Lighting Experts: a few questions

[e30mpower]

So I have a 2003 X, with stock halogens. I'm really wanting to upgrade to Xenons + AE, probably with a Depo setup.

I'm looking at ebay, and am of course disappointed. Maybe I'm completely dense, but why are all the kits I've found supplied with H7 or H1 bulbs, yet marked as HID/Xenon? Sure, they include a ballast, but true xenons use Philips D2S/D2R, right? H7 and H1 are still a tungsten filament, and therefore halogen, yes?

Somebody point me to where I can find a true xenon HID system, with projectors, ballasts, igniters, bulbs, etc., with halogen angel eyes. The truth is I've been wanting this upgrade off and on for the past year but am scared to put out a few hundred bucks on something that will give me worse illumination than the halogens, will make me look like a poseur, or throw up warnings.

Anybody who has had experience with this, which I'm sure is most of you, please post or PM me with your setup (I'm specifically targeting those that went from stock halogen to a xenon setup).

[LightWerkz]

Unless they are the OEM Xenon versions, they will be the H1/H7 version since its a halogen projector, but you can still use the HID conversion kit inside, which wont be as ideal as OEM xenons.

Id go with a projector retrofit conversion, or go with OEM.

Otherwise dont expect too much from the DEPO Projector headlights.

[e30mpower]

Originally Posted by LightWerkz

Id go with a projector retrofit conversion, or go with OEM.

Otherwise dont expect too much from the DEPO Projector headlights.

The aftermarket light units on ebay (i.e., depo) are projectors, marketed as xenon, and are using an H7 bulb. I think I'm missing something.

[mtX5]

Originally Posted by LightWerkz

Unless they are the OEM Xenon versions, they will be the H1/H7 version since its a halogen projector, but you can still use the HID conversion kit inside, which wont be as ideal as OEM xenons.

Id go with a projector retrofit conversion, or go with OEM.

Otherwise dont expect too much from the DEPO Projector headlights.

The DEPO projector headlights on the group buy section of this forum are awesome. they are very high quality, and have german projectors that allow you to use the OEM D2S system. you can actually expect alot from them, and they deliver..

to the OP, check them out, you can get the set for like $500 shipped. then you will just need bulbs and ballasts..


and about you xenon confusion, there are different bulb 'sizes'. that is what h7/h11/h1/d2s are. but they are still xenons and you will still need ballasts.

here are some pictures of the depo headlights..