Aftermarket Bi-Xenons vs. OEM?
#1
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Aftermarket Bi-Xenons vs. OEM?
I am thinking of upgrading my headlamps to the bi-xenons, but don't want to pay $2,000+ for the originals. I have heard that DEPOT makes an aftermarket version that look about just as real at the originals. Please post opinions and pictures of your car if you have the aftermarket Bi-xenon headlamps.
#2
you don't need to spend $2000 I saw set going for $800-$1000 you will never compare real one's with Depo one's never... I did it years ago on my C class, I was more than happy with the real one's, just do your search... also I guess aftermarket sale xenon, not bi-xenon, I'm not sure if I'm wrong...
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'13 F10 535i / '05 W211 E55
They might look the same but the quality isn't the same. OEM BIXs will always be better in output, cutoff, etc. but not by that much when you compare the price differences. You can always retrofit them with FX-R projectors and the output/cutoff will be better than OEM BIXs.
#5
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I was about to comment similar. From what I have heard not a huge difference between OEM biX and DEPO Projectors. A lot of people like SB mentioned retrofit the projectors and they are much better.
#6
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They might look the same but the quality isn't the same. OEM BIXs will always be better in output, cutoff, etc. but not by that much when you compare the price differences. You can always retrofit them with FX-R projectors and the output/cutoff will be better than OEM BIXs.
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#8
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2002 c32 AMG 2012 c250 Coupe
Thats great that you want the look, you posted DEPO's vs. OEM's, members are telling you OEM's.. From experience i've had both (DEPO first, then OEM's) DEPO's look good but quality not so great. I had them installed and with in the first week the left side projector mounts broke inside, months later the plastic clear housing started flaking off, got rid of those and went OEM. Bought them for $800 used, i've had them for 3 years now and no problems. We are answering to what your question is.. DEPO's vs. OEM's.
#10
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here are pics of 203 with Depo headlight in which the owners dropped in HID
kits. painful to look at. quality sucks. the H7 halogen headlights are designed
to work with H7 bulbs, not HIDs. the conversion shifts the focal point which
causes the beam to be brighter, yet accentuates the poor R&D of the projector
bowl.
kits. painful to look at. quality sucks. the H7 halogen headlights are designed
to work with H7 bulbs, not HIDs. the conversion shifts the focal point which
causes the beam to be brighter, yet accentuates the poor R&D of the projector
bowl.
#13
here are pics of 203 with Depo headlight in which the owners dropped in HID
kits. painful to look at. quality sucks. the H7 halogen headlights are designed
to work with H7 bulbs, not HIDs. the conversion shifts the focal point which
causes the beam to be brighter, yet accentuates the poor R&D of the projector
bowl.
kits. painful to look at. quality sucks. the H7 halogen headlights are designed
to work with H7 bulbs, not HIDs. the conversion shifts the focal point which
causes the beam to be brighter, yet accentuates the poor R&D of the projector
bowl.
soo a DS2 would fit in a H7? Because there is a shield on the ds2 corrrect?
#14
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2003 C230K Coupe Orion Blue
OEM bix cost around $1000 on these forums.
I got mine (OEM) in 2004, and will say this is the SINGLE best mod for the car!
Don't rice your car with crappy quality parts, you're not driving a Honda.
I got mine (OEM) in 2004, and will say this is the SINGLE best mod for the car!
Don't rice your car with crappy quality parts, you're not driving a Honda.
#16
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2003 c240
d2s is the true size for a xenon bulbs. They are slightly longer than standard halogens so the "flame" of the bulb is in a different position. h7 is the size for standard halogens on the w203. If you dont care about the performance of the projector then just get the depo's.
I personally am a fanatic with lighting and say they both aren't great and retrofit for best results.
I personally am a fanatic with lighting and say they both aren't great and retrofit for best results.
#17
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2004 C320 Sport
here are pics of 203 with Depo headlight in which the owners dropped in HID
kits. painful to look at. quality sucks. the H7 halogen headlights are designed
to work with H7 bulbs, not HIDs. the conversion shifts the focal point which
causes the beam to be brighter, yet accentuates the poor R&D of the projector
bowl.
kits. painful to look at. quality sucks. the H7 halogen headlights are designed
to work with H7 bulbs, not HIDs. the conversion shifts the focal point which
causes the beam to be brighter, yet accentuates the poor R&D of the projector
bowl.
#20
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03 g35 coupe...........02 c32 Sold
if you live in a well lit area with good lighting from city lights then it doesnt matter. You do see a huge difference when you go into a area with poor lighting. Mugenx didn't think depos were bad until we went on a highway with no city lighting and I told i'm afraid for your life..lol.
But if you only care about the look, just go depos. The light output is below stock halogens but if you drive in the city it doesnt really matter as much.
But if you only care about the look, just go depos. The light output is below stock halogens but if you drive in the city it doesnt really matter as much.
#21
i'm going to order these in Jan/FEB if i'm not happy with them i'm going to send them out to get them retrofitted.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Plug-...Q5fAccessories
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Plug-...Q5fAccessories
#23
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2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
Aftermarket projector conversions are not worth the powder it would take to blow them up. Aftermarket lamps and ballasts for Bix housings are mostly junk that will not make it to one year. The lamps are often counterfeit and not putting out the color or brightness the sellers represent. Depo housings look OK, but I would only consider one to replace a broken housing on a car I was going to sell.
OEM housings made by Automotive Lighting can be changed for H7 housings, but you will not want to spend the money on the full conversion kit. The kit includes a bumper and the headlight washing system, a headlight switch for the washer button, a front axel sensor, a rear axel sensor, and a sensor wiring harness. Without the washer system and the leveling system you run the risk of dazzling on-coming drivers, and take on the liability that might incur.
That said, bix does increase the amount of visible light on the road. It is useful where other lighting is not available. It also looks cool. I am not sure there is enough difference between the halogen lamps and bix.
The design of the C class H7 lamp housings is Mercedes-Benz at its best. The lighting is far better than other cars on the road with the same lamps. Take a look at the offerings from the four-cylinder headquarters in Munich (BMW) with H7 lamps and you will see a large difference.
The bix on the c class is only the low beam. High beam is always halogen powered. Out in the countryside where the high beams are on, the light on the road is pretty much equal for both bix and H7 OEM housings.
OEM housings made by Automotive Lighting can be changed for H7 housings, but you will not want to spend the money on the full conversion kit. The kit includes a bumper and the headlight washing system, a headlight switch for the washer button, a front axel sensor, a rear axel sensor, and a sensor wiring harness. Without the washer system and the leveling system you run the risk of dazzling on-coming drivers, and take on the liability that might incur.
That said, bix does increase the amount of visible light on the road. It is useful where other lighting is not available. It also looks cool. I am not sure there is enough difference between the halogen lamps and bix.
The design of the C class H7 lamp housings is Mercedes-Benz at its best. The lighting is far better than other cars on the road with the same lamps. Take a look at the offerings from the four-cylinder headquarters in Munich (BMW) with H7 lamps and you will see a large difference.
The bix on the c class is only the low beam. High beam is always halogen powered. Out in the countryside where the high beams are on, the light on the road is pretty much equal for both bix and H7 OEM housings.
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13 Jeep JKU Sahara w/4" lift Kit & the works,2015 Toyota Sienna XLE,2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
I have depos and I like them juts paid like $380 shipped with HID kit installe don the headlights...........cant beat the price and the light out put is excellent for the money that you pay.............I am running 6000k bulbs............
here is a link to the cutoff pictures of a depo set up that I had posted some time back......
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ht-cutoff.html
here is a link to the cutoff pictures of a depo set up that I had posted some time back......
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ht-cutoff.html
Last edited by Javvy; 11-25-2010 at 08:56 PM.
#25
Super Moderator
For low beam the internal shutter comes down on the Bix to create the cutoff. On high beam the shutter raises to allow full light output from the BiX projector & the halogens turn on. You can block the halogens & you will see that the main long distance throw of the lights is achieved by the BiX. The halogens work as medium throw (rather yellow) fillers. The BiX carry the main high beam lighting of the road. This is why the BiX have to be auto leveling in Europe, SA etc. Because they are so much brighter & have greater throw & can blind oncoming motorists. It is also why they dip mechanically.
Every time I drive a C Class at night with standard lights I feel half blind & slow down.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; 11-26-2010 at 06:40 AM.