Installed new Depo headlamps from group buy

[yosh2000]

However, I'm not in love with the beam pattern, and I get a weird kind of hot spot (?not sure if that is the right concept?) in the light pattern to the left of the driver side. There isn't anything on the lens, and the reflector appears to be fine.

It appears all aftermarket lights do not have as good of a beam pattern and produce hotspots over the OEM lights.

Just retro an OEM RX330/350 HID projector in there...problem solved!

 

[CharlieS]

Picture:

 

[Slickspawn]

One tip to make up/down adjustment easy - use a 8mm craftsman ratcheting combination wrench. It easily fits between the battery and the back of the light where the adjuster is on the driver's side.

Agree on the decent cutoff and angled part being much better than before.

A Philips screw driver fits perfectly and is much easier to use from the top...

 

[CharlieS]

A stubby Philips worked passenger side without moving the air box, but my driver side has a battery right there so the screwdriver doesn't fit. Do you have a different battery position in your cruiser? The ratcheting wrench was better for me.

 

[uzj100]

Thanks for the tips. I need to adjust mine because even with silver star bulbs the pattern is not good. Could be the lift causing an angle issue.

 

[duggy]

Thanks for the tips. I need to adjust mine because even with silver star bulbs the pattern is not good. Could be the lift causing an angle issue.

A phillips head on a electric drill works even faster

 

[uzj100]

Thank you.

 

[Slickspawn]

I'm not too pleased with the beam pattern either, I should have just done the HID projector retro fit first off.

But at least Adjustments are easy...

 

[CharlieS]

I'm not too pleased with the beam pattern either, I should have just done the HID projector retro fit first off.

But at least Adjustments are easy...

Cool, thanks for the pics, it never would have occurred to me to try that angle with a screwdriver. That looks a lot easier. Thanks!

 

[CharlieS]

Is the light output on the OEM 2006-2007 lights better than these Depos? I realize it's is 3x the price but I'm not sure I can live with these for winter nighttime driving.

 

[willbt]

@CharlieS
Anyway you could post photos of the beam and light output while dark out?

I just ordered a set these on Friday from Ian and should receive them around Wednesday or Thursday. I ordered these because 1) they were much more budget friendly than a pair of OE replacements and 2) the current OE lamps I have leave a lot to be desired in regards to the light output and beam pattern. I'm currently running HIRs (9011 & 9012), but was still unhappy with the light output on the OE lamps... Granted my truck is now 16 years old and the reflectors are tarnished on both DS and PS.

 

[jLB]

(I'm not CharlieS, but here's a sample from my son's truck)

Depo Low Beam

Depo Low Beam + ARB Fogs

Depo High Beam

Offroad LED lights:

 

[willbt]

@jLB
Damn! Just the lows have more light than my highs/fogs with my tarnished OE lamps. Thanks for posting these. I can't wait to see what improvement these give me. Now I'm excited again, hah!

 

[crimsonaudio]

Yah, I'm happy with the Depos with Silverstars - bright, white light and nice coverage.

 

[CharlieS]

(I'm not CharlieS, but here's a sample from my son's truck)

Yours is definitely better than mine.

No pics last night due to bad visibility for pics, will try tonight.

I have the silver star ultras too and it looks a lot different.

 

[uzj100]

Thank you for posting depo low beam. Way better than mine as well. I will try the adjustment and see what happens. I hope it helps as I really like the looks of the depo lights.

 

[yotasavg]

I'm plenty happy with my Depo's, compared to stock. I've got pretty much what you see in @jLB's photos. I think if you're unhappy with these, you need to make some adjustments, or accept that they're not projectors.

 

[NWForester]

Yes, a plastic push pin type connector is needed to really snug them up.


View attachment 1188029

Where are you sourcing this connector? I used a small nut/bolt/washer combo and yours looks way better.

 

[willbt]

@NWForester
The photo on the first page of this thread says Doorman. I know AutoZone sells Doorman products, so after a quick google search I found this:
http://www.autozone.com/screws-pins-and-clips/interior-panel-retainer

The photo on the first page looks like these:
http://www.autozone.com/screws-pins...anel-trim-retainers/876017_0_0/?checkfit=true

 

[jLB]

We used a plastic trim panel retainer that we found at the local O'Reilly auto parts store.

This is probably not the exact part that we used, but it looked something like this:
Dorman 456500BP - Trim Panel Retainers | O'Reilly Auto Parts

The one we used was ~1/4" in diameter and a little over an inch long.

I would have preferred a plastic/nylon body rivet, but we didn't find one that would work at the time.