Anyone here use driving lights/have thoughts on them?
 

I'm thinking of biting on a deal on CL... 3 Hella 550s and 2 Hella 450s for $100 total. I haven't noticed a need for extra lighting, per se, but I love my high beams and I feel like I would really enjoy the extra lighting provided by them.

Thoughts on these lamps? Are they all they're cracked up to be? Should I spend my money on Euro lights instead (for the 300SD, obviously there's no such as Euro lights for the Corolla).

Do you periodically drive late at night in the middle of nowhere? If so, get them. Just be sure you wire them up through a set of relays.

I was checking out some of the LED replacement bulbs that might be a way to avoid using relays. Either way, 5 driving lights on the front of an SD would look awesome. :)

I wish I did... does that count :D?

There have definitely some times when I could have used these when tooling around in Western Mass. or VT after dark. I drove the Mohawk Trail, a two-lane road that winds up and down through the Appalachians, for the first time in my life on a moonless night with nothing more than high beams to guide me, an experience I'd rather not repeat.

I may wait a few weeks, and if they're still up, grab them... I'm already busy this weekend.

I do like the picture that I draw in my head of the driving lights on the car... that's part of what's making me want to do it :). I was thinking of mounting at least two of the lights on the car, maybe three. I think I'll be partially limited by not blocking the existing lights.

EDIT: Ooh, check this out! This looks awesome (from this thread).

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...9b95174559.jpg

Some other permutations, thanks to Paint:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1447216858

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1447216858

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1447216858

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1447216858

Do a coupe bumper conversion, and have the extra bumper fog lamps.

Cleaner/tidier, and add a nice aggressive look to the car.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a63...psaeec3ed8.jpg

Euro lights first! Single best thing you can do to any USA-Benz.

Then Justin's SEC bumper idea.

Then if its just too dark, I guess go nuts.

How do you like Depo lights? Are they a good substitute?

I didn't realize that Grey Poupon was sponsoring a rally...

I have Depo's on my 87 300D, and they are on the girlfriends 190D.

I have Bosch on my 200TD, Bosch on my 190E 2.0, and had Hella's on my 190E 2.3.

The fit and finish on the real ones is definitely better, but the Depo's fit just fine, and the light output is great. I've read some people talking about the Depo reflectors not lasting as long. I'm at 5 years on the 87 300D and they look fine. The vacuum pods are even present and functioning on the depos in that car. For the money, brand new Depo's for under $200 are a good buy in my book. Troll eBay you can find real used lights at the same price point, but I personally have been really happy with Depos.

I did buy Depo's from an ebay seller for $99 shipped for a brand new pair for my dads 85 300D and the adjusters didn't work. They pointed straight down and the light output is awful. Bought a parts car with a set of Depos on it. Put those on dad's car and they adjust like they should and work very well. So who knows.

Friend has Depos on his 1991 350SDL, light output is great and the fit was also good.

I put Bosch euros in my W109 and my R107, and love the look and light output, but I have never used knock offs in a 108/109/111/112 or a 107 to be able to tell you the difference.

Is this the look you're going for?



Attachment 133107

Word of warning on Depo and TYC . . . they are the darlings of body shops because of price. Everything about them is for show, from the weight of the plastic casting to the gauge of wiring used.

A little brighter.

For $90, you can come into the 21st century:
http://www.amazon.com/Eyourlife-16200LM-Driving-Offroad-Waterproof/dp/B00LFKZDWO/

The color rendition is pretty bad, making colors washed out, but the output on this thing is amazing.