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Thread: Headlights - where should I look?

  1. #1
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    Headlights - where should I look?

    I want to replace my headlight which have burnt lenses, and have the following guidelines in mind:

    - I don't want plastic chinese replacements. I want OEM quality glass.
    - Angel eyes
    - Projector / Xenon?

    Help me? Where should I look?

  2. #2
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  3. #3
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    I got Depo projectors from eBay. Real glass ridged lenses with nipples and projectors on the low beam, city lights in the high beams. They were around $180 with smoked corners.

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

  4. #4
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    I got depos as well. Mine were a bit more as I went with the yellow highs but they are projectors with glass lenses. Straight install but you have to take a feed off the marker lights to power the city lights. Also the bulbs are different than your oe ones. The depos are H1 bulbs.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by datto62073 View Post
    I got depos as well. Mine were a bit more as I went with the yellow highs but they are projectors with glass lenses. Straight install but you have to take a feed off the marker lights to power the city lights. Also the bulbs are different than your oe ones. The depos are H1 bulbs.
    Yeah, the city light tie in is simple though. On mine it was the grey wire with yellow stripe on the passengers side, Grey wire with purple stripe on the drivers. I stripped a 3/4 inch section out of the wiring insulation and wrapped/soldered it, then re-taped it.

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

  6. #6
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    Yup. That's about what I did.

    Oh and I got my lights off eBay. Cheaper than anywhere else I found.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Deus Ex Machina View Post
    I got Depo projectors from eBay. Real glass ridged lenses with nipples and projectors on the low beam, city lights in the high beams. They were around $180 with smoked corners.
    do you have the depo part number for these lights?

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ajaxx1989 View Post
    do you have the depo part number for these lights?
    Here is the listing from Ebay, there are a lot of interchange part numbers but not sure on the DEPO PN. They actually went down to $166.00 and some change. A good deal.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E36-2DR...72.m2749.l2649

    I also got these to match them:

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/DEPO-92-96-...72.m2749.l2649

    One thing to be careful with is the side landing "Clips" for the corner lights (on the headlight unit itself). You should heat them up with a blow drier on high before putting on the corner lights while being very careful. I broke one of them. Depo addresses this in the instructions, I think they should redesign that with a more durable molding.
    Last edited by Deus Ex Machina; 12-12-2017 at 11:46 PM.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by whiteraver View Post
    I want to replace my headlight which have burnt lenses, and have the following guidelines in mind:

    - I don't want plastic chinese replacements. I want OEM quality glass.
    - Angel eyes
    - Projector / Xenon?

    Help me? Where should I look?
    I just went through this process with Depo Euros. They are total shit and crack if you look at them wrong...Go DJ auto or ZKW route (you've been warned). I had 3 crack on me when installing Depo corners, but have it figured out now. I replaced the first one that cracked, but then my remaining 2 also cracked. You cannot avoid it IMO without a DIY process to fix their design flaw and terrible material. My time spent with them is more valuable than whatever money I saved. I totally regret using them, but they are on the car now and working fine. The Depo glass also has 4 paragraphs of text written all over them which is IMO an eye sore. You also have to grind the (Depo) corner lights (these are actually made from good plastic) as they interfere with the euro headlight sides and will push out the slots upon installation, causing them to crack. If you don't do this, you are guaranteed to crack the plastic. This is a "Depo on Depo" part issue....WTF? Just test fit them together off the car and you will see where you need to grind the back of the corner lights. You may be able to prevent the cracking and avoid the metal reinforcement step if you pay attention to this first. I didn't find this issue documented anywhere though. OEM corners must not have this issue with the DEPO euro lights?

    #1 the Depo plastic is total garbage on the headlight glass piece. The worst stuff you have ever worked with and cracks anywhere you put any small stress on.....like the side locking tabs (which are functionally worthless-so don't worry if they break), or corner light mounting female slots (they are critical). I had to bend some sheet metal (bent into a U bracket), use a glue gun to reinforce the top slots, AND had to use a heat gun to bend the corner light locking tabs/barbs to a workable position so they didn't push so hard. Seriously, the side tabs that lock onto the housing barbs....that everyone breaks don't do anything. The metal clips provide all the mating gasket compression force and the side tabs aren't even in contact with the barbs when assembled. IE they do nothing but make you curse when they eventually break. A heat gun keeps them from breaking though.

    I also used a TRS retrofit "quick" kit. The provided FX-R 3.0 projectors are fantastic....FN awesome, as are the PNP igniters. Their TRS mounting hardware has no instructions for DEPO lights anymore (thanks Photobucket) and does not fit well at all though. I don't know how so many people give them good reviews. It is a good start, but DON'T expect a simple PNP experience. The holes are not re-engineered accurately, so they accommodate this via slots and general slop in the fitment. The holes aren't even centered in the TRS bracket slots. Expect to fiddle around with standoffs, buying new hardware, etc. I had to cut up my Depo housing metal frames to fit the projectors and grind the projectors down. The projectors can move a ton in the sloppy fitment of everything.

    They are a bitch to properly align because you have to remove the headlight glass to level them....which means you have to remove the glass covers prior to installation, align them, remove headlights, re-install glass, re-install headlights to car, re-check alignment, rinse repeat until you get it right. Also remember the Depo plastic likes to crack, so don't crack anything in this process, and ensure you don't rotate any of the headlight mounting adjusters changing alignment. You also have to ensure that your current projector position is centered in the headlight hole. They also don't provide any shroud to run them without the round glass covers which will leave the ugly black TRS bracket exposed (which you should have the option to IMO). What I expected to be a 1-2 hr job, was a couple days worth of fiddling around to get it right, and I'm still not 100% happy with the projector alignments. This is my 3rd set of headlight modification from different cars, I'm an ME, and this was a total bitch of a job to get right. No other headlight mod was anywhere near as frustrating.

    I also did the Orion V4 angel eyes and they are fantastic in all ways. Tip: Use hot glue on them, not the 2 sided tape. They just wire into the 12v from the corner parking light wires (grey wires with various stripes)

    I would also recommend the high beam splitters as they are simple, cheap, and allow you to use all 4 lights. Quad high beams light up everything.
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


    In all, I'd probably just pay the $600-$800 for a pre-assembled headlight with the below components. I didn't really save any money DIYing it. The results are worth it as there is no comparison before/after.

    Morimoto FX-R 3.0 projectors (35w plenty good enough) with corresponding XB ballast
    Orion AE (Gen 4 probably the best, but they are all probably good enough).
    Euro housings of non Depo origin.

    I can post pics if you want.
    Last edited by wgknestrick; 12-13-2017 at 09:37 AM.

  10. #10
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    I would look at Schmeidmanns, and go with either real Zkw or Bosche. They are more expensive but are worth the extra money. I’ve had dj autos, and they aren’t terrible, but no match for zkw. The zkw’s are beautiful headlights in person, I’ve got them on both of my cars. No experience with bosche but I’m sure they are just as nice.
    CBlock


  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by whiteraver View Post
    I want to replace my headlight which have burnt lenses, and have the following guidelines in mind:

    - I don't want plastic chinese replacements. I want OEM quality glass.
    - Angel eyes
    - Projector / Xenon?

    Help me? Where should I look?

    You're not going to get much love here, this is an E36 forum. It's not that we hate you, it's that your parts and ours are very different.

  12. #12
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    If we're talking and E36 I can build a quality setup for you but it's like $700-1500 depending on the parts choices. ZKW/OEM costs a lot more as do the better quality Angel Eyes.
    1997 328is - Megasquirt PNP, Holset HX35, Deka 80lb injectors, SPA T3, Precision PW39 WG, Synapse Synchronic BOV, DKM Organic Twin Disc Clutch, Innovate LC-2 W/B, Mishimoto Intercooler, Mishimoto Catch Can, Mishimoto Rad, Devils Own Meth, Porsche 911 calipers with E46 M3 rotors, Corsa Exhaust

  13. #13
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    '93 320i
    I have a set of Depos that I just put a 6k Hid kit in & it's easily my favorite mod I've done to my car. My only complaint is that the highbeams suck on them, but the Hid's are bright enough I don't think I'll ever use them anyways. Should be common sense, but 3m them! Mine have taken a lot of abuse but they still look brand new which is nice.

    '93 Bmw 32oi /// White leather, H&R race springs, Style 125 reps, Evo X wing

  14. #14
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by Deus Ex Machina View Post
    I got Depo projectors from eBay. Real glass ridged lenses with nipples and projectors on the low beam, city lights in the high beams. They were around $180 with smoked corners.

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
    how to wire up the bulbs
    98 328is/5 Arctic silver
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    Oil pan and timing chain delete, weight reduction right?
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  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by zohaibrose View Post
    how to wire up the bulbs
    They use H1 bulbs, you just plug them in the sockets and use the stock plugs.

    There is only one wire you have to solder, and it's for the "city light" bulbs (optional). I showed how I wired those a few posts above. I forgot to take a picture after I did the soldering. Very simple, they work great.

    Other than the issues with the brittle side clips I am happy with them. $700-800 For headlights is a bill I don't want to pay since I have other needs. I got replacements for every light on the car for $400.

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