Depo Headlight adjuster repair

[Ubatoid]

Had a bit of a moment when adjusting the aim on my new (to me) Depo lights. There was a "Pop" and the nearside light dropped its aim to 2 ft in front of the car. Any how, left it a week to compose my self and went in to investigate. Popping the headlight out I was able to see through  the xenon hole with the bulb removed, that it was just that the up down adjuster ball joint had seperated which was a relief. Try as i might I could not get it back in with the unit assembled so I had to break out the heat gun. Ive read about the baking method but preffered to be a little more in control of the heat. The you dont have to get the "Tar" too hot to soften it sufficently, just keep working the gun around the outside and gently lever with a large flat blade. Take your time and it comes appart quite easily......


The next part was the hardest. There are 5 or six screws holding the inner black trim to the light and the screws are burried under the black tar so need a bit of digging and heating to remove them.
Once this is off twiddle the adjusters so they unscrew fully from their screws and then remove the levelling motor and manipulate the ball out of the side of it mount shown here......


This is what you will have when removed.........


The yellow arrow shows the ball joint that had popped out on mine.
Red arrows show where the adjusting screws go into the plastic adjusters
Blue arrow is the socket for the levelling motor.

The seperated joint was easily put back in with the unit appart and as they say, assembly is the reverse..
While I was there I took some measurments with a veiw to upgrading the halos to CCFL units. But thats another story.

[PhilUK]

Great write up! 

I have Depo's so will know where to come if I ever hear a "pop".

Looking forward to hearing how you get on with your halo upgrade. I have always fancied upgrading the halo's in mine, especially to the units used in the EAS's versions of Depo's. They use 60LED "Orion V2-Style" Angel Eye assemblies. Ultra bright!! 

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-related-forums/vendor-forum/68375-eas-e53-x5-d2s-60led-projector-headlamp-set-00-03-a.html

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVuuXtBDpuY

[PhilUK]

You've got me thinking about this halo upgrade now Ubatoid!  ::)

Did you take measurements of the standard Depo halo's?

I think I just found the same halo's as those used in the AES Depo's but they don't come cheap!!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USA-UHP-LED-ANGEL-EYE-HALO-RING-Kit-DEPO-00-03-BMW-E53-P53-PROJECTOR-HEADLIGHT-/170988732867?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27cfb901c3&vxp=mtr

[Ubatoid]

I did indeed take some measurements.....the dip beam recess where the CCFL tube will go is 107mm dia on the inside and 127mm dia to the outside. The high beam recess is 135mm inside and 149mm outside.
Ive ordered these units http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120868596958? ... 1439.l2649
as they where cheap enough and seem to be about the right size going by the pictures and dimensions.

I will post up when they arrive and give some firm details. Ive cooked up a design for a relay system aswell that will give the fade on with unlock and daylight running when the ignition is on, but that will be after the upgrade. Ive got too many projects floating around at the moment including home anodising aluminium parts and building a aYamaha RD350 LC powered Lambretta amoungst other things and I am having trouble prioritising  :'(

[PhilUK]

Cheers for the dims. 

Keep us updated on how the upgrade goes, will be very interested to see how bright they turn out to be.

[Ubatoid]

Just to give you guys something else to think about on the upgade front. I used this srtip lighting for my under cabinet lights in my kitchen.................

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-x-5m-Under- ... 53f428b967

I had about a metre left over that i had trimed off, but it didnt have any connecting wires. I had a moment today and had a go at grafting on my own with some gentle soldering.....


It was a little fiddly but worked a treat. The LEDs are super bright


Now I know i can make up any short length, I may do a comparison with the CCFL lights when they arrive to see what is best for the angel eyes. The only downside is the way the ribbon is constructed it may be difficult to bent the strip around the halo rings having the LEDs facing outwards.

Just a little to get you thinking......

[jaynana]

that got me thinkin actually.. although not about the car 

when i did the kitchen i wired up all the cabinets but didn't fix lights cos i don't like white lights in the house.. just searched a bit and now there are 'warm white' led strips that can be cut to the right size  :thumbup: