Gen3, Depo Light pattern!

[Silent Runner]

I have to say this, I love the way these lights look, in the daytime. But the low beam light pattern and distribution is really terrible. They are lookers, but not lighters, at least on low beam. This is a picture, somewhat crappy, but it gives you the general idea. DS light is a 9005, custom fit, PS is a standard 9006. Both appear a little dim due to my crappy camera, but both give you the general idea that these lights give little or no lighting, beyond directly in front of you. No low level, side lighting at all. Whats up with this?

[iovaykind]

Time for upgrade?



It only costs ~$100 in parts if you wanna do it yourself. Retrofitting now a days is really cheap.

Btw the REASON for the depos being like that was that they were just copied from originals, and then instead of the lens being pitted, they randomly pitted the reflector to how they saw fit.

[White95Cam]

The Depo are really only good for projector retrofit. I purchased these when they first came out and the beam pattern is crap so I did a HID projector retrofit. I was stopped my the NC Highway Patrol and was given an improper equipment ticket because I did not have OEM DOT approved headlights. He said that he had been advised to be on the lookout ALL illegally installed HIDs because of increased complaints about people being blinded by oncoming cars. I ordered OEM housing/lens and installed them in my old headlight mounting brackets since my original lens were so bad.
I did not throw out the converted headlights. I mounted them on the roof of my houseboat and they really are a big help when docking at night.
W95C

[fenixus]

OMG, that's a disaster
what bulbs are you using for low beam?

Try getting HIR (9012=9006 fitment after some base adjustment), they give tons more light, estimated to be around 75% light output of an HID.
they are cheap on amazon (look for Philips HIR2 9012).

I read somewhere else also that DEPO lenses are crap and do not provide proper beam focus unfortunately...

TYC was working (4 years old TYC lamp HB2/H4 for wife's car) for me in past, pretty much same looking and almost as good beam focus as OEM lens, but their quality went down hill sometime ago.
Tried buying the other side lamp by TYC but tried 2 and both of them had problem with adjuster screws braking apart on gentle and initial adjustment ... what a piece of shit ... had to go OEM ($200 online) on that lamp as old one went out (seal went bad some time ago).

Originally Posted by Silent Runner

I have to say this, I love the way these lights look, in the daytime. But the low beam light pattern and distribution is really terrible. They are lookers, but not lighters, at least on low beam. This is a picture, somewhat crappy, but it gives you the general idea. DS light is a 9005, custom fit, PS is a standard 9006. Both appear a little dim due to my crappy camera, but both give you the general idea that these lights give little or no lighting, beyond directly in front of you. No low level, side lighting at all. Whats up with this?

[71Corolla]

I am in complete disbelief at how bad the DEPO lights really are, I consider them dangerous at night. I won't even drive my car out of town they are so bad. They look really sharp no doubt about it, but the light output is so pathetic it boggles the mind. I don't see how these things could be an approved product for street use the light output is f--- garbage.

I'm am also thoroughly confused as to how to upgrade them, I feel like a total moron when it comes this stuff.

[pmesfun]

WOW, that is probably the same amount of light output I get from the DRLs.

[ricamryman]

Dude thats Horrible!

[sssgood]

bad reflector housing? or the lens?

[bigbird]

yeah they really are pretty bad. almost better for HIDs simply because they dont spread light well...

[iovaykind]

Originally Posted by sssgood

bad reflector housing? or the lens?

The lens is perfect. It's the reflector.. its not pitted correctly. Nor could it ever be perfect. That's why people throw in projectors. They focus light where it needs to go, through a lens, which makes the beam much better than any reflector based lighting could get you.

[Silent Runner]

My first thought was: screw all the controversy and just buy HIDs. But I now suspect that would only give me a really bright pencil/flashlight beam directly in front of me. Just as the lights do now to a crappy degree. My only option is going to be upgrading to a projector system. (the old OEM were too crappy too). I'll make sure it's done right (no blinding of oncoming drivers), but I'll have to take my chances with our equivalent of your DOT standards and enforcement. (Transport Canada). Seems like there are tons (and I do mean tons), of monster SUV's and 4wd Pick-Ups driving around here with just HID kits. I'll save my driving lights to poke them in the eye for a second or two, but I'm going to have to do a good projector conversion. Have some good old boys to help with this -experience++

[fenixus]

good luck!

[iovaykind]

^Great job staying away from the HIDs. A common misconception is that if the regular halogens give a a good/bad beam, the HIDs will do the same. TRUTH is that the HIDs are a different shaped bulb, which leads to different patterns. Good halogen pattern becomes BAD, and bad halogen pattern (like these DEPO's) becomes WORSE. lol good job on deciding to retrofit. If you need parts, let me know.. I've got a ton, because I buy in bulk and can sell it for less than retail.

[Silent Runner]

Originally Posted by iovaykind

^Great job staying away from the HIDs. A common misconception is that if the regular halogens give a a good/bad beam, the HIDs will do the same. TRUTH is that the HIDs are a different shaped bulb, which leads to different patterns. Good halogen pattern becomes BAD, and bad halogen pattern (like these DEPO's) becomes WORSE. lol good job on deciding to retrofit. If you need parts, let me know.. I've got a ton, because I buy in bulk and can sell it for less than retail.

This is unacepptable, this must be fixed, in the best way possible.
Look for my PM iovaykind.