Alternative to Pre-Facelift Depo lights on Ebay for 600 bucks?

[Ricky Bobby]

put a bid on these today:

Black 01 03 BMW E53 x5 CCFL Halo Projector Headlights Lights Left Right | eBay


It's the black version so I wouldn't have to paint, seller says minor scuffs and scratches on the lens (nothing plastX couldn't fix), and halos don't power up (maybe faulty ballasts?)

Either way they are getting opened up if I win them so minor scuffs aren't a big deal, I just emailed the seller to make sure there weren't any cracks or breaks inside the lens, and if the CCFL rings were intact. If so I'd try to get those working, if not I'll source an LED equivalent ring.

[fmugur]

Did you end up buying the lights?

How bad would these look on?
Depo 00 03 BMW E53 x5 D2S Xenon HID Headlight LED Angel Halo LED Corner Signal | eBay
First time they came out I really hated them but I am not sure anymore. I never seen an X with them. What do you guys think?

I know a few guys got the original depo lights but I am not a big fan of the corner plastic texture in there. It might be just me or the way it looks in the pictures.

Depo 2000 03 BMW E53 x5 UHP LED Halo Xenon HID D2S Headlight Auto Level CCFL | eBay

.

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by fmugur

Did you end up buying the lights?

How bad would these look on?
Depo 00 03 BMW E53 x5 D2S Xenon HID Headlight LED Angel Halo LED Corner Signal | eBay
First time they came out I really hated them but I am not sure anymore. I never seen an X with them. What do you guys think?

I know a few guys got the original depo lights but I am not a big fan of the corner plastic texture in there. It might be just me or the way it looks in the pictures.

Depo 2000 03 BMW E53 x5 UHP LED Halo Xenon HID D2S Headlight Auto Level CCFL | eBay

.

Lost out on bidding unfortunately, I'm keeping my eyes peeled.

On the Depo's, I like the ones with the LED turn signal when they are lit up and being used at night, however if you look at the unlit pictures of them I don't feel that the LCI-look turn signal section "flows" with our E53, too present-day looking.

The original Depo's with the crystal clear corner section look new enough to update the look of the pre-facelift, but don't over do it, IMO.


My problem with the original Depo's is the price, even the Halogen ring versions are 350 bucks and the projector is not as good of output as stock Xenon.

[DTMdan]

Will do. I'm not sure if I'll be getting them any time soon since I just bought the skid plate Maybe later this year I'll have some extra cash to get some lights, but there's still other things I need to do before them.

[DillonInCO]

Well, since there are like a billion threads on lighting, I figure this one is as good as any. I'm interested in drop-in replacement headlamp assemblies for a pre-facelift E53. Are the eBay ones (something like this) any good, or are they junk? And are these truly drop in replacements or is there more work required?

[MINIz guy]

The ones you linked to are junk. The projectors are much smaller, as well as the high beam bowl. I doubt the light output would be very good in those.

Look for ones like this: 01 03 BMW E53 x5 SUV Dual CCFL Halo Projector Black Headlights Lamps Lights Pair | eBay. Just a quick eBay search for me so I don't know which seller I bought mine from. These usually use halogen E55 projectors which are decent. Only the CCFL angel eyes are not that great and burn out easily. They are easily bake-able and easy to switch projectors since the E55 bolt pattern is a common Hella projector bolt pattern. I run a similar housing with Hella RS6 projectors. I think a E39Source video showing the car may pop up soon.

[DillonInCO]

OK so I'm a complete lighting noob. I assume the bigger the "bowl" the better? And I see the ones I linked to are H1, whereas those "black" ones you linked to are H7. Is it really that much of a difference, in terms of brightness? Doesn't wattage affect that too? Any worries about frying the wiring by putting one of these assemblies in?

Also, in the description of the one you linked to, it says "Wiring Modification Needed To Connect The L.E.D Wiring On Some Items". Can anyone answer what exactly that means? I suppose I could just email the seller (I may still do that) but I'm sure there are some lighting experts on here who could answer right away. I honestly don't care too much about those LEDs though, I would just want the main bulbs and the halos to work.

[Ricky Bobby]

Dillion,

Miniz gave some great advice, the housings he posted even with halogen bulbs in it will put better light output on the road than that cheap Chinese junk you posted.

I saw an x on the road with those lights once and almost threw up. You could also spend 350 on the depo set from eBay, I will post a link but dtmDan has them on his e53 and they are great quality.

It all depends on what you are after, if you are installing hid, etc. if you just want to have new headlights for the look and nothing else, don't want to mess with swapping projectors etc, and would like ease of install, probably the Depos for 350 will be your best bet, the angel eyes are hooked up easily and they drop right in.

The ones miniz posted are phenomenal looking housings, however you need to wire the angel eyes up yourself (they don't come with a wire harness)

[MINIz guy]

I see a lot of mention of my lights now. This is how they looked right before I took the X5 to college for this year. I removed the yellow tint on the AE's and removed the amber tint on the corner lens. I did burn out one inner AE so I unplugged both inner ones and just have the outer ones on for now.

No leaks. I didn't even use extra butyl glue on the housing for the 3 or so times I've baked these lights. I will be opening them up again and throwing working AE's on next summer back from college.

If you guys have any questions, just ask me here. I'm still around now that I've sold the M5 and am driving the X5 again.

Really, to complete my look requires a $20 set of clear sidemarkers and aggressive wheels. I won't do the wheels as the 17's are comfortable and tires are cheaper.

[tmv]

Enough said!

I like to show off the old girl once in awhile