Depo headlight HID projector retro
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
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From: Seattle WA
99 E320
my experience says otherwise. when a heat gun is utilized, it localizes the
heat to a narrow and specific area. as you move the nozzle to another
spot (to heat), the now unheated area has already begun to cool down.
since the goal is to get the gray sealant all gooey, you'll understand that
if gray goo is consistent in viscosity, it makes for an easier removal.....as
well as reinstallation. less juggling all around.
with the use of an oven, one can literally grip and pull up all at once, instead
of prying off one spot, reheating, pry up more, reheat.....etc as you work the
perimeter of the housing. that's nearly 36" or so of sealant to heat up.
i'm biased. having done almost a dozen headlight housings, I use the oven
as a primary heat source. I do have a quality heat gun but haven't found
that to be any more of an advantage.
others swear by the heat gun. both proponents are correct.
heat to a narrow and specific area. as you move the nozzle to another
spot (to heat), the now unheated area has already begun to cool down.
since the goal is to get the gray sealant all gooey, you'll understand that
if gray goo is consistent in viscosity, it makes for an easier removal.....as
well as reinstallation. less juggling all around.
with the use of an oven, one can literally grip and pull up all at once, instead
of prying off one spot, reheating, pry up more, reheat.....etc as you work the
perimeter of the housing. that's nearly 36" or so of sealant to heat up.
i'm biased. having done almost a dozen headlight housings, I use the oven
as a primary heat source. I do have a quality heat gun but haven't found
that to be any more of an advantage.
others swear by the heat gun. both proponents are correct.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2008
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05 c230
Can I gut out some OEM W209 Bi-Xenon headlights and put everything into W203 Depo Projectors ? I started a DIY Tutorial For The W203 section of this forum and if you can assist me over there in completing this project to help others as myself much appreciated. Thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
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From: Seattle WA
99 E320
wtf happened to your thread over on 203 forum? you **** on someone's
cornflakes or something? i was in the process of responding and when I
tried to post, the thread suddenly became invalid. anyhoo....feel free to
email me at waltermitty01@juno.com
cornflakes or something? i was in the process of responding and when I
tried to post, the thread suddenly became invalid. anyhoo....feel free to
email me at waltermitty01@juno.com
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: LA/OC
E320
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 37
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From: Houston
'01 E430 Sport
Hey Zam!
Can you please share where you bought that orange "cap extension" that you bolted onto the original black cap after you cut it? (shown in picture you posted)
Also, I'm curious where your ballast wiring is exiting the housing, as I can't tell from the picture.
Thanks
Can you please share where you bought that orange "cap extension" that you bolted onto the original black cap after you cut it? (shown in picture you posted)
Also, I'm curious where your ballast wiring is exiting the housing, as I can't tell from the picture.
Thanks
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 17
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From: Lithonia Ga
BMW E36, E34, E38 - Benz E430 - Astro vav - Safari van
Projectors
Is there a big differance in the mounting process of the E55 projector and the RS6 projector, which is better, does HID=Xenon? TIA.
This is a darn good write up with great detail. Thanks a bunch.
This is a darn good write up with great detail. Thanks a bunch.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Arizona
2004 E55, 1997 E320 "Sold"
from what I have read and talked to some people the rs6 projector is better then the e55 but it is a little bit harder to retrofit in the w210 depo and some dremmling is required. I'm about to do the retrofit this week with the rs6 probably unless their is a better projector out there. I heard some talk from zam on another board that lexus's projector is really good so I'm not sure what to buy and am confused on whats the best. Hopefully some answers.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: LA/OC
E320
Lot of people say lighting output of RS6 is better than E55. I really wish I have chance to compare it personally. Maybe... I should help someone local to make one set of RS6 projector DEPO headlight.
Thanks!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: LA/OC
E320
I remembered Zam also said the Lexus projector is very difficult to retrofit.
If you choose Lexus projector, please take some pictures and show us the procedure.
If you choose Lexus projector, please take some pictures and show us the procedure.
from what I have read and talked to some people the rs6 projector is better then the e55 but it is a little bit harder to retrofit in the w210 depo and some dremmling is required. I'm about to do the retrofit this week with the rs6 probably unless their is a better projector out there. I heard some talk from zam on another board that lexus's projector is really good so I'm not sure what to buy and am confused on whats the best. Hopefully some answers.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Sacramento/San Gabriel/Riverside
01' C32o
just wondering, as i was on hidplanet. i want to retrofit TL projectors, and since the OEM w203 bix are e55 [or at least from what the forum members have said], i was wondering if it would fit. i was looking at the dimensions for hte projectors, and it seems that the TL projector is a little wider and longer.. would i be able to use the same shroud that comes with the depos? any insight would be great! thanks in advance!
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Arizona
2004 E55, 1997 E320 "Sold"
This is my first retrofit and am going to do it probably next saturday or the week after. I just need to decide which projector to buy. The HIDplanet site has an entire kit which I think I just might buy because everything is new and will hopefully have no worries. I wish zam could stop by and give us some direction on the projectors because on the hid forum he talks about all kinds of retrofits but doesn't mention which one is the best and which would work with the w210 depo; I do know that he personally has rs6 projectors in his w210 so they must be pretty good.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Seattle WA
99 E320
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Arizona
2004 E55, 1997 E320 "Sold"
those posts are really old but useful. It just shows that you shouldn't buy aftermarket headlights unless you're going to retrofit because nothing compares to factory quality. Anyways, I'm going to do research and try to ask questions and I will update when I got everything narrowed down.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Seattle WA
99 E320
actually, they are older than i remembered. there is a newer list of rankings
from zam so let me dig around for it in my notes. he also ranked ballasts,
as well in another post.
from zam so let me dig around for it in my notes. he also ranked ballasts,
as well in another post.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 382
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From: Norway
2001 E220T CDI Avantgarde, 2002 E55T AMG
I'm currently mounting bmw m3 projectors in my depos. These are smaller than the original and e55 projectors and requires you to make completely new mounts. it's a pain in the ***, but I think it'll work. lots of adjustments needed though...
BUT, since it's smaller, I think there is enough room around the lens to use auto leveling. It looks like the Hella auto leveling motors fit directly onto these depo lamps. notice it has a black thing between high and low beam on the back. I have not tried that yet though...
BUT, since it's smaller, I think there is enough room around the lens to use auto leveling. It looks like the Hella auto leveling motors fit directly onto these depo lamps. notice it has a black thing between high and low beam on the back. I have not tried that yet though...
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: LA/OC
E320
I am some free time at this moment. And I am thinking about helping people in OC make one DEPO RS6 projector headlight to see what the difference is. I am not making money. Anyone interested?
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Arizona
2004 E55, 1997 E320 "Sold"
I wish we could meet man and you could help me out and have some fun, but way too far to meet. Anyways, I have been doing research and think I might go with the Acura TL bixenon projector which I heard is pretty good and one of the best. Do you have an opinion on this projector and it compared to others, also do you think this will fit in the depo headlight? here are the specs below.
Stanley Bi-Xenon (aka TL):
Diameter = 80.25mm
Height = 95.95mm
Height(with solenoid) = 117.15mm
Width = 111.60mm
Length = 171.85mm
Length(seat of the lens to mounting holes) = 56.90mm
Length(seat of the lens to end of solenoid) = 89.25mm
Length(mounting holes to end of bulb) = 95.80mm
Width(between top mounting holes) = 82.55mm
Width(between bottom mounting holes) = 90.85mm
Height(between mounting holes) = 71.40mm
Stanley Bi-Xenon (aka TL):
Diameter = 80.25mm
Height = 95.95mm
Height(with solenoid) = 117.15mm
Width = 111.60mm
Length = 171.85mm
Length(seat of the lens to mounting holes) = 56.90mm
Length(seat of the lens to end of solenoid) = 89.25mm
Length(mounting holes to end of bulb) = 95.80mm
Width(between top mounting holes) = 82.55mm
Width(between bottom mounting holes) = 90.85mm
Height(between mounting holes) = 71.40mm
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: SFV, Ca.
W210, W220, W163, W164, C6
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From: Lithonia Ga
BMW E36, E34, E38 - Benz E430 - Astro vav - Safari van
Will someone describe to me how the auto leveling works? Do the depos in post # 67 fit both post and pre 1999 E-Klasses
Last edited by bendx; Apr 21, 2008 at 09:12 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Seattle WA
99 E320
(1996-99) or post (00-02). Depo has two models to fit either.
auto leveling is designed whereby telemetry linkage is fitted into the suspension
and which is linked to the headlight. when roadway dips are encountered,
or the vehicle is heavily loaded, the pitch/bias is detected and adjusts the
headlight slightly....to maintain as level a beam alignment as possible. with 3x
the brightness of halogen, the margin of error due to poor alignment must be
avoided so that the light does not stray to other drivers.
there are various designs, depending on manufacturer and patent design adapted
