jgananE320

im looking for anyone who might be selling their retro fitted projectors? i can get the hid package from a local vendor here in san diego if seller does not want to include. thanks.

ghaffar23

W210 00-02 DEPO headlights: $166 shipped

http://cgi.ebay.com/DEPO-00-01-02-ME...item4ced5e715c

E55 BIXENON projectors: $135

http://store.theretrofitsource.com/p...783e6cf52788c0

ZKW-R 3" CLEAR LENSES: $55

http://store.theretrofitsource.com/p...783e6cf52788c0

The satisfaction of getting a retrofit all put together yourself: PRICELESS.

Go for it! Depo headlights were NEVER this cheap! I got my first set back in '06 for $350! Everything is pretty much drop-in and roll with the E55 bixenons. If you have any questioins, there are several that lurk the forums that can give you advice. Good luck!

jgananE320

Thanks. i just received my depos and now im waiting on the e55's...i will get my hid's today! BTW how hard is it to get the bumper off the 02 w210?

BigBoss

So its not as expensive as I thought. But it just seems complicated getting everything to work together.

raymond g-

great DIY thread on DEPO CONVERSION here

jgananE320

I got everything i need... i hope. i heated up the depo and took off the front cover and there was alot of gray glue left behind...hardening. am i suppose to leave it there to re-use or remove it all? also, after doing my cut to get the e55 in... i noticed that i can only screw it in on the top two mounts because on the depo version(current) that i have, the top and bottoms mounts are alittle further apart. will i be okay using only the top two mounts? it still sits flat and leveled but just a little higher(closer to top). any advise will help as i've already taken it apart. thanks all.

ghaffar23

The best thing for you to do is cut off the bowls from the DEPO projectors and use them as brackets. I'm running into the same problem as you. I can only get two of the holes to line up; it's best to have the projector secured with four screws, as the headlights are going have to be able to take some bumps :^_^:

jgananE320

What about all the glue? should i remove it or leave it to re-use? its kinda hard to remove.

raymond g-

- do not attempt to remove the 'glue'. it is not glue, rather, a thermo
compliant sealant. it is important to have as much of this within the
channel for reuse.

- in my opinion, it would be a poor decision to secure the projector using
only two of the mounting posts. it is crucial that the projector be securely
mounted to the headlight housing as rigidly as possible. the last thing you
want is to put in all this time into the project, skimp on mounting, and
discover that you have a quiverring beam.

- i think ghaffer's method of securing has merit. i considered that technique
at one point but opted for a less labor intensive method. using the mounting
posts, unaltered, will result in the projector being mounted at an angle (the
old Depo halogen projector was designed slightly angled). I simply retrimmed
two of the longer posts (by about 3mm as suggested by Benz). this will bring
the angle back to near zero.

- i did not attempt to reuse the E55 mounting holes. if you position and
center the E55 projector over the 4 mounting posts, you'll see that the 4
angled edges intersect perfectly with 1/2 of the mounting posts. this allows
you to position oversize, serrated lock washers above and below the projector
flange...allowing you to reuse the old screws and effectively sandwiching the
projector flange, giving you a very secure, 4 point anchor.

i think i have a elementary drawing somewhere. will dig it up and add to my
post after i have my morning coffee.

jgananE320

Thanks Raymond. the drawing would help alot... im a visual learner. lol. also did you mean to trim 3mm off of all four mounts or just the top?

raymond g-

no, ".... two of the longer posts". do not trim 4 posts. do not trim all four
mounts. if you're not sure, ask here again. if you're not sure, position the
projector and think about it 10x first. if you're uncertain, try perfoming a
test/temp mounting and test the alignment.

attachment are notes from several yrs ago, after my first retrofit. also the
E55 and Maxima bix projectors are similar. there may be slight differences
in dimension so you may need to imrovise as needed.

jgananE320

Thanks again Raymond. cant wait to get home and continue. i'll keep you all posted.

jgananE320

Hi Raymond. Is it safe to drill a hole on the back of the dust cover to let the ballast wires pass? Or is there better place to drill the hole? The depo headlight case i have is a little different from the pics that are posted. the outside case on mine consist of two pieces: the clear front cover and a one piece back cover. on the back cover there are 2 round dust covers and an air vent behind the signal light area. i would post some pics but i would have to wait til i get home.

illest

When I did my retro I drilled a hole and used a rubber grommet thing to help seal it tightly around the wires.

raymond g-

i did same as illst, but did mine in this fashion: i cut a circular relief just large
enough for the bundle of wires....at the *bottom* edge of the opening on the
headlight housing. the opening was large enough to accommodate the wires
plus rubber grommet i picked up at Home Depot for a few pennies. (natch, I
made an incision in the grommet to allow pulling around the wires). when the
rear hatch of the Depo housing was secured, it pinched the grommet/wires
bundle tighter.

if you go this route, don't pick just anywhere to make this opening. I did a
trial run, with the wiring in place so that the high voltage wire was naturally
placed, locked around the bulb base and unstressed. i noted the position,
then made the cut as close to the wiring bundle as possible. hth

p.s. my Depo had one piece, somewhat large racetrack shaped cover
which encompasses both low and high beam area. i know they may also
have a design which, instead of this one large gray cover, two smaller
round screw on hatches. is this what you have, jganan?

illest

These are slightly different but a similar technique should work

BigBoss

How are they different?

raymond g-

this is the other (original) rear hatch design, ie all one piece (tnx, illst)
(oops, I see that I posted picture of the OEM headlight. but, the Depo
is of the same design)

armaniE55

PM'd!

jgananE320

Raymond...sorry for getting back so late. mine is exactly the same as the pic above. i drilled a hole on the back off the dust cover and used a grommet to seal the wires. I also mounted the ballast to the bottom of the headlight assembly which fits almost perfectly. Ill keep you all post on my progress. Im hoping to install these on sat if all goes well. Thank to all and BTW just call ma Jo.

BigBoss

What kind of bulbs do the DEPO projectors use? H7?

jgananE320

heys guys, thanks for all the help. i finally finished it up over the weekend and it looks great. I'll post the pics up tonight. this project really wasnt so bad, it gets easy after the first headlight.
bigboss... the depos come with H7's installed in the both the high and low beams.

ghaffar23

Congrats! Can't wait to see the results!

raymond g-

yes...props to you ! it isn't difficult....just challenging and if you choose to
undertake this, you need at least some modicum of knowledge with basic
electiricity, use of VOM, and kit building. if you do, this is on a scale of 3,
with 10 being difficult.

jgananE320

here ya go guys. i havent gotten a chance to do any night shots yet. i really appreciate all the help and input on this project. Thanks to all.