If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
Anyone have any recent experiences with the Depo headlights that they'd like to share? Bosch and Hella prices are leaning towards stupid and Depo's came to mind...
Haven't specifically tried the Depo headlights for an E30 but I have used Depo lights on many other BMWs and never had any issues. They are pretty good quality, definitely good enough for 99% of E30s
Euro Smiley Smoked Crosshair Projector Headlight Set
Sold at ECS. Part #ES#2710776 $249.95
I like the look of these and the price only if the quality pans out.
The only review given stated it took two hours to install including making a trip to the local auto parts for connectors??? My question for this upgrade is why am I, after dropping 250 large, needing to buy connectors and slicing wires to make it all work?
Why are they not plug and play so I am not cutting up my investment!
Preamble:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
Euro Smiley Smoked Crosshair Projector Headlight Set
Sold at ECS. Part #ES#2710776 $249.95
I like the look of these and the price only if the quality pans out.
The only review given stated it took two hours to install including making a trip to the local auto parts for connectors??? My question for this upgrade is why am I, after dropping 250 large, needing to buy connectors and slicing wires to make it all work?
Why are they not plug and play so I am not cutting up my investment!
Because you are buying lights that were never designed for your North American car?
Originally posted by codyep3
I hope to Christ you have looks going for you, because you sure as fuck don't have any intelligence.
2001 silver/Blk 325 cabby. SOLD
1988 Blk/Blk e30 factory wide body kit car SOLD
1992 DS/BLK 325 m-tech II apperance pack cabby SOLD!
2002 325xit Sil/blk. SOLD
2012 328i xdrive touring. Wht/blk. SOLD
2009 135 cabby. monacoblue/blk leather SOLD
2007 Z4m coupe. Silver grey/black/ aluminum. 1of50
2010 F650gs twin
2016 M235i cabby. Mineral grey/Red leather
Because you are buying lights that were never designed for your North American car?
Ok, I wasn't aware of that.
BUT, why is there not a connector to attach these Depo's to my current wiring harness provided with a $250.00 kit.
Preamble:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
BUT, why is there not a connector to attach these Depo's to my current wiring harness provided with a $250.00 kit.
They copied everything except the euro connectors. Unfortunately, the housings along with the waterproof terminals are expensive. You can get them used off other BMW's at the junkyard if you know what to look for. The sad adapter harness they provide is specifically designed for cars with ellipsoids already which means 88-89. If your car didn't come with ellipsoids then you'd need to make your own adapter harness with male/female spade connectors. You might want to use HID or LED units in the lowbeams anyway so you just need to wire up the highbeams and citylights. It's not a big deal if you are inclined and have the tools.
I've had all kinds of lights over the years from Bosch/Hella euro ellipsoids to Depo's and I have no major complaints. The quality isn't as good but good enough and of course they are brand new vs nearly 30 year old original lights. OEM used parts are just getting older everyday. At some point you just have to decide what's more important. The one thing I have noticed about the smoked Depo's though is the trim rings will rust. I refinished them after a few years and they have started rusting again. I don't have this issue with original Hella smoked lights. People also say the glass is thinner or cheaper which may be true but then again cost to replace the set is much cheaper than OEM.
I have the Depo's on my car. Daily driven for the last few months.
Quality is good. I do recommend doing a thorough inspection around the glass. Early DEPO's had complaints of leaking. I found a small area that looked suspect where there was a gap in the sealer. Just to be safe, I ran a small bead of clear silicone all the way around all the lenses to ensure there would be no leaks. No problems so far. The casting for the H1 bulb seat isn't perfect (lots of flashing left over), but IIRC, all else was perfectly fine. The holders/bracket/frame, whatever it's called, had lots of flashing left over on mine where there are bolt holes, etc. Not a big deal to cut them out however, but it won't matter anyway. I just like to do it.
Also, to protect the glass I recommend getting Lamin-X or an equivalent.
If you are lucky, you can find all the necessary Euro connectors on fleabay. I paid about $50 for the lot of them and spliced them into my harness just fine. Would have cost something like $140 for brand new ones.
Deleted my side markers and tapped into the line to power my city lights. However, I want to undo that and make them run solely as DRL that will turn off when I turn on the main beams.
Taken right after they were installed (with new valance and euro grills, etc).
Euro Smiley Smoked Crosshair Projector Headlight Set
Sold at ECS. Part #ES#2710776 $249.95
I like the look of these and the price only if the quality pans out.
The only review given stated it took two hours to install including making a trip to the local auto parts for connectors??? My question for this upgrade is why am I, after dropping 250 large, needing to buy connectors and slicing wires to make it all work?
Why are they not plug and play so I am not cutting up my investment!
Because they probably had sealed beam headlights. ANY headlight upgrade on a sealed beam car will require splicing wires, etc.
Not true, I sell tons of Hella and Cibie halogens to replace sealed beams. Plug And Play.
I install sealed beam connectors - solder them to high beam wiring, you plug into the harness connector. Lows are simply plug-ins, no adaptors needed, since H4 lamps take the harness connector directly.
And they all take headlight protection film very well, of course. A good headlight should last 30 years; mine do.
Good Lights Don't Leak, and they WORK with standard wattage high output lamps. But if you want Depos, get them and see how they work. It's only money.
Andy says "Be Seen, and Not Hurt!"
Lighting Upgrades front and back for 2002, E3, E9, E10, E12, E21, E23, E24, E28, E30, E32, E36, E39, and more.
Tail Light Improvements keep them off your tail.
Headlight protection saves headlights from breakage.
Comment