DEPO Headlights Thread - everything you ever wanted to know about DEPO
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
c230
ok.. ive searched and searched maybe not hard enough, but i can't seem to see anywere, anyone stating the DIY for installing these headlights... before I buy I wanted to see if this can be done without having to remove the front bumper is there a DIY write up?
thx
thx
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 4
From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
DEPO headlights go in like the OEM headlights. There is this DIY for pre-facelift W203s: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...s-removal.html.
I have to say that I chickened out and had an indy install and set bixenon=present in his STAR machine.
I have to say that I chickened out and had an indy install and set bixenon=present in his STAR machine.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,545
Likes: 6
From: Washington DC
1999 E320 4matic Wagon, 2005 C55 AMG - sold, 1998 VW Jetta TDI - sold, 2006 C230 Sport - Totaled :(
Once you figure out which bolts to take out, it's actually a pretty easy job. The only thing that really sucks is you have to take the wheel off and jack up the car to get to the one bolt on the side behind the corner of the front bumper.
Loosen the front bumper by taking the bolts out, remove the wheel and the interior wheel well pieces to get behind the light, remove the bumper/fender clip, unbolt the side bolt of the headlight and the bolts on the top, squeeze the headlight out between the top bar and the bumper/fender (you'll have to bend the bumper/fender a little bit, just make sure not to bend it too far to permanently deform it). For your ballasts, I mounted mine on the back of sub-frame below the headlights. Check out my thread and you can see some photos.
Loosen the front bumper by taking the bolts out, remove the wheel and the interior wheel well pieces to get behind the light, remove the bumper/fender clip, unbolt the side bolt of the headlight and the bolts on the top, squeeze the headlight out between the top bar and the bumper/fender (you'll have to bend the bumper/fender a little bit, just make sure not to bend it too far to permanently deform it). For your ballasts, I mounted mine on the back of sub-frame below the headlights. Check out my thread and you can see some photos.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: The Netherlands
C 200 CDI W203
Dear Peeps,
Just purchased Depo's for my w203, got the bumper off and placed the lights. But the leftside connector wont fit in the 5 pin connector. It looks like the pins are longer on the left side than on the ride side. Right side works just fine. What should I do?
Just purchased Depo's for my w203, got the bumper off and placed the lights. But the leftside connector wont fit in the 5 pin connector. It looks like the pins are longer on the left side than on the ride side. Right side works just fine. What should I do?
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: The Netherlands
C 200 CDI W203
Well, I've muscled the connector as much as it can take but it just wont fit. It's not the pins that are longer it is the whole connectorsocket on the headlamp that just doesnt click. Even tried tape to hold it connected. The boardcomputer won't recognise it and keeps giving me errors on the dashboard.
Any more advises?
Any more advises?
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 912
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From: Dunstable, ,Ma
Nowhere ...Fast
what year is yours? i believe there was a change in # of pin connectors, i remember seeing something about it....take pics and show us what you are dealing with, might be easier with visual 
Super Moderator
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: VA
THE C350
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: The bay San Jose
2004 mercedes c230
Yea they are both sedans.. I went to the local Benz dealer here and they told me it would not work because Ima need to re wire my wire harness or something like that, but the headlights they selling me are not xenon headlights.. they got the regular H7 yellow stock bulb. So you think its will be a matter of plug and play??
Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Tx, USA
2002 c240
Alright...I have some white parking lights coming in tomorrow, so today I thought I should see how I remove the current parking lights inside the DEPO's. I tried for a good 10 minutes and couldn't even unscrew the high-beam bulb from the housing. I have no idea how to get to the parking light. Do I pull the small black tab out...? Obviously I take the cap off, but i'm lost after that.
Thanks in advance...i feel so stupid right now.
Thanks in advance...i feel so stupid right now.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 704
Likes: 0
From: NY, NY
2004 C240 4matic, 2009 C300 4Matic
Alright...I have some white parking lights coming in tomorrow, so today I thought I should see how I remove the current parking lights inside the DEPO's. I tried for a good 10 minutes and couldn't even unscrew the high-beam bulb from the housing. I have no idea how to get to the parking light. Do I pull the small black tab out...? Obviously I take the cap off, but i'm lost after that.
Thanks in advance...i feel so stupid right now.
Thanks in advance...i feel so stupid right now.
Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Tx, USA
2002 c240
anyways, I have a problem future DEPO'ers may refer to(i am taking my car up to the place that installed them tomorrow morning)
Since installation, the LEFT high beams were off-and-on for 3 weeks. For the last week+ some, it was just off. I didn't think I would use them that often, so whatever. It doesnt bother me. My LEFT parking light is...90% off. That doesnt bother me at all since I ordered some LED ones. Whatever. Well, today my LEFT low beam didnt come on. After playing with it for 45 minutes, this is the result.
Engine on, hood open=Both HID's come on, both Hi-Beams come on.
Engine off, hood open=only right side works.
Engine off/on, Hood closed= only right side works.
WHAT? "luckily", the turn signal still works. What could the problem be? There is no cable getting caught by the hood. The low-beams have worked every day except today(the hi-beam, not so much). My initial guess was the ballast, until I found the engine on/hood open work(I tried each combo twice with consistency). I am completely baffled.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,054
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From: fort worth, tx
06 C230 SS 6spd
Rotate the working bulb to the other side to see if it is the ballast. If it doesn't then its the ballast. If it works then its the bulb. From there check the connections.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2009
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2007 c230
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 553
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From: Austin, TX
07 C230 (sold) 2009 E63 AMG (SOLD), 2015 E 63 AMG S
Has anyone retrofitted the DEPOs with the s2k projector? The cut off line is nearly perfect on those cars. I believe a member named tommy had the retrofit done before but i dont think he is active anymore.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,622
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles, Ca
Sean's Sister--
I had the tsx projectors on my Benz back in the day and those were done good!!! The s2000, tsx and even the tl's are damn good.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 553
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From: Austin, TX
07 C230 (sold) 2009 E63 AMG (SOLD), 2015 E 63 AMG S
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 661
Likes: 0
2007 c230
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,622
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles, Ca
Sean's Sister--
At that time the retrofit source wasn't around so I bought them off eBay and did the color mod by adding washers but I did them myself...that was easy compared to my bummer where I did quad projectors...I'll be getting a w203 in the future so if it doesn't have xenons I'll be doing the same on some depos then. The cut off is oh so nice...my girl has the new tsx's and its so nice driving at night with that beam cut off.
