Why are my wife's Bix different from mine?
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
Why are my wife's Bix different from mine?
A while ago, I got a set of DEPO Bix for my wife from the same guy I got mine from (fishcake321 on ebay). I asked for the same bulbs (6000k) so I figured they should look the same. I drove my wife's car for the first time at night and was not impressed by the light and figured they were just pointing too low.
So tonight I put both or our cars at about the same distance from our garage doors to adjust hers up. Even after I adjusted them, her's were still not nearly as bright as mine. Obviously, it's not the aim, but I'm wondering if we got the wrong bulbs or if the computer wasn't programmed or something.
In the first picture, my wife's car is on the left.
The second picture is of my wife's car from the front.
The third picture is of my car from the front.
Anybody have any ideas?
So tonight I put both or our cars at about the same distance from our garage doors to adjust hers up. Even after I adjusted them, her's were still not nearly as bright as mine. Obviously, it's not the aim, but I'm wondering if we got the wrong bulbs or if the computer wasn't programmed or something.
In the first picture, my wife's car is on the left.
The second picture is of my wife's car from the front.
The third picture is of my car from the front.
Anybody have any ideas?
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From: San Francisco Bay area
C63 AMG
Looks like theres something wrong there. I don't know much about that to help you out but I bought my depos off of fishcake321 too. I had a pretty bad experience with him, he was a straight D*ck the whole time and super unprofessional. Hope it gets figured out
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Seattle
w203 m112
Lol tommy...
Something is definitely wrong.
This thread is more proof that buying DEPO headlights provide IFFY quality at best.
Depo has been known to every so often mount the projectors in upside down.... Looks like the case here :x
Something is definitely wrong.
This thread is more proof that buying DEPO headlights provide IFFY quality at best.
Depo has been known to every so often mount the projectors in upside down.... Looks like the case here :x
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
Something very wrong there and not just talking about the aim.
Those appear to be defective. There's simply no reason why a HID capsule would put out less light. If there was a problem with the ballast or bulb, it would flicker or not fire at all. Also the computer can't run the HIDs at partial power because they won't fire up.
Also, my bi-x (as you know we have the same) are like the ones on your car in intensity.
Those appear to be defective. There's simply no reason why a HID capsule would put out less light. If there was a problem with the ballast or bulb, it would flicker or not fire at all. Also the computer can't run the HIDs at partial power because they won't fire up.
Also, my bi-x (as you know we have the same) are like the ones on your car in intensity.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,434
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From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
Something very wrong there and not just talking about the aim.
Those appear to be defective. There's simply no reason why a HID capsule would put out less light. If there was a problem with the ballast or bulb, it would flicker or not fire at all. Also the computer can't run the HIDs at partial power because they won't fire up.
Also, my bi-x (as you know we have the same) are like the ones on your car in intensity.
Those appear to be defective. There's simply no reason why a HID capsule would put out less light. If there was a problem with the ballast or bulb, it would flicker or not fire at all. Also the computer can't run the HIDs at partial power because they won't fire up.
Also, my bi-x (as you know we have the same) are like the ones on your car in intensity.
All right guys... You're talking about my wife!
Let's keep the discussion on her headlights... er... Rather her CAR'S headlights!Thanks for all the replies!
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Joined: Feb 2011
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From: San Jose, California
2014 CLA45 AMG
I bought mine from him as well, and in the process of adjusting the headlight i realized that the thing was broken. When i tried to return them he said theyre sealed and cannot be broken i must have done something. What a FADDOUUCCHEEE
Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 249
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From: Cleveland, OH
2004.0 C230 Sedan
Depo Sucks
I know exactly what your problem is. I purchased Depo headlights when I first got my car, and there was the same manufacturing mistake that your wife's car has. Depo installed the projector upside down (180 degrees wrong direction). This causes hotspots and uneven light distribution, which is evident from the pictures of your wife's car (you see 2 half circle dim spot on the ground in front of each headlight). The same stupid fishcake guy wouldn't replace them so I just sold them and got real BiX.
I started a detailed thread on this back in 2007, but can't find it for the life of me.
I would file a Paypal claim if Fishcake won't replace them for you.
I started a detailed thread on this back in 2007, but can't find it for the life of me.
I would file a Paypal claim if Fishcake won't replace them for you.
Last edited by XenonBenz; Jun 5, 2012 at 09:16 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
I know exactly what your problem is. I purchased Depo headlights when I first got my car, and there was the same manufacturing mistake that your wife's car has. Depo installed the projector upside down (180 degrees wrong direction). This causes hotspots and uneven light distribution, which is evident from the pictures of your wife's car (you see 2 half circle dim spot on the ground in front of each headlight). The same stupid fishcake guy wouldn't replace them so I just sold them and got real BiX.
I started a detailed thread on this back in 2007, but can't find it for the life of me.
I would file a Paypal claim if Fishcake won't replace them for you.
I started a detailed thread on this back in 2007, but can't find it for the life of me.
I would file a Paypal claim if Fishcake won't replace them for you.
Also a lot of people buy the dirt cheap standard Depos without bulbs. Those are wholly different than the ones Jim and I have which run real D2S projectors and moving shields and come with built-in HID installed.
I don't know what is wrong with your wife's car. It looks like the cut-off is right so I doubt the projectors are "upside down" as suggested. It looks like it is the intensity that is really lacking which doesn't make any sense at all.
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Seattle
w203 m112
I know exactly what your problem is. I purchased Depo headlights when I first got my car, and there was the same manufacturing mistake that your wife's car has. Depo installed the projector upside down (180 degrees wrong direction). This causes hotspots and uneven light distribution, which is evident from the pictures of your wife's car (you see 2 half circle dim spot on the ground in front of each headlight). The same stupid fishcake guy wouldn't replace them so I just sold them and got real BiX.
OP - Post a pic of your wife's light pattern on the wall. Pretty sure you don't have a cut off, cuz the projector was mounted upside down and the cutoff is on the floor...
Best of luck fighting w/ the seller :\
Thread Starter
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From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
Yeah, the alignment isn't good. I raised them up a bit (mine were high and my wife's were low! Did this guy aim them at all?). I raised the driver's side up a little extra to see if that made a difference. Now it looks like it won't go back down! I am NOT happy! I just remembered that I had put headlight protectors on hers, too!
I was hoping someone might have a definitive analysis before I wrote fishcake, but I'll just send him the side-by-side pictures and see what he says...
I was hoping someone might have a definitive analysis before I wrote fishcake, but I'll just send him the side-by-side pictures and see what he says...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
Yeah, the alignment isn't good. I raised them up a bit (mine were high and my wife's were low! Did this guy aim them at all?). I raised the driver's side up a little extra to see if that made a difference. Now it looks like it won't go back down! I am NOT happy! I just remembered that I had put headlight protectors on hers, too!
I was hoping someone might have a definitive analysis before I wrote fishcake, but I'll just send him the side-by-side pictures and see what he says...
I was hoping someone might have a definitive analysis before I wrote fishcake, but I'll just send him the side-by-side pictures and see what he says...
but then I adjusted them very carefully. Now I am satisfied.If you have adjusted them up and they won't go back down you've likely broken the adjustment screw thingys. This is pretty common on Depo lights and that's why I was so careful with mine. There is no solution for it aside from baking the lights to open them up and manually reattaching the adjustment screw into the hole.
Maybe fishcake can send you a new set and you can start over on her car. Otherwise you may just have to revert back to the halogens.
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
Does it flicker? Doesnt seem like the light output is normal. You might need to get the car coded or get error cancellor if it doesnt come with one. I had the same problem with the new ballast i put on my 204. Had to run error cancellor so the bulb operates at correct temp. Otherwise the output was flickering and dimmer even tho i was using the same bulb.
Last edited by FrankW; Jun 6, 2012 at 06:14 PM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
No he doesn't aim them. Mine arrived pointed at the ground. When night fell I was like but then I adjusted them very carefully. Now I am satisfied.
If you have adjusted them up and they won't go back down you've likely broken the adjustment screw thingys. This is pretty common on Depo lights and that's why I was so careful with mine. There is no solution for it aside from baking the lights to open them up and manually reattaching the adjustment screw into the hole.
Maybe fishcake can send you a new set and you can start over on her car. Otherwise you may just have to revert back to the halogens.
but then I adjusted them very carefully. Now I am satisfied.If you have adjusted them up and they won't go back down you've likely broken the adjustment screw thingys. This is pretty common on Depo lights and that's why I was so careful with mine. There is no solution for it aside from baking the lights to open them up and manually reattaching the adjustment screw into the hole.
Maybe fishcake can send you a new set and you can start over on her car. Otherwise you may just have to revert back to the halogens.
I agree, I can see if fishcake will trade and if not, I may have to go back to the halogens... or try another set...
Does it flicker? Doesnt seem like the light output is normal. You might need to get the car coded or get error cancellor if it doesnt come with one. I had the same problem with the new ballast i put on my 204. Had to run error cancellor so the bulb operates at correct temp. Otherwise the output was flickering and dimmer even tho i was using the same bulb.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
The bulb would most likely simply turn off before it reached such a low intensity. And both headlights seem to be suffering the same issue. You could remove a bulb from your wife's car and place it and yours and see what happens.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
Mini update:
I haven't had a chance to try to swap bulbs between my car and my wife's but she tells me something interesting: When they were first installed, she loved them but they have gotten dimmer and dimmer and from her point of view, they have dimmed more rapidly recently. Does that mean anything to anybody?
I've emailed Simon (fishcake). I'm not sure what to expect (I'm not really expecting much), but whatever happens, I'll post it here.
I haven't had a chance to try to swap bulbs between my car and my wife's but she tells me something interesting: When they were first installed, she loved them but they have gotten dimmer and dimmer and from her point of view, they have dimmed more rapidly recently. Does that mean anything to anybody?
I've emailed Simon (fishcake). I'm not sure what to expect (I'm not really expecting much), but whatever happens, I'll post it here.
