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Update for anyone who cares to know (this is more for my documentation really):
My OCD literally drives me crazy. I got my fog lights back from a local retrofitter who confirmed there is definitely an issue with the left side output now, and I did testing in the basement and without a bulb spacing of approx. 1-2 mm away from the shield, the output is probably half of what the other side is. The passenger fog emits a much wider and fuller beam pattern, and it will drive me crazy to have two differing outputs. So I definitely need to attempt to open up the Depo fogs, and fix the output on the projectors, a la X5SND. Now, as far as the OE Valeo housings are confirmed, I have 4 sources (tmv, TerminatorX5, an ebay seller who has them up for sale, and Craig Hacker @ Edison BMW) saying they are glass lenses, and I appreciate you checking JB, but I think you might be wrong on this. the Valeo's are definitely glass lenses. I have put in an offer for $21 bucks shipped on ebay for a used Valeo housing to do a side by side comparison of quality, output, and if the Valeo housings do not in fact fog up like the Depo's do when the fogs are on and running. I will do a side by side and have one Depo fog lit up and one Valeo fog lit up and see if just the Depo, or both fog up, assuming I win the bid/offer on the one. I would do this test before attempting to open up and vent the Depo's. I also bought a spare set of H3 bulbs 4300k from ebay for 11 bucks, the local guy I loaned my projectors to do some tuning notched the bulb base a bit on one bulb to get it a touch closer to the lens, it doesn't do much, but annoys me somewhat as I'd like to have an "unmodded" set in the lights, I will most likely keep the H3C TRS bulbs as spares, and someday notch the other bulb so they both fit flush against the bulb holder in the projector. So my order of operations for this would go as follows: 1) If I get a Valeo housing and it doesn't fog up whatsoever as compared to the Depo, and the output is cleaner, I would buy 2 OEM housings, and call it a day. Maybe some minor tweaks to improve output a hair, but I wouldn't mess with them much at all. 2) If the Valeo housing fogs up just like the Depo housing does, I would buy two TYC housings (57 bucks apiece), which have the vent nearer to the lens, and test them with the H3 HID's, if they still fog up (which I can't see why they wouldn't, if the Valeo and Depo both fog up), I will most likely just put halogen bulbs in them for the time being, while I take my time opening up the Depo's that I have, trying to mimic what X5SND has done. Depending on how my tests go, I may just sell the Morimoto kit I have bought to recoup my cost and just keep the TYC fog lights with H3 Hoen Xenonmatch I have in my basement now, I still have the factory plug to H11 connector for retrofit, and call it a day. I am trying my hardest to figure out an HID/housing combo for these fog lights that do not have moisture issues, as I'd like to be able to post definitively which combination you may have moisture problems with, and which combo you would not, and although drilling out some holes in the housing and adding some vents is simple enough, I'd rather do some tests first to rule out any differences between brands, etc. Regardless, when I am finished up with these, I should have an extra set of projector fog lights for sale. Some may say I'm crazy on here for doing all this testing on just fog lights, but I like answers, and sometimes you have to spend some bucks to get some proper answers dammit! |
I'm thinking of just paying the dealer price and getting factory valeo fogs. Screw all this modifying of the cut off shield.
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Well at 96 bucks apiece I was quoted for Valeo's, that would be all well and good. I put an offer in on ebay for a used Valeo housing (it was buy it now for 24 bucks, I bid 15 plus 6 bucks shipping) which has the back cap and no cracks on the glass, I'd like to resolve the moisture issues X5SND and I seem to be having first, and also would like to see side by side the output of the Valeo projectors to see if there is marked difference compared to Depo. Clockwork did you ever have issues when you had the H3 HID in the housing with it fogging up while running? If not, what HID kit were you using (brand, bulb type, etc) x2 on the modifying part, I mean a couple touches with a pick is about all I might do if I get a second set of housings, the Depo's would need much more modification as the beams are clearly different side to side, but you're right, it is a ton of pain in the ass work that I don't have the time or care to do especially when I got leaves coming down like a mofo here in Jersey lol! |
RB, yeah I remember a SMALLLLLL issue with the mositire, but nothing near the amount to affect light output.
I just have a cheap $30 set from e-bay with no issues. I have a cable extension issue sometimes, but its not an HID kit problem. Just a wire extension piece I made myself from old HID kits and proper connectors from truck to kit. but, I have to get my heater problem (or lack of heat) fixed before I can play with projector HID fogs again. |
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It doesn't affect the light output at all, I can tell you that much, but it definitely does collect at the bottom of the lens, just some "fogging" of the housing. Like I said, if I get this used Valeo for dirt cheap and it fogs up as well, I will just get some TYC housings as they have a vent near to the lens, I would test the HID in the TYC housing, if it still fogs up I'll most likely just run halogen bulbs in it, and modify/open up the Depo housings on my spare time to fix the projectors and vent those housings. |
Ricky I give you credit for seeing this through to the end! I think its about time we start placing some wagers down as to what the final outcome is and come up with a thorough method to test our hypotheses!!
I remain adamant that our issues are the result of using H3C kits with the smaller burner...thus producing much less heat than a standard burner and halogen! |
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If all else fails, its back to Hoen Xenonmatch H3's for me, I don't have patience nor the skill yet in my young grasshopper retrofitting abilities to be cutting these open and venting the housing in multiple places. If I can't find a bulb/housing combo that won't fog up (although there are apparently multiple guys that claim to have no issues), I'll sell the lot on HIDPlanet and plug in my bulbs and be done with it. You know what its like with OCD driving you crazy! Even if I could make the Depo's work like you did, I want answers dammit! |
Ok so I tested a "regular h3" NON-H3C (from The Retrofit Source) 4300k and a spare 20 dollar Valeo housing from eBay, the results are in, no fogging of this housing with the non-TRS bulb, it definitely gets the housing hot enough!
Also, the quality differences on the depo projector itself are more apparent when looking at the projectors side by side from the back, on the depo the shield is just mounted to the bottom of the lens holder whereas in the Valeo housing the shield is built into the bowl. The bulb holder has a given alignment mount on the Valeo projector, whereas on the depo the bulbs do have a lot of room to move around and the "alignment notches" have enough space that you can misalign bulbs quite easily there. The Valeo is 10x sharper out of the box, with a hint of color flicker. I will be testing the TRS h3c bulb on my bench tonight as well, with a fan blowing over the lens on both tests to simulate the road wind blowing on the lens (and effectively cooling the surface) However i should be able to tell right away if the TRS bulb makes less heat or not, I was barely able to handle the housing last night in spots, definitely made it hot to the touch! Another theory I have is that the Depo's are using cheaper metal, aluminum etc on the casting of their projector and it doesn't conduct heat as well as the Valeo projector does, which is why the Valeo does not fog up with the H3 bulb. All things considered, my main theory will be affirmed when I test the TRS H3C bulbs in the Valeo housing, if there is no fogging, we know it is due to the materials/design of the Depo housing, if there is fogging with the TRS H3C bulb in the Valeo housing, we know it is due to the bulb not putting out enough heat. Also, please ignore the shit output pics with my iPhone, the beam is short, but WIDE, just like a fog light should be. The adjustment on the Valeo housing also allows for lower aiming (which one would need when putting HID in the fogs). There is a touch of smiling at the cutoff but I think that is more from the optics of the projector bowl than anything, if you look at the cutoff line it does stay absolutely straight across. http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/29/y6ega4ab.jpg This is after 10-15 mins with the bulb on, no fog (my Depos would fog up prior to this) http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/29/ty9yvy6y.jpg http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/29/egary4ut.jpg These pics are both of a Valeo housing out of the box, the lens has a small crack in it as well (not sure if it affects output but that's why I only paid 20 bux for it) If my other tests go as planned, I'll be getting another regular h3 bulb from eBay and 2 Valeo OE fog housings, the beam is markedly sharper, wider, and more adjustable out of the box, whereas the Depos require work to get them right, and at a 30 dollar difference apiece, I'd rather have trouble free operation and no need to tweak the Valeos. |
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Sorry for this thread resurrection, but got got a quick question. I'm hitting up my local "stealer" on Friday, was wanting to pickup some OEM projector fogs. From what I could see on your pics, RB, the part number is 8409025 and 026 respectively. Am I correct in thinking these are the correct numbers for the projectors?
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