Best bulb for Depo headlights w124

[scottmcphee]

Picked up a set on ebay $177 to my door. The main bulb takes one H4 for hi/lo.

From wikipedia:

the halogen H4 bulb of 1971. In 1992, U.S. regulations were amended to permit the use of H4 bulbs redesignated HB2 and 9003, and with slightly different production tolerances stipulated. These are physically and electrically interchangeable with H4 bulbs.[24]

The first dual-filament halogen bulb (to produce a low and a high beam with only one bulb), the H4, was released in 1971. The U.S. prohibited halogen headlamps until 1978, when halogen sealed beams were released. To this day, the H4 is still not legal for automotive use in the United States. Instead, the Americans created their own very similar standard (HB2/9003).

The primary differences are that the HB2 sets more strict requirements on filament positioning, and that the HB2 are required to meet the lower maximum output standards set forth by the United States government.

And the cited reference (see attached PDF)...

My question is, what is the best bulb for these Depo headlights?? The Depo design is obviously European influenced, what with their vacuum dipped beams, city light, 6 pin socket....

Anybody done a "pure" H4 comparison against the HB2/9003 variety installed in these Depo lamps specifically?

I do not see any DOT marking on the Depo, I do see E circle markings.

Should I be shopping around for a H4 sourced from/for European cars because it would have a better "optical impedance match" with the Depo?

[compu_85]

Any H4 / 9003 bulb will work well. I like Philips X-treme Power lamps.

-J

[Prairie Swamp]

As the documentation says - functionally the same except DOT put a LOWER maximum lumen output on the source for the US market and put tighter tolerances on filament position presumably to give a more controlled beam pattern.

I have not done a side by side comparison in these lamps. Without a goniometer it would be impossible to quantify the results - one may have a more or less pleasing beam pattern, may seem to put out more total light, etc.

In a nutshell a legal (55/65 watt) H4 is allowed to put out more light but will not necessarily do so. But based on this I'd put H4s in price dependant. But as the article suggests if they meet the H4 as well as HB2 spec they are not allowed to put out more light than the DOT (HB2) maximum.

Eric

[MBeige]

If you want to try out simple, stock H4's there are plenty of those around in 55/60W. I've been using Hella stock H4's for years so I decided to try something new:

Now I'm currently using Osram Night Breakers Plus in stock wattage but I'm using them in my W123 with Bosch Euro lamps and W201 with Hella Euros. Popped them in around the last week of January. Overall I think they're great, white output but not bluish at all. Time will tell how long they last.

[compu_85]

Here's a comparison I did with the Philips lamps and some "stock" lamps I got out of a junkyard car:

Philips X-treme Power lamps: a review

-J

[JamesDean]

I picked up a set of SilverStars at Advance Auto. They were one step down from the "top of the line" units. They do pretty well in my depo w201 euros.

[scottmcphee]

Well, I went to Canadian Tire and got their "Certified" store brand. Bulb mfgr varies by lot, I fished to the back and found a couple, they are stamped on the bulb base:

OSRAM HB2 DOT 9003 L GERMANY BILUX 12V 60/55W H4 U 37R E1 00801 w1N3

Made in Germany by a reputable mfgr, can't be that bad...

I noticed most others in "Certified" package were made in Hungary.

[scottmcphee]

Originally Posted by scottmcphee

Well, I went to Canadian Tire and got their "Certified" store brand. Bulb mfgr varies by lot, I fished to the back and found a couple, they are stamped on the bulb base:

OSRAM HB2 DOT 9003 L GERMANY BILUX 12V 60/55W H4 U 37R E1 00801 w1N3

Made in Germany by a reputable mfgr, can't be that bad...

I noticed most others in "Certified" package were made in Hungary.

Update 7/27/2012... crap one hi-beam didn't last half a year. Need a new bulb. And a rock smashed my other Depo lens... impacted transmitted right through a 1/8" clear polycarb lens cover I crafted and had mounted over the Depo's... because I felt the glass on these headlights seemed thin. It is.

So I've purchases a new Depo fit lens for the broken side, and I've purchased some headlight protector film (Leader brand) to absorb those kinds of impacts better next time. We get a lot of rocks flying around here, nobody has a clear windshield for more than 1 year I kid you not. It's like playing bingo each time you drive... do I lose my nice view today or not?

Anyway, I'm going to mount my 1/8" high impact plastic covers over the Leader film that sticks to the lens. This "film" is very thick... ya it's a little less clear. But their demo is to stick some on headlight, shoot a pellet gun at it, and show you the now embedded pellet behind the film and no broken glass. DO that with your 3M or whatever!

This is what I'm talking about Leader headlight film

Combining 1/8" hard shells over that should be good for quite a wallop!!

[scottmcphee]

OK, got these bulbs in and aimed the new headlights.

Don't know how Bilux rates against others, but the new setup with these bulbs are a helluva lot better than the stock DOT 9004 krap the car originally came with.

Gonna miss the little wipers... shopping for some new blanks

[compu_85]

Bilux isn't a brand or line, it just means it's two bulbs in one.

Why not get the euro wipers too?

-J

[scottmcphee]

Originally Posted by compu_85

Bilux isn't a brand or line, it just means it's two bulbs in one.

Why not get the euro wipers too?

-J

Do the DOT style wiper motors work the same when mounted in Depo lights with Euro-wipers attached? If this is a possibility then I'd need new blanks with wiper shaft holes in the right spot.

Was having trouble finding Euro-wipers and appropriate blanks on ebay. Bet it would be easier if I visited ebay.de

And thanks for the bilux translation.

[compu_85]

You need to change the motors and the wipers. Be careful to get the wipers from a GenII car, Gen1 cars had the sprayers mounted to the bumper. You can install parts from the euro motors into the US motor housings so you can keep the same trim strips.

-J

[scottmcphee]

Whoa.... too much wiper work or $$ for what it's worth. Rather just do the wiper delete.

Gonna miss my funky DOT wipers, after having reconfigured them to park in the up (vertical) position... more aerodynamic ya know. Plus, who else has that?!

[compu_85]

I'm glad I did it, they look good and work great

[TheDon]

post up some pics of the lights once you get them in please. Pics of the lights off the car preferably.