Depo lights, yay or nay?

[Hellrotten]

Gonna pick these up today, after work. I know nothing about the brand, or the quality. How are they? How complicated is the install? Are they worth what he's asking?

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/pts/1428696710.html

[TouringDan]

Good lord - no. Don't do it - those are horribly overpriced and Depo's suck. You can get a set of REAL OEM Hella's for less.

[m60b30530i]

i think they are not worth 350$ look on ebay to compare, from what i heard depo is crap, hella is the way to go :)

[T444E]

Those are overpriced as HELL sir. But I had Depos. Weren't so bad. Lenses crack easy. But I liked them just the same.

[Hellrotten]

lol wow, thanks a lot. I really appreciate the advice. sheesh, I dont have money to throw away.

[Sneezy]

$350? You're kidding, right? You can get smileys for a $100 less...

[Hellrotten]

$350? You're kidding, right? You can get smileys for a $100 less...

so for the heads, and fogs, would they be worth $200?

[Sneezy]

so for the heads, and fogs, would they be worth $200?

Sure. They are brand new, after all.

I'd rather have a used set of OEMs, but hey...

[Hellrotten]

Maybe I'll offer the guy $200. So, what is it exactly about depos? Just bad quality? Cheap materials, or what. Do they look ricey, once installed?

[Sneezy]

They're okay. They look fine. I just prefer glass that you can hit with a ball peen and have it bounce back rather than glass that cracks from just a hard stare.

If you can get both sets for $200 you'll have done well. I doubt he'll bite on that hook, though.

[T444E]

Meh those fogs look ricey.

Also, since when is your car, OP, a manual?

[Hellrotten]

OP?

[T444E]

Original poster, aka you aka Hellrotten.

[Boogieboy]

OP?Original Poster=you.:D


You should be able to source some Hella's for cheaper than that.


EDIT: Garret beat me too it.

[Hellrotten]

Ahh, My car has always been a manual. I agree, the fogs do look a bit starchy, but I need the fogs more than I need a set of heads. One of mine, is cracked, so I figured eh...if I can get a full set for cheap, why not. But if these crack easily as well, whats the point?

[T444E]

They never made 94 540i with manual transmission unless it was converted.

[Hellrotten]

Hmm, welp I dunno. I've owned mine for a little over a month now, but it from a bruised car lot here in GA. It's a 5 speed though, which seems sketchy to me, thought the 540s were all 6ers. I wasn't even searching for one, knew nothing of E34s before this car, couldnt beat the price though.

[abulrum]

how much are the pair of DEPO fogs ??

[4500 RPM]

Holy crap that is expensive.

Your car is "Analog"'s former car, he swapped it to a 5-speed from a 530i. Take a look at it. By the way, I don't think your bumper will even take fogs, it's a horrible M5 replica that IIRC BavAuto sells.

[mean green 540]

They never made 94 540i with manual transmission unless it was converted.

That is not true, Euro models where made in a manual trans.

[Hellrotten]

Abul, I've seen those fogs for $120 I believe. I've been doing a little hunting. So your car doesn't have any fogs?

[bigsixe34]

DEPO's are fine. Yes, Hella's are better quality, and yes I suppose they break a little bit easier, but they serve the exact same purpose for less money. Everything you can do with Hella's you can do with DEPO's, except boast the fact that your car has OEM lights...

[4500 RPM]

Abul, I've seen those fogs for $120 I believe. I've been doing a little hunting. So your car doesn't have any fogs?

You're not getting it. You can buy a used pair on the board for under $100, and genuine Hella and don't look like crap.


DEPO's are fine. Yes, Hella's are better quality, and yes I suppose they break a little bit easier, but they serve the exact same purpose for less money. Everything you can do with Hella's you can do with DEPO's, except boast the fact that your car has OEM lights...

And not have the glass break or the plastic melt, or the plastic mounts break, but yeah, other than that, you can boast that you bought cheap crappy Chinese Hella-knockoffs but the price of used Hellas :rofl

[T444E]

That is not true, Euro models where made in a manual trans.

I know I was referring to US models.

I don't think his car is Analogs old one, Analogs was green IIRC, OP's is gray.

[bigsixe34]

And not have the glass break or the plastic melt, or the plastic mounts break, but yeah, other than that, you can boast that you bought cheap crappy Chinese Hella-knockoffs but the price of used Hellas :rofl

I should've known I was going to be up against the Hella/anything OEM spokesperson himself :stickoutt
Yea DEPO's aren't as nice but they DO undeniably work...for a ton of board members...

[Hellrotten]

So the glass does seem crackable...plastic seems a little, mm cheap. I like the look of the headlights, the fogs look kinda ricey. Def weren't worth $350

[4500 RPM]

I should've known I was going to be up against the Hella/anything OEM spokesperson himself :stickoutt
Yea DEPO's aren't as nice but they DO undeniably work...for a ton of board members...

Until they break. I'm a Hella fan for a reason, it's not like I flash the Hella emblem to girls and they're impressed. It's functionality, same reason why I'd rather have a set of tools from Craftsman vs. Harbor Freight.

The issues with DEPO are known. Use at your own risk...it won't make your car explode but I'm not a fan of melted plastic, crappy gasket, taillight errors, faded lenses, and any other problems that can crop up. As Lowell/Kalevera said, people forget how hot those lights get.

[rvp1030]

My depo smoked tails have been good so far, about 6 months now. No faded lenses or sgitty gaskets, but idk if i would pay that much for heads and fogs if they might fail

[535ipower]

So the tail are okay? i want to get the clear corner tail from them...

[Hellrotten]

I Believe that you pretty much get what you pay for. Not knowing anything about the brand, I thought a set of heads and fogs at $350 was a good deal. After reading your opinions, of course mine changed as well.

I paid $150, and I truly expect that they work out like a set of $150 lights. I imagine they last long enough for me to decide what to replace them with. Now I just have to find instructions on putting them in, since they didn't come with any.

[Sneezy]

I Believe that you pretty much get what you pay for. Not knowing anything about the brand, I thought a set of heads and fogs at $350 was a good deal. After reading your opinions, of course mine changed as well.

I paid $150, and I truly expect that they work out like a set of $150 lights. I imagine they last long enough for me to decide what to replace them with. Now I just have to find instructions on putting them in, since they didn't come with any.

Well if you got all four lamp assemblies for $150 you certainly didn't get hurt.

[abulrum]

Abul, I've seen those fogs for $120 I believe. I've been doing a little hunting. So your car doesn't have any fogs?

no I have but they are scrached because of the sand storms ! 120 dollars is a good price for the 2 fogs . i found them in Bahrain for 100 dollars .

[Hellrotten]

Abul an easy preventive measure is to apply clear tape over the fogs. This keeps them from being scratched. You may have to change the tape once every 2 months, but it's worked for me in the past. Of course there's also professional lens film, Im sure.

[Stir Fry A Lot]

I have Depo tails and they're holding up well. They fit pretty snug too. I've seen plenty of OEM melted tail assemblies to so Depo tails aren't much of a biggie with me. I'd personally go Hella with the headlights though. Not a fan of LaminX'ing headlights (or fogs for that matter).