cheap smilies?

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  • mattska
    Advanced Member
    • Jun 2005
    • 159

    #1

    cheap smilies?

    I am not sure if they are authentic, can anyone tell just by looking at them? the price seems really reasonable.

  • asubimmer
    R3V OG
    • Jul 2004
    • 6482

    #2
    looks like the depo knock off that are total crap
    ///Alpinweiß II 24v 91' 318is, Alpinweiß III 99' 323i, 04' Yamaha R6 SE for sale, 00' VW GTi, 83' El Camino BURNED, 01' P71sold, 92' Miatasold

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    • BavarianBimmer
      E30 Modder
      • Oct 2003
      • 951

      #3
      the one with the number IVD4441116 has the Hella stamp on the glass in the picture mmaybe

      1989 E30 318iS_______________________________1989 E30 325iC M-Technic I
      1997 E36 328iT
      1990 E30 325iT 24v SOLD
      1989 E30 325i 2.7i M-Technic II SOLD

      Comment

      • Jon '92 325ic
        Advanced Member
        • Dec 2003
        • 172

        #4
        Importvision sells DEPOS

        Importvision is a So Cal company here and they sell Depos, which are knockoffs of the Euro Smilleys sold by Bosch and/or Hella. Every post on every BMW board that I've ever read about Depos says bad things about them.

        That said, I know a guy who bought Depos from Importvision and installed them about 3 years ago. I just talked to him the other day (he moved to Florida and took his '92 M-tech convertible with him). He still loves them (over OEM sealed beams) and says he hasn't had any problems with them whatsoever. So, although everyone always trashes Depos, maybe if your upgrading from stock sealed beams, you'll love them too.

        Importvision sells them on eBay sometimes too.

        I have stock sealed beams so I don't have any experience with Depos or Importvision personally.

        Comment

        • nando
          Moderator
          • Nov 2003
          • 34827

          #5
          Originally posted by Jon '92 325ic
          Importvision is a So Cal company here and they sell Depos, which are knockoffs of the Euro Smilleys sold by Bosch and/or Hella. Every post on every BMW board that I've ever read about Depos says bad things about them.

          That said, I know a guy who bought Depos from Importvision and installed them about 3 years ago. I just talked to him the other day (he moved to Florida and took his '92 M-tech convertible with him). He still loves them (over OEM sealed beams) and says he hasn't had any problems with them whatsoever. So, although everyone always trashes Depos, maybe if your upgrading from stock sealed beams, you'll love them too.

          Importvision sells them on eBay sometimes too.

          I have stock sealed beams so I don't have any experience with Depos or Importvision personally.
          garbage, garbage garbage.. DEPO is pure shit. I always knew they were crappy, but I didn't realize how bad they were until I got genuine Hella ellipsoids. stick with your sealed beams and save your money for the real deal, you won't be sorry. used ellipsoids aren't that expensive anyway, I wish I had never wasted my money.
          Build thread

          Bimmerlabs

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          • Ryan Stewart
            I Love Miatas
            • Oct 2003
            • 8978

            #6
            A few people here gave them a shot a little while back. They had all kinds of problems.

            I have had 2 sets of hellas, no problems.
            Im now E30less.
            sigpic

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            • MR 325
              Moderator
              • Oct 2003
              • 37824

              #7
              Originally posted by Ryan Stewart
              A few people here gave them a shot a little while back. They had all kinds of problems.

              I have had 2 sets of hellas, no problems.
              The phrase "you get what you pay for" does apply here, no doubt
              BimmerHeads
              Classic BMW Specialists
              Santa Clarita, CA

              www.BimmerHeads.com

              Comment

              • straight6pwr
                No R3VLimiter
                • Sep 2004
                • 3450

                #8
                Originally posted by MR 325
                The phrase "you get what you pay for" does apply here, no doubt
                i dont think so, if you guys read it very carefully they are $185 for just one side. my guess is they are the real thing.

                Comment

                • MikeK
                  R3VLimited
                  • Jan 2005
                  • 2771

                  #9
                  i have DEPOs, they havent been any sort of a pain in my ass.


                  but, im even considering to get US Ellipsoids just to get rid of these DEPOs
                  Toyota Pickup

                  Comment

                  • nando
                    Moderator
                    • Nov 2003
                    • 34827

                    #10
                    it's not just that they are made poorly (and they are, very low quality plastics and materials), the lighting output doesn't even come close to the real thing. the optics are completely wrong, bimmerphile detailed what he discovered in a post a while back.
                    Build thread

                    Bimmerlabs

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