CHOOSING HEADLIGHTS

The 99's sold stateside were equipped with twin 5 ¾" uni-size SAE-fit units. Sealed beam units of course, buy any type of 5 ¾" uni-size unit can be made to fit in these brackets.

The only thing that puzzled me, was how Saab got away with installing four full-beams in the feeble wiring harness with a light-relay stamped: Max 150 Watt ?!? Did USA-spec 99's get a different relay?

No, the explanation is much simpler. The outer units are 60 W each, whereas the inner fullbeams-only are 37,5 W each. Yes ladies and gentlemen, there is a 37,5 W version of the DOT uni-size SAE-fit full-beam unit !!! Can you believe it? This actually resulted in a 170 Watt load, but it seemed to work allright.

European 99's had large rectangular parabolic H4 headlights. These are however not designer-units, a lot of other car manufactorers used them aswell. So far I've seen them on: Vauxhall Chevette, Renault 16, Renault 12, Citroen C25, Ford Escort Mk I, Ford Capri Mk I, Le Mans winning Ford GT 40, just to mention a few.

Alternative 99 lightunits.
Rectangular headlights: Two units will fit here. The original Saab 99 H4 headlights are quite good, and not expensive. For those who want a more "hi-tech" solution, I recommend the Hella DE-H1 (2DL 005 600-097/-107). Original headlights on Volvo FLC / FL6 trucks, and some buses.

Twin 5 ¾" uni-size units:
I strongly recommend separate dip beam units, the 5 ¾" H4 does not have a sufficient reflector area. FF-Bifocus, or DE units will give a tremendous dip beam. For the money-no-object techno-freaks, BMW offers 5 ¾" xenon lights (At silly prices), which will fit after a minor modifying.
The twin-headlights bracket will also need to be modified.

My personal solution:
Dip beam: Hella Bifocus 5 ¾", 1B3 128 267-001.
Fog lights: Hella 5 ¾", 1N3 124 199-001. (From a Hella grille for VW Golf MkI)
Full beam: Bosch Big Knick 225, 0 306 003 001

SAAB 900 HEADLIGHTS

European 900's has parabolic H4 designer-units. In terms of light output/beam pattern, they are excellent, but the Mk I (79-86) reflectors are not particularly wear-resistant. Corroded greyish reflectors are the rule, and not the exeption. This is a Hella unit, so I dont know who's to blame? Saab, for specifying low grade cheaper material, or Hella for making it? The upside is that spare reflectors are available, at reasonable prices.

Mk II lightunits (87-93) does not suffer such ridiculous flaws. Plastics dont corrode. But can anyone tell me if these plastic reflectors will handle the heat of a 100/90 watt bulb fed by a proper wiring harness as described earlier in this article? I thought not.

Stateside, the 900 MkI had a bracket with the "large rectangular 200x142 mm DOT uni-size SAE-fit unit", and a plastic bezel to fill the gap around the smaller-than-european headlight. To comply with US legislation, sealed beam units were installed, but practically any 200x142 mm uni-size unit will fit in these brackets.

Alternative 900 lightunits. If someone in USA wants european H4 units, they can either buy original european Saab headlights (the expensive solution),
or they can buy large rectangular 200x142 mm uni-size H4 units (the sensible priced solution).
If someone in Europe (or stateside) wants DE dip beams, they can buy the US-bracket and bezel (from a scrapyard?), throw away the sealed beams, and fit large rectangular 200x142 mm uni-size DE-H1 dip beam units. (After a minor modifying) For full beam light, see "aux. driving lights".