This is my second round. First was learning opportunity and it was 'aw-ite'.
This time pretty much the same but for different year. Just a brief report
if anyone else is thinking of attempting:
Depo clear lens for 1999 and 2000 model years.
Used E55 bi-xenon projectors
Oven method was quick and painless. Heat much more even
than heat gun. During reassembly, you want gray glue to be
evenly soft on lens as well as shell.
E55 was near perfect drop-in and lined up great with the existing
Depo mounting posts. A few serrated lock washers, 5 mins with
a Dremel to relieve space for bix solenoid, inline taps to power
the solenoid, spade female tips to power ballast and you're ready
to close. Depo shroud fit perfectly with E55.
Used windshield silicone first to seal lens/housing seam. This stuff
is more viscous and seeps into tiny nooks and crevices. Then drew
a nice bead of heavier/regular/thicker silicone.
Other than waiting for the silicone to dry, I can't imagine this
HID project to take any more than several hrs...at a comfortable
learning pace. If you're willing to accept the E55, this retro
conversion is a piece of cake...even for someone who is all-thumbs.
I should have taken photos along the way...
Don't care for blue/purple whatever...just give me bright, 4300º
even beam on pavement and I'm happy. Love the bix option
along with Phillips Blue Vision H7s. Very decent combo along
the back roads.
Depo assembly $400, E55 $170, ballasts, bulbs...about $250,
(2) tubes silicone $10.
Changed the fog lights to clear lens also. Taiwan made - looks
great when off. Beam coverage not as good as fluted OEM.
With the HID, cant even see the fogs when they're on anymore.
Blue Visions in these as well....ditto city lights. (OEM city bulbs
are H6W...whereas Depos were W6W. diff was round bayo vs
bladed base.)
Don't have any night pics - too busy working.
Linear Mode
