Depo Headlights - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

leathermang · #16 10-12-2014, 11:27 PM

That ought to bring him to the conversation....

Zacharias · #17 10-12-2014, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adriel

I am serious. I can't count how many hours spent trying to fix it.

He isn't kidding. There was a long thread about the troubleshooting he did on the horn issue, and nothing worked.

leathermang · #18 10-12-2014, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

...... nothing worked.

YET.
It was made by human beings... it can be fixed...even it means ' going around ' the factory ....wire direct to a solenoid which goes to the horn... but check to see if the horn itself has a short....

Zacharias · #19 10-12-2014, 11:31 PM

I just remembered something else about my Depo lights. The clips that hold the lens in (and hold it tight to the seal) can be popped off way too easily during installation. I had to pull mine out and replace clips that had popped several times as I recall on one side.

IIRC you should have three clips on each horizontal run and one or two on each side.

As soon as you lose even one clip, you are losing a tight seal (more so than on the Bosch version, I have had both).

Adriel · #20 10-12-2014, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

I just remembered something else about my Depo lights. The clips that hold the lens in (and hold it tight to the seal) can be popped off way too easily during installation. I had to pull mine out and replace clips that had popped several times as I recall on one side.

IIRC you should have three clips on each horizontal run and one or two on each side.

As soon as you lose even one clip, you are losing a tight seal (more so than on the Bosch version, I have had both).

Zacharias, thank you so very much for all the help, including confirming that it has been at least ten months of struggling.

That makes total sense!

Did you see the other thread? If I go that direction, I will also use the Hella clips.

Adriel · #21 10-13-2014, 12:09 AM

Zacharias was right!

Adriel · #22 10-13-2014, 02:01 AM

On the Hella headlight there was the body plug. So played with one of the connectors, and found if I pinched it down, the connection was much better!

That would have been nice to know two hours ago...

JamesDean · #23 10-13-2014, 12:45 PM

Fuse 14 on the W123 or W201?

Adriel · #24 10-13-2014, 03:31 PM

So managed to get the Depo headlight all put back together. I did put down a bead of R.T.V. per Tram's suggestion, added a washer to the reflector mount without adjustment (help kick the light up) and bent all the clips so more snug. Still need to tighten all the barrel connectors.

MBeige · #25 10-13-2014, 07:34 PM

My understanding is that these Depos are similar to the Bosch or Hella units. Do the Depos have seals between the glass and housing? If so, are they intact?

The reason I ask is because when I got my Bosch Euros I went ahead and also got new glass and new seals. Not that I needed them, but I didn't want to deal with the headache of removing them just to redo the seals.

You may be able to use the MB seals on the Depo lights, if they're compatible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBeige

You can get them at the dealer.

Number 26:

A 001 826 26 80

SEAL BETWEEN LENS AND BASE FRAME, BOSCH

Number 59:

A 123 826 02 80

SEAL, BOSCH (between headlight assembly and rear cover)

With both P/N's, there's no difference between left and right side.

Adriel · #26 10-13-2014, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBeige

My understanding is that these Depos are similar to the Bosch or Hella units. Do the Depos have seals between the glass and housing? If so, are they intact?

The reason I ask is because when I got my Bosch Euros I went ahead and also got new glass and new seals. Not that I needed them, but I didn't want to deal with the headache of removing them just to redo the seals.

You may be able to use the MB seals on the Depo lights, if they're compatible.

Thank you so very much for the help!

Depo units are only similar in the general design, but not size or quality! Some parts exchange, but not the inner housing/reflector mount (different size and shape) or the glass. Reflectors might if not vacuum operated like my Hella units.

The issue with the condensation, as you can see, was the clips. Slightly bent them and hold much tighter, so shouldn't be an issue in the future. But, soon as I see condensation, will pull, as now know moisture quickly kills the reflectors.

Where did you get new glass?

If I could get new glass and 3D print the inner housing/reflector mount, could make the Hella units serviceable. I looked and my university says use a free software to scan and know they 3D print at decent price.

MBeige · #27 10-13-2014, 08:15 PM

I got new glass from one of the online stores (probably converts to lots of asterisks when you type the website name

).

Glad you found the culprit, hopefully that's all.