Will DEPO projector headlamps produce a proper beam pattern with halogen bulbs?

[RAUDY]

Been finding out all I can about these DEPO lights. Even checked with the factory in Taiwan, their minimum order is one 20ft container.

Anyway, the DEPO lights are meant for halogen retrofits, and do not come with a HID conversion. My question is, what is the difference between these and the OEM halogen lamps? Not just the cutoff, but the range, brightness, and pattern?

What I like about these DEPOs: blacked out housing, projector housings.

What I do not like: Not clear cornered.

What I'm not sure about: Angel eyes (that's a separate discussion though), and what the resulting light output will be like with halogens.

I don't want to go through the trouble of retrofitting these DEPOs and fail inspection.

[RAUDY]

Basically, I need to know what the result of projector housing + halogen bulbs will be.

[sdjeff]

not enough light output.. you will need HID's.

[lowestA4]

It's only the optics.

A halogen housing is a halogen housing. No matter which bulb is used.

The output of a projector light is a little sharper and more focussed ("cutoff line"). Reflector headlights are normally quite old-fashioned. They are still used because they are cheap to manufacture.

Don't believe that you'll have brighter lights with going to projector halogens. You can only get out what you put in. Remember with any halogen bulb you are at the limit with around 55 watts and 3400°K light temperature.

[supamannn99]

also, the DEPO ones don't have the auto-leveling feature.

the DEPO's are ONLY for cars that had halogen as stock, if you didn't know already.

[redlabel81]

Can't imagine anyone taking out their OEM HIDs for the DEPOs........

[supamannn99]

maybe.. for the quad halos? :D

[RAUDY]

Guys, I have halogen lamps, so these projectors are already an upgrade.

What I'm wondering is if I have to go HID as well, or can I use halogen bulbs with these projector housings (the DEPO housings are designed for halogen).

I've been using high output halogen lamps and they are plenty bright.

[darin1274]

I have these depos and they are a pain in the ass to adjust. The screw just spins in circles and will not bring the light beam down! Grrr! They are aimed too high and I need to get the light pattern down toward the road...

and yes I have an HID drop in kit.....any suggestions? the adjustment screw just spins in circle with no results.

[p1nk50ck]

yes, you will need hid ballasts to go with this. you can find them online for about 100 bucks or so. do a search for depo, and you'll find links to hids, and pictures.

from the pictures i've seen, the regular halogen bulbs will work, but the light output is not very good.

[NorcalPB]

[QUOTE=darin1274;3164584]I have these depos and they are a pain in the ass to adjust. The screw just spins in circles and will not bring the light beam down! Grrr! They are aimed too high and I need to get the light pattern down toward the road...

and yes I have an HID drop in kit.....any suggestions? the adjustment screw just spins in circle with no results.[/Q]

You need to loosen the screw so it comes out, pull back on the projector housings and you will see it can move freely now. If they're too high, you will probably need to put the screw closer to the rear of the lights.

[sdjeff]

I have these depos and they are a pain in the ass to adjust. The screw just spins in circles and will not bring the light beam down! Grrr! They are aimed too high and I need to get the light pattern down toward the road...

and yes I have an HID drop in kit.....any suggestions? the adjustment screw just spins in circle with no results.

Pain? The adjustment screw is the white plastic screw ontop of the housings. Its visible when installed.. you can adjust with the headlights on. Are you adjusting the right screw?

[darin1274]

yes...I adjusted the screw closest to the fender, which is for the projector, not the high beam. I'm using an allen wrench to adjust the screw so I dont chew up the screw with a screwdriver.
The damn screw just spins freely in the headlight but of course no movement of the projection beam. I wonder if the screw is adjusted too far out to make any further adjustments. damn I dont want to have to take the bumper off to fix it!

[Mtepete]

so let me get this right... i get these housings, buy a drop in HID kid for 100$ and these headlights will produce a decent beam pattern?>?? i have standard halogen as it is right now..

[tiptronic]

Guys, I have halogen lamps, so these projectors are already an upgrade.

What I'm wondering is if I have to go HID as well, or can I use halogen bulbs with these projector housings (the DEPO housings are designed for halogen).

I've been using high output halogen lamps and they are plenty bright.

Yes you can place an HID kit- I have an A3 that is using an FK projectionhousing (basically the same as Depo) it is designed for halogen application, but the HIDs Kits works just fine. The cut-off is very good, and the output of course is brighter than the standard halogens (providing u are using 4300k to an admissable 6000k HID bulbs). The only issue (minor) however, is that since the projection housing is designed for halogen bulbs- the HID bulbs' light source (the arch") maybe a bit off where the halogen filaments location would be inside- meaning, there will be a prominent brightspot upfront- but nothing too drastic or annoying. In comparison to OEM HIDs, the output of the OEM is an even blanket of light upfront. The FK, or Depos, does have that blanket of light, but with the two (one from each housing) brightspots upfront.
You can however invest on a ''better'' HID kits whereby the HID capsules and the ''arch'' position mimics that of the halogen bulbs- thus providing the optimum ouput in reference to the proper location of the lightsource (arch) inside the projector housing. No prominent brightspot, and an even-blanket of light and proper cut-off. I know- sounds convoluted but i hope u get my drift.

There are two companies that ive come across offering such kits (kbcarstuff.com, and visionbulbs.com) Im currently using VVME, but already have the Xteme HID kit from Kbcarstuff.com waiting to be installed. The VVME is so-so in quality.

Here's a couple of pics with the FK with HID kit (VVME)

THE CUT-OFFS HAS THE EURO RIGHT UP-THROW TO LIGHT UP THE RIGHTSIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS LESS THAN 10FEET AWAY FROM THE GARAGE DOOR


CANYON SHOT (IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY UPFRONT, U WILL SEE TWO FAINT HORIZONTAL BRIGHT SPOT)



He

[darin1274]

wish I could get my depo's to get a beam pattern like that...

[Mtepete]

wish I could get my depo's to get a beam pattern like that...

hmmm that doesnt sound to promising...

[sdjeff]

hmmm that doesnt sound to promising...

my depo's looks like that

[tiptronic]

I went out to take better photos. By the way i'm using 6000k HIDs..
RAUDY, i know you're looking for pics with projection/halogen bulbs...but i thought I'd share the photos below in the event that you decide on an HID kit instead.





And here it shows the european right side throw... (for LHD cars, the FK and i beleive the Depo has a lever inside to switch the 'up-throw' to be able to use for LHD or RHD cars)...

[yung turbo]

DAAMN that is what u call turning night into day.

[tiptronic]

DAAMN that is what u call turning night into day.

[Sanjman]

tipronic... sexy... but any other lights on (fogs, LEDs, etc.)? not fair to call that all DEPOs doings if other lights were on.

[NorcalPB]

Damn tiptronic I don't think even our MDX has ouput like that.

[tiptronic]

Haha no other lights were on (well the headlamp LEDS).... but the brightness is because of the camera's sensitivity to light. the actual output is comparable to oem Audi. My previous Passat 1.8t wagon was fitted with HELLA OEM HIDS- and i switched to 6000k d2s- and the output is similar.

So yes in a way, the brightness is 20% deceiving- and this is exactly what the other HID sellers do to their advertising photos.
Sorry for the confusion.

[RAUDY]

Tiptronic, thanks for the info and great pics.

DOES ANYONE HAVE INFO OR PICS OF THESE DEPO LAMPS WITH HALOGEN BULBS (for which they're designed)?

[Perspolis]

Has anyone tried replacing the projectors on these?

[Sanjman]

at the end of the day, the depo headlights are a GREAT alternative to the OEM ecode housing retrofits... you can even get already configured HID kits built in. All you have to do a little search... and you would know to contact darren @ SW and they have those available for you.

[MichiganAudiDvr]

at the end of the day, the depo headlights are a GREAT alternative to the OEM ecode housing retrofits... you can even get already configured HID kits built in. All you have to do a little search... and you would know to contact PUREMS and they have those available for you.

FYI - I don't see any headlight housings on the PURE MS website for our B7 A4's. If they do have these housings - throw up a link.

[Sanjman]

sorry i crapped up... contact darren @ SW for them... there is a post on him fitting them and testing them and finally selling them with a built in kit as a alternative to OEM ecodes

[stubbs]

Has anyone tried replacing the projectors on these?

that's what I want to know... I've got the depos w/ a 55w hid kit installed, but like people have said, the coverage isn't nearly as even due to the difference in bulb location for halogens and xenons. I believe that the projector shield (bowl) is also a different shape for xenons, more curved.