question: ellipsoid headlights

[jhson114]

i've come across ellipsoid headlights made by a company called depo. i've never heard of them. do they make high quality ellipsoids? do they make zkw ellipsoids?

this might seem stupid, but whats a zkw ellipsoids? i've never understood what zkw was but everyone says they are the highest quality ellipsoids.

[snk328is]

I don't know anything about "depo", but I do know that ZKW is the manufacturer of the OEM ellipsoid lights.

[PaulSoo217]

ZKW is a brand who makes ellipsoids. the quality is very good, no one ever complained about it including picky-me. It's a european spec headlight for E36 w/ glass lense, projector low-beam, regular high-beam, and a city light inside the high-beam. It gives VERY GOOD lighting performance. I think it's slightly second best to Bosch, and better than Inpro. Depo...i don't know.
bottom line is, buy ZKW won't make you regret, Lava lighting has good price and service; that's where i got them from.

[98///M-DROPTOP]

I think you'll find that Depo lights are the brand you get when you buy "replica" lights....either BMP or Bavauto carry them. Depo is just another aftermarket company selling replacement/repair parts, they were never OE on BMW.

[alteclansing]

Now to dispell/prove the rumors of the different OEM ellipsoids.

I have worked with and personally seen the following kits:

1) North American DOT headlamps
2) ZKW H7 free-form headlamps
3) ZKW H1 ellipsoid headlamps
4) Bosch H7 free-form headlamps
5) Bosch H1 ellipsoid headlamps
6) Hella H1 ellipsoid headlamps

In terms of build quality:

1) Bosch and Hella (kind of a tie, Bosch has the clearest glass lenses and uses plastic clips instead of the metal clips for Hella and ZKW, whereas Hella has the best projector assembly and connectors for bulbs for H1 high and low and 5W5 city lights. The Bosch has a small vent cut into the plastic in corner for ventillation.)

2) ZKW (not close 2nd) Mimics Hella but uses similar glass, cheaper plastic inside/outside/reflector.

3) North American (very very far from 3rd). Well everyone knows how good these are.

In terms of optical quality:

1) Hella ellipsoid (bar none the best by far)

2) Bosch ellipsoid (beam pattern not as good as Hella or ZKW, but the beams cross which makes the projection down the centre of the car brighter, and clearer glass also improves brightness on ground)

3) ZKW ellipsoid, somewhat like Hella, but distribution pattern is not as wide (just compare ZKW vs Hella fogs, and you can tell that Hella fogs have a much better beam pattern)

4) ZKW H7 free-form (mimics ellipsoid pattern but cut-off is not sharp at all)

5) Bosch H7 free-form (2 triangular wedge patterns converging)

6) North American DOT (2 pencil beams)


All european E36's 92-95 came with H1 ellipsoids.
All european E36's 96-on came with H7 free-form reflectors.

Most E36's bought in Germany came with Hellas.

Most E36's bought in Czeck republic, luxembourg, other european countries and Asian countries came with Bosch.

No E36's in Europe/Asia came with ZKW's.
ZKW's are OEM parts, but they are OEM replacement parts.
(ie. you crash your car, they replace them with ZKW, but brand new cars are sold with ZKW).

Sorry, I have no information on Inpro's except they are an aftermarket lighting company that makes lighting parts for euro cars such as VW's, and now BMW's with the angel light craze.

[umnitza]

www.eurospeedperformance.com has a great discussion on the differences between ZKW and InPros.

As for "Depo" it's a Taiwanese company that sells Ellipsoids with quality that for the price may be your ticket.

[1995red318i]

Originally posted by umnitza
www.eurospeedperformance.com has a great discussion on the differences between ZKW and InPros.

As for "Depo" it's a Taiwanese knock-off company that sells CHEAP Ellipsoids with suspect quality and lighting quality, but for the price, they *may* be your ticket.

well if depo is the company that sells the replica ellipoids, then that's what i have;)

and you will not hear one complaint from me!
i love them...and they have a great light ouput...much better than stock. once i installed them, i couldn't believe how much i WASN'T seeing with US lights.

bottom line is the depo lights are great. quality is great, lighting is great. you really can't tell the difference between them and zkws, except that zkws have a liitle insignia stamped on the lense.

also, these lights are a plug and play application, you don't have to buy a wiring harness for them, or you don't have to buy the plug and play assembly seperate. its all there, plus you get bulbs.

the ellipsoids lend themselves to everything zkws do too: HID and DDEs:)

so if you are looking at the depo lights get them...you are not going to gain anything more than a little stamp on the headlight by dropping the extra $75 bucks for zkws.

[umnitza]

I agree with what you're saying, I came off a little harsh on the Depo lights.

If you don't feel like spending the extra $100, then don't.

But the bottom line is it's the type of quality that you are interested in that makes your buying decision.

[GQ_Style]

I got a set. Very good quality.

Beam pattern is much improved over stock. Glass is clear and solid. Build quality is tight and solid. No issues with fog or water seepage. This is actually a very high quality product. The H1 bulb holders are high quality, the 192/168 bulb holder is present in the high beams.

I wouldn't pay $80 more for the ZKW. Depo gives you the same performance. Hope this helps.

[R.Stunna]

Originally posted by alteclansing
Now to dispell/prove the rumors of the different OEM ellipsoids.

In terms of optical quality:

1) Hella ellipsoid (bar none the best by far)

2) Bosch ellipsoid (beam pattern not as good as Hella or ZKW, but the beams cross which makes the projection down the centre of the car brighter, and clearer glass also improves brightness on ground)

Do you know where I can find out more on these brands? I need a new set of ellipsoids and I wouldnt mind trying the Hellas.

TIA!

[caball]

if you don't need the euro connector then how does the city light get wired??

[pwillikers]

I need a bit of a tutorial on this subject.

Are the following assumptions true?

The ellipsoid light kits referred to in this thread contain the headlight assembly, ie. the housing, reflector and clear cover?

In addition to the ellipsoid kit I need to purchase bulbs?

I can substitute the normal filament bulbs with HID replacement bulbs and ballasts?

I'll need some wiring adapter to use HID bulbs with my US spec '97 328i?

If these assumptions are correct, what are the recommendations for these additional parts.

[98///M-DROPTOP]

pwillikers Asked:
Q-Are the following assumptions true?

Q-The ellipsoid light kits referred to in this thread contain the headlight assembly, ie. the housing, reflector and clear cover?
A - Yes, and most common kit you'll find is the ZKW. A "good" kit will contain the complete headlamp assemblies, H1 bulbs, city light bulbs, Euro barrel connector, connector boot cover, and connector pins, and instructions....you supply 14 or 18 guage stranded copper wire and the labor.
Q-In addition to the ellipsoid kit I need to purchase bulbs?
A- You shouldn't have to but I've seen the kits without them.
Q-I can substitute the normal filament bulbs with HID replacement bulbs and ballasts?
A- Yes but there are two ways to adapt the xenon bulbs: 1) rebasing them with H1 plastic bases (preferred); 2) adaptor rings added to the bulbs (not preferred but they work, not the best for correct placement of the light in the reflector focal point.
Q-I'll need some wiring adapter to use HID bulbs with my US spec '97 328i?
A- The better HID kits come with a separate harness/relay assembly that bypasses the stock wiring....better to handle the start-up surge from the lamps, not absolutely necessary but prefered.
Q-If these assumptions are correct, what are the recommendations for these additional parts. the lamps.
A-Lavalighting (BF.C sponsor vendor) has everything you'll need. Check the Group Buy forum, there's one going on now for ZKW's. Other good kits are from Xenon Depot, Xenon Technologies, and HID4LESS.