Check out these Depos!!

[MrGraphics]

I finally got around to installing the German Ebay Depo LEDs mentioned a few pages back. I must say, they are a 500% improvement over the stock depo bulbs. Do they look as bright as the new BMWs? No. There is still some trail-off as the light gets further away from the bulb. But overall it's not at all bad.

These pictures are real close to what you'll see in the real world. I played with the flash and f-stops of my camera until it captured what my eyes see. The color in my pics is very accurate. At night, they look very intense. During the day - not bad at all, especially considering the price and the fact that I didn't have to open up the housing. Plug and play, and they throw no codes.

One thing I noticed is the LEDs are a bit longer than the stock bulbs, so the end is pressed right up against the backside of the angel eyes.. I really had to push them into the housing to get enough friction to hold them in place. It's really easy to pull the plug back out of the housing.

[MrGraphics]

For those who want a "how to install LEDs into Depo housings tutorial" - it's not necessary. Ever change a christmas tree lightbulb? Same thing. If when you plug it in nothing happens, turn it around. LEDs have polarity.

There's 8 bulbs per headlight, and they're all on a christmas tree light string. Pull them out of the housing, change the bulb, plug them back in.

If changing christmas tree bulbs is confusing, best to pay someone.

[daniel_LNC]

very nice detail and very well done to you MrGraphics ,
forward to warm weather (now there are -5 degrees C) and start editing myself

[e90sexion]

Great
Can you post daytime pics as well and more pics at different angle
Very appreciated

[Milan Pantelic]

Originally Posted by aacabriolet

Aah I see. Thanks anyways. I'm keen to get these and do the mod myself!

Can we get a few close up pictures of the rings off and rings on please (in the day)!! Would really appreciate it!

Thanks

Sorry for waiting !

[aacabriolet]

Thanks Milan! Those look so hot!! Really wanna get a pair of Sonars now and do that!

Is there any other info whatsoever you can provide us (me) with? I know you said your headlight repairer did it. I'm mainly wondering what the LED rings are sitting behind. Like is it a custom made plastic ring bracket or something?

I'm guessing the stock Sonar rings were taken out and replaced with these custom ones.

[aacabriolet]

Sorry. Double post.

I personally think Milans looks 100x better than depos and look more like the new facelift LCI headlights coming out on the facelift e82/e88 models.

The SONARS don't have the bulbous frog eye look of the Depos which is great!

[Satalite]

They both have their pros and cons and of course personal preference. I personally like the rings on the SONARs but like the OEM factor of the DEPOs back housing and lamp.

[SchlauCow]

Originally Posted by Knob

Check out these LEDs http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I´m pretty that´s the best you can get for your depos
Here´s a short video


And here are more pics
http://www.1erforum.de/der-1er-bmw/1...tml#post908753

Wow this thread has come a long way! Those LEDs are exactly what I was trying to find (and create) so I'm glad someone finally made them for the depos. Good to know someone has more common sense than the JLeviSW folks who sold that crappy "upgrade" with their Depos because no thought was put into how the rings illuminate.

[Satalite]

Haha. SchlauCow what kind of HIDs did you install and how did it work with the 4 Ts-5 bulbs...?

[SchlauCow]

Originally Posted by Satalite

Haha. SchlauCow what kind of HIDs did you install and how did it work with the 4 Ts-5 bulbs...?

i ordered the 4500k upgrade from jlevisw but they screwed it up and gave me 6000k. the angel eye bulbs that were stock (halogen) didn't look super great, so i got the "led upgrade" also from jlevisw. they claimed to get rid of the blob effect caused by the forward-firing led, but they didn't think it through and used (surprise) led bulbs that fired forward rather than a dual side-firing led bulb. i also got weird errors when i started by car up, then the errors would go away. anyways, it was an ass pain.

if i could do it all over again:

-install depo housing
-install dual side firing led bulbs for angel eyes
-install mtec hid kit
-save time, money, and frustration

[Satalite]

Originally Posted by SchlauCow

i ordered the 4500k upgrade from jlevisw but they screwed it up and gave me 6000k. the angel eye bulbs that were stock (halogen) didn't look super great, so i got the "led upgrade" also from jlevisw. they claimed to get rid of the blob effect caused by the forward-firing led, but they didn't think it through and used (surprise) led bulbs that fired forward rather than a dual side-firing led bulb. i also got weird errors when i started by car up, then the errors would go away. anyways, it was an ass pain.

if i could do it all over again:

-install depo housing
-install dual side firing led bulbs for angel eyes
-install mtec hid kit
-save time, money, and frustration

++1

[aacabriolet]

Hmm so DEPO build quality better than SONAR you reckon? The only thing that puts me off is the bulbous look of the projector (the projector sits IN FRONT of the angel eye!)

[Knob]

Originally Posted by SchlauCow

Wow this thread has come a long way! Those LEDs are exactly what I was trying to find (and create) so I'm glad someone finally made them for the depos. Good to know someone has more common sense than the JLeviSW folks who sold that crappy "upgrade" with their Depos because no thought was put into how the rings illuminate.

BTW, the LEDs will soon be avaible in 4000°! I`ll let you know if I know more...

[aacabriolet]

Yea please let us know Knob.

What temperature are those ones you have? 5K?

I've suddenly changes my mind to get depos now lol..

[Satalite]

Haha I have wanted them. But using money for other mods first. Lights are low priority

[e90sexion]

ok, got depo headlight today,
all the wires for angel eyes are unplugged,
how the heck do you guys insert into the holes? my hand can't even fit in there.

[aacabriolet]

Originally Posted by e90sexion

ok, got depo headlight today,
all the wires for angel eyes are unplugged,
how the heck do you guys insert into the holes? my hand can't even fit in there.

Pics please!!

How easy are they to install?

[e90sexion]

Originally Posted by aacabriolet

Pics please!!

How easy are they to install?

sure, here they are,
I was little concerned they dont look OEM but this depo looks better in person actualy, the ring isn't that bluish too. looking forward to install them next weekend. Those wires are angel eyes, and see the holes inside the headlight they are the holes for angel eyes. 4 of each halo. total 8 per headlight.
now I am not so sure how to insert those bulbs into the holes

[e90sexion]

bigger pics, somehow they shrink my pic because too big I guess,
here is the better pic.

[aacabriolet]

Thanks for the pics! Much appreciated! I think rather upload them with photobucket or imageshack to keep the full resolution.

And I think for those angel eye wires, each bulb just pokes in each of the 4 holders for each angel eye.

Keep us updated

[e90sexion]

installed mine today, tested light everything. work good
after installation, putting bumper back on. I realized 3 bulbs angel eyes aren't light up probably the bulb got loose during install.
can't go back..... anyone installed leds in angel eyes, did you have to take the headlight out???? I am scared to fix those 3 bulbs because it might pull all the bulbs out since the wires are all attached together.