E39 Depo vs Hella Style Headlights (DJ Auto) [Archive] - Bimmerforums

Asharus

03-16-2009, 11:46 AM

I'm looking to upgrade the wife's 98 540 X3Racing headlights to something that actually outputs light. I'm concerned with the quality issues that DEPO P39s have such as cracking lenses, etc. and noticed that DDM is now offering "Hella Style" headlights manufactured by DJ Auto.

Has anyone purchased these yet? Any feedback on them?

tptrsn

03-20-2009, 12:40 PM

No feedback on these? I'd like some HIDs that look like the Hellas. The other stuff is just too gaudy. . .

Asharus

03-20-2009, 01:52 PM

Yeah this looks really good and looks more like Hellas than those DEPOs

chesterrr

03-20-2009, 01:59 PM

I am also interested in hearing some feedback on these

tptrsn

03-20-2009, 02:09 PM

They do look sweet. If someone can say that the quality "in hand" is really good, I think I might want to get a set.

So, for you guys that actually pay attention to headlights, which color puts out the most light? Seems like I remember seeing that 4,300k is where it's at, but maybe that changes some with the 55watt upgrade?

Also, is it a good or bad idea to go with the 55watt upgrade? How about the DDM HIDs versus the stock Raptors? ? ? ?

Lot of questions here! :D

Asharus

03-20-2009, 03:31 PM

I installed the DEPO Gen4 P36s on my 318ti and used the DDM 55W slims with the 4300k bulbs. It is definitely white with little or no hint of blue. I may go with a higher kelvin on the wife's E39, I'm not sure yet. I should really park my E39 next to the E36 one night and do a comparison.

tptrsn

03-20-2009, 03:35 PM

Thanks for that info!

In the "on sale" thread Jim says that the 5,000k ones put out almost the same light level as the 4,300k ones. Is that the number you think you might try then?

Asharus

03-20-2009, 03:36 PM

yes i think if i get these i will probably get 5k

Asharus

04-07-2009, 02:27 PM

Anybody?

BrenM3

04-07-2009, 02:49 PM

5k 55w in depos is crisp.

Asharus

04-08-2009, 10:57 AM

Thanks but I was really looking for the answer to my original post :)

FP5241

04-11-2009, 02:42 PM

you know what you have to do....

Vipsa

04-22-2009, 01:10 AM

Cmon someone must've bought those. They're back ordered forever and not a single person on here or the fest (excluding one guy who got broken lights) has posted review/pictures. I'm most likely going to be ordering a set anyway, but I still would Like to hear or see a review.

DJKraft

04-22-2009, 02:55 AM

Thanks but I was really looking for the answer to my original post :)

+1:eatpop::eatpop:
I was about to ordering DDM P39: HID(DDM 35W), 3000k with DDE Ultra HD..all comes out $409.00...plus shipping of course.
My DDM bumper shipping cost was around $90.00. dont remember exactly. well can't help it anyway..
please open up the NYC brench, so we can pick up..:D
I guess I gotta waiting for the answer...for few days....NOT:mad

thuynh75

04-24-2009, 01:02 AM

The Hella style looks more OEM than the Projector39. I wish I had gotten the Hella style, but the Ultra HD AE weren't available on the Hella style.

DJKraft

04-24-2009, 06:04 PM

The Hella style is out of stock..I dunno since nobody care about this post..I should just order P39..I'll wait till monday. if they get the back order for Hella style headlights.

FP5241

04-26-2009, 11:32 AM

I've heard these lights have been on backorder for a looooooong time.
Any responses from DDM on this???

:az

Vipsa

04-26-2009, 11:16 PM

I've heard these lights have been on backorder for a looooooong time.
Any responses from DDM on this???

:az

Yeah good luck with that. I called on their "April 8th" date to see if they got any in stock and they said that they're still on back order for at least a few weeks more. What I think is happening is, they were offering these with the upgraded Angel Eyes and like we saw on that thread on Bimmerfest, they messed up the lights during installation of the AE ( that's why they don't offer updated AEs anymore) and are doing A LOT of returns now. I've never seen anything being so badly back ordered before. I'm going to call on Monday to see what's the deal on them being in stock, but I find it VERY interesting that there are no pictures anywhere of them or DDM chiming in here at all.

nickMANDERFIELD

04-27-2009, 12:40 AM

Yeah good luck with that. I called on their "April 8th" date to see if they got any in stock and they said that they're still on back order for at least a few weeks more. What I think is happening is, they were offering these with the upgraded Angel Eyes and like we saw on that thread on Bimmerfest, they messed up the lights during installation of the AE ( that's why they don't offer updated AEs anymore) and are doing A LOT of returns now. I've never seen anything being so badly back ordered before. I'm going to call on Monday to see what's the deal on them being in stock, but I find it VERY interesting that there are no pictures anywhere of them or DDM chiming in here at all.
false

ddm tuning was told by dj auto that they would have a product better than depo projector 39.. they sent out a bunch of test runs to vendors, another being umnutsck, but have yet to make their full run and ship them out to all vendors

ddm should be receiving within a few weeks.. dj auto jumped the gun, making certain vendors jump guns on sales

Vipsa

04-27-2009, 01:33 AM

false

ddm tuning was told by dj auto that they would have a product better than depo projector 39.. they sent out a bunch of test runs to vendors, another being umnutsck, but have yet to make their full run and ship them out to all vendors

ddm should be receiving within a few weeks.. dj auto jumped the gun, making certain vendors jump guns on sales

The thing is this "few weeks" has been going on for over a month now. I just hope all the waiting would be worth it in the end.

sixx00RR

04-27-2009, 01:58 PM

I got dj autos with 35 watt ddm 5k hids and love em they put out enough light..had a comparison next to my buddies depos with 55watt 5k hids and mine were 20 times brighter and my cutoff was so much better!! haven't had any problems with them fogging up either

Asharus

04-27-2009, 02:00 PM

Finally a response from an actual end user. Did it come with new mounts? By mounts I mean the plastic thing you have to unscrew from the chassis after taking the OEM lights out.

sixx00RR

04-27-2009, 02:08 PM

no it didn't..just use ur oem mounts.

Asharus

04-27-2009, 02:45 PM

Well that's a problem, I don't have em anymore.

Wow really bad timing for these answers to come in. I just threw one of my OEM headlights along w/ that bracket last week. I sold the other side to a board member a few years ago. I just looked it up and it looks like it costs 20 bucks each side:

12BRACKET HEADLIGHT LEFT
1
09/200063128362441$21.20
12BRACKET HEADLIGHT RIGHT
1
09/200063128362442$21.20

sixx00RR

04-27-2009, 11:30 PM

ur talking about the little plastic screw things u mounts
the headlight to right? I'm sure u can find those in a junkyard or I might even have some laying around u can have..

Asharus

04-28-2009, 12:40 AM

yeah, man i would appreciate it

Vipsa

04-28-2009, 02:27 PM

ur talking about the little plastic screw things u mounts
the headlight to right? I'm sure u can find those in a junkyard or I might even have some laying around u can have..

When did you order and when did you receive them?

DJKraft

04-29-2009, 05:10 PM

Any planning for Sale on those headlight? P39 or Hella style(if they done with upgradeable AE)...

hagenmi1

05-01-2009, 08:55 PM

I just recieved my e39 DJ auto headlights today. I don't have them installed but so far they look great. I ordered mine around 3/20. The strange thing was that Paul from DDM told me that the shipment wasn't going to be in until May 9th and then they would shipout sround May 12. Then I received word that my order went out on 4/27 which was three days after talking to DDM. I got mine with 5000k DDM HID kit.

Also when ordering make sure you tell DDM that the turn signal bulb base is round. I told them wedge like my OEM lights are but the DJ Auto use their own type of bulb mounts that are a round bulb base and not interchangeable with OEM. This was the case for my 98 528.

Asharus

05-01-2009, 09:34 PM

Awesome, can you please take detailed pics of the headlight while it's not installed, including the wiring and the turnsignal housing/bulbs? I would greatly appreciate it.

hagenmi1

05-01-2009, 10:08 PM

https://www.msu.edu/~hagenmi1/1%20dj%20auto%20e39.jpg

The base of the gray plug is for a round parking bulb. The OEM assembly completely different and won't plug in for my year. No need to remove for the pic.

https://www.msu.edu/~hagenmi1/1%20dj%20auto%20e39%20(2).jpg

https://www.msu.edu/~hagenmi1/1%20dj%20auto%20e39%20(3).jpg

https://www.msu.edu/~hagenmi1/1%20dj%20auto%20e39%20(4).jpg

https://www.msu.edu/~hagenmi1/1%20dj%20auto%20e39%20(5).jpg

https://www.msu.edu/~hagenmi1/1%20dj%20auto%20e39%20(6).jpg

Asharus

05-02-2009, 12:52 AM

Thanks for the pics! It looks like it does come w/ the brackets... Did it come with screws? FYI you can do a clean install by doing the Y splitter for the angel eyes, it will plug into those turnsignal bulbs properly. Do a search for the Y plug AE adapters.

hagenmi1

05-02-2009, 08:41 AM

Correct, it came with the brackets, screws (2 per bracket), and screw clips (2 per bracket). Yup, It looks I need to order the angel eye wire kit and make the Y split using the guide from www.bmwtips.com (http://www.bmwtips.com) The angel eyes wires are pricey, like $17 X 4 and that's just realoem pricing.
(Qty 2) P/N 63 12 0 025 497
(Qty 2) P/N 63 12 0 025 499
My Stealer would charge even more. Sucks because I just placed a large order of parts that just shipped out from Crevier BMW and paid a ton for shipping because of the belly pan for my DDM M5 bumper upgrade.

tptrsn

05-02-2009, 09:51 AM

Man, those lights look great!

Are you anywhere near the Lansing area where maybe I could see them in person some time? (or even the GR area or the Detroit area for that matter?)

Thad

hagenmi1

05-02-2009, 09:57 AM

I live in east lansing

tptrsn

05-02-2009, 10:09 AM

Oh sweet! I'll PM you some time to see if we can meet up so I can get a look at those lights. Probably shouldn't though, cause then I'll have to spend more money. . . :D

Thad

By the way, does your car have real Shadowline on it? I'd like to compare my Plasti-Dip to some real shadowline. . .

hagenmi1

05-02-2009, 10:24 AM

Sounds good. Here is my ride from last summer. I recently had some body work done and had them debadge the trunk. I can't wait to add the DDM M5 bumper and new headlights next week. I'm just waiting for the rest of the part for the bumper mod. Oh yeah, stock shawdow line. I'm also adding clear turn markers as well.
http://www.msu.edu/~hagenmi1/BMW100.jpg

I see you run a fast neon! I'm also a mopar guy. here is my 1969 roadrunner:

https://www.msu.edu/~hagenmi1/1000.jpg

tptrsn

05-02-2009, 10:32 AM

Wow, nice rides! ! !

One more off topic, you wouldn't have happened to buy that Road Runner from Joe Thomas would you?

hagenmi1

05-02-2009, 10:57 AM

Thanks! I promise this is my last off topic respose as well. No, it was bought in 1990 and it was a burned out wreck with like 30,000 miles on it. My father restores mucle cars as a hobby and he restored this RR. It was vitamin C in it's old stock days. It has lots of performace upgrades which I can PM you if you're interested. The RR is stored near Midland at his place. Here is a action vid when it was first completed. The ignition was messing up (just replaced with a full digital MSD 6al-2) and the tremec kept locking out above 5000 RPMs at the 2-3 shift.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuCP1emkgTE

Asharus

05-02-2009, 11:02 AM

BTW thanks for the pics. I ordered my DJ Auto's just now! 2 bad it's on backorder.

tptrsn

05-02-2009, 11:20 AM

That RoadRunner is SWEEEEEET! ! ! ! :buttrock

hagenmi1

05-02-2009, 12:50 PM

BTW thanks for the pics. I ordered my DJ Auto's just now! 2 bad it's on backorder.

Cool, I'm interested where my headlights came from, the first or second batch as talked about in the beginning of this thread. One of the times I called DDM they said they had a small air shipment coming and it would be another week. The next week I called and they said that it was still back ordered and knew nothing of the small air shipment mentioned to me the week before :rolleyes. That's when DDM said a large order that would cover all back orders was coming via boat on May 9th and expect tracking numbers on the 12th. Interesting, I'm glad my mine are here, but this whole order has been odd. For the price I guess we can't complain. As long as these don't fog up and throw a decent beam, then I'm happy. Sure beats spending $1400 on OEM HID's which are way out of my budget for my 5er.

Asharus: what color HID did you go with? If you find a good deal on the angel eye Y harness let me know. I'm going to have my local stealer order me some on Monday as long as they don't over charge me.

Asharus

05-02-2009, 03:13 PM

Cool, I'm interested where my headlights came from, the first or second batch as talked about in the beginning of this thread. One of the times I called DDM they said they had a small air shipment coming and it would be another week. The next week I called and they said that it was still back ordered and knew nothing of the small air shipment mentioned to me the week before :rolleyes. That's when DDM said a large order that would cover all back orders was coming via boat on May 9th and expect tracking numbers on the 12th. Interesting, I'm glad my mine are here, but this whole order has been odd. For the price I guess we can't complain. As long as these don't fog up and throw a decent beam, then I'm happy. Sure beats spending $1400 on OEM HID's which are way out of my budget for my 5er.

Asharus: what color HID did you go with? If you find a good deal on the angel eye Y harness let me know. I'm going to have my local stealer order me some on Monday as long as they don't over charge me.

I went with 5k like you did. I have 4500K on my E36 and I think they're a little whiter than OEM (I had my bro park his E46 M3 next to it at night). I forgot where I got my Y harness a while ago. I know it was mail order though... BMA Auto Parts or Crown / Crevier?

hagenmi1

05-03-2009, 06:34 PM

Since this is a Depo Vs DJ Auto thread, I made a stand alone E39 DJ auto thread:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?p=16233373#post16233373

Vipsa

05-04-2009, 01:17 PM

It seems they were pulled from the Website :mad.

nickMANDERFIELD

05-06-2009, 01:00 AM

installed mine tonight.. fitment is perfect.. cutoff is pretty good (have nothing to compare it to) and the projection is ridiculous (running 6k 55w ddm).. huge upgrade from my pitted and used up stock non-xenon headlights

wiring was time consuming but made a lot of sense as the guy above said.. either you spend 80-90 on adaptors and STILL have to cut and solder, or you just cut and solder from the get go..

they look very very nice and the minimal stamping on the front of the plastic makes them look much much nicer than the projector39s

Vipsa

05-06-2009, 09:34 AM