2006-2008 Cayman LED Spars with Radiator Guards: Enthusify Marketplace
 
#934 ·
I'm surprised that somebody hasn't purchased my limited production (one pair) Carbon Fiber 2006-2008 Cayman LED Spars with Radiator Guards. See my special add in the Planet-9 classifieds: Limited Edition Carbon-Fiber 2006-2008 Cayman LED Spars with Radiator Guards - Classifieds

Thank you!

Joe DeSimone
Central Optional Products
511 14th Street
Arnold, PA 15068
Ph: 724-339-7555

To order the standard 2006-2008 Cayman LED Spars with Radiator Guards: Enthusify Marketplace
Joe,


If I understand the description on these special carbon fiber spars, it looks to just be film across the top. Maybe just my taste but I'm not sure this bit of bling across the top is all that attractive. I prefer the full blackout look of the stock item although hard to tell when you can't see it in in person.

Louis


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
#936 ·
Well, it took me a while . . . between starting a new job, moving, and not having my tools or a place to work on my car for a few months, but I finally got around to installing mine (along with the Fluid987 front splitters that have been waiting too). My install was a bit more complicated in that I wanted to remove my old Motordrive mesh grills before installing these, so that entailed removing the front bumper cover again. I also had to order some matching steel mesh which I cut and had powder-coated, to replace the older mesh over my center radiator. Sorry for the somewhat crappy pics:

BEFORE:




BUMPER COVER OFF:




OLD AND NEW CENTER RADIATOR MESH:




AFTER:




WOOHOO - THEY WORK!

 
#938 ·
Hello KS-CS,

Thank you for posting those interesting pictures! And congratulations on your new home and that great looking garage/shop.

I'd really appreciate if you'd post additional pictures with better lighting so we can see how your expanded metal center-radiator mesh looks with the LED spars' radiator guards' mesh.

Thanks again!

Joe DeSimone
Central Optional Products
511 14th Street
Arnold, PA 15068
Ph: 724-339-7555
copjsd@comcast.net

To order the standard 2006-2008 Cayman LED Spars with Radiator Guards: Enthusify Marketplace
08-13-2012 10:43 PM
 
#939 ·
I sold my outboard Motordrive grilles after getting the LED spars but still use the center grille. The two styles together don’t look that great but the plastic grilles with the spars do fit better than the metal ones. A while back Allan said he was waiting for his spars to check fitment of a metal grille version. Joe, maybe you could send him the vinyl carbon version because the weave looks odd being vertical instead of the typical 45 degree like on drPhil’s http://www.planet-9.com/news-items/...s-fits-2006-2008-group-buy-20.html#post613599
 
#942 ·
Congratulations Joe, on the success of these spars. They are the best-looking mod you can do to your Cayman for the least money.

Mine have worked well and, for others, when they fail you replace them no questions asked. I applaud you.

This mod has really up-dated the look of my car beyond what Porsche did with the 987.2

I hope the 981 Cayman will serve us so well.
 
#943 · (Edited)
Hello chas365,

Thank you for your order and for appreciating my product and efforts! I hope all of my customers feel as you do.

Best regards,

Joe DeSimone
Central Optional Products
511 14th Street
Arnold, PA 15068
Ph: 724-339-7555
copjsd@comcast.net

To order the standard 2006-2008 Cayman LED Spars with Radiator Guards: http://www.planet-9.com/classifieds.php
 
#954 · (Edited)
Hello 987XSZ,

Thank you for your interest in my 2006-2008 Cayman LED Spars with Radiator Guards.

Post #829 (above) best demonstrates the superior output of my LED spars vs. the OE fog-lights.

The 1mm diameter reflector located in the center of each 5mm epoxy resin LED is actually many times brighter than any single 1mm "spot" on the reflector of the OE fog light. There is a video soon to be released on the Cayman Register and also through the PCA's eBrake Email newsletter. There, you will be able to compare an illuminated LED spar to an illuminated OE foglight, side by side.

Please know that the Cayman OE fog-lights are provided for styling and the benefit of visibility for the oncoming traffic. They are not functional as illumination for the Cayman driver.

The original and effective fog-lights, eliminated over two decades ago by the U.S. DOT (NHTSA) for safety reasons, used a low mounted (below the line of sight), powerful light source that would project the light out far and down at an angle that would reflect off of the road's surface. Reflecting up to illuminate the fog far ahead (rather than reflecting directly back to your eyes as your high-beams do!).

The driver of the fog-light equipped vehicle would have improved visibility to see into the fog much like an observer walking along a sidewalk at nighttime would be able to see into a well lit room in a home even through sheer window curtains.

Unfortunately, the lights' reflection angle that served so well in the "old school" fog-lights created very dangerous and temporary blinding glare to drivers' of oncoming vehicles. Hence the reason all late model fog-lights are ineffective in the fog. They are simply a design element in almost every application. Next time you are driving your Cayman at night, try turning your fog-lights on then off in a variety of locations...you won't see a difference!

The LEDs incorporated in my design are extremely bright. Although individual LED output can be expressed in millicandelas or converted to lumens with a formula, these values can be misleading. Each LED has an extremely high output relative to its reflector's surface area (1 mm) within the 5 mm epoxy lens. This provides great intensity that penetrates fog and the elements actually more effectively than your OE fog lights. This will help your car to be seen.

Here is a link to a great article that explains scientifically the advantage of LEDs in fog: http://www.imsasafety.org/journal/jf09/16.pdf

Also, LEDs are actually flashing at the rate of 60 times per second. This pulse is seen by your brain however is smoothed much like watching a motion picture. In all weather conditions, this highly energetic release will catch the attention of a persons' vision, much the same way as does a neon-sign or an arc-welder. Just think about how quickly the many cars equipped with LEDs catch your attention everyday on our roads and highways today! Likewise, you'll find they catch the attention of drivers in vehicles very quickly as you approach from the rear (finding that many drivers move over like never before ). Really great on track-days!

I hope this helps,

Joe


Joseph S. DeSimone
Owner
Central Optional Products
511 14th Street
Arnold, PA 15068
Ph: 724-339-7555
copjsd@comcast.net

To order the standard 2006-2008 Cayman LED Spars with Radiator Guards: Enthusify Marketplace
 
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