Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Simon270172 on 10 February 2015, 18:35:11

Title: Another Headlight post
Post by: Simon270172 on 10 February 2015, 18:35:11
Are those DEPO aftermarket units any good or should I just keep polishing the old ones every 9 months or so?
I do a good job and they come up crystal, but even with Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited's fitted they're not what I'd consider good.
Mine are the original type with the wedge pattern in the lens not the projector ones, is it worth spending 100 notes on aftermarket projector type units or would I be better putting it the tank?
Cheers,
Simon
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: Simon270172 on 10 February 2015, 18:38:01
I do seem to remember reading on here years ago that the original units were deemed poor even when new.
Simon.
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: joff on 10 February 2015, 18:38:48
I put a Depo HID on the MV6 today. £94 off the bay of flea
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: alank46 on 10 February 2015, 20:40:17
You do not say what age your car is, but I have a pair of mini-facelift HID headlights with bulbs and ballasts.  These are the original fitment lights on the Elite spec cars.  £80 the pair.
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: lee4206 on 10 February 2015, 21:36:31
In my opinion they're s**t every one I've fitted has either been a poor fit, poor beam image or failed to adjust correctly. ( I've fitted quite a few to all different makes of car ).
I think you would be better off polishing them like you are or upgrade to the projector type.  If you still want to replace with the same type I'd get hella ones if you can.
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: 05omegav6 on 11 February 2015, 09:55:39
Buy the cheapest Depo ones you can, and strip them for parts, using the new lenses to refurbish your existing lights and be sure to fit a set of aluminium adjusters whilst you're at it :y

Just be aware that pre and post facelift lights are a slightly different shape :y
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 11 February 2015, 14:08:38
Heard nothing but 'ok' or 'bad' about the Depo lights, as it goes  :( And when you look at what £s you can get a good used pair for, and if you really want, strip them down and repaint he insides to 'Depo-ise' them, not worth the money, imo.
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: Simon270172 on 11 February 2015, 17:43:51
You do not say what age your car is, but I have a pair of mini-facelift HID headlights with bulbs and ballasts.  These are the original fitment lights on the Elite spec cars.  £80 the pair.
Its a '97 fitted with the very first type lights with H1 bulbs. I don't think my car would be suitable to your headlights unfortunately, thanks all the same.
Simon.
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: Simon270172 on 11 February 2015, 17:52:04
In my opinion they're s**t every one I've fitted has either been a poor fit, poor beam image or failed to adjust correctly. ( I've fitted quite a few to all different makes of car ).
I think you would be better off polishing them like you are or upgrade to the projector type.  If you still want to replace with the same type I'd get hella ones if you can.
Hi, that's exactly what I'm worried about, spending my hard earned for no appreciable gain.
I was looking at buying the projector ones made by DEPO as a potential upgrade to my original hellas, sorry if I didn't make that clear. Would they be better than what I've got fitted or would it still be a waste of time?
Simon.
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: alank46 on 11 February 2015, 18:01:47
Simon
Your car is a preFL.  The PFL and MFL cars used the same shape headlight, so my lights would fit and they are the later and much better projector lens type, factory fitted with HID bulbs.  I bought them to go on my 96 car but sold the car before fitting.
Alan

PS Just to be clear, the FL headlights are a different shape to the PFL/MFL ones.  The original equipment HIDs are the way to go in my opinion.

You do not say what age your car is, but I have a pair of mini-facelift HID headlights with bulbs and ballasts.  These are the original fitment lights on the Elite spec cars.  £80 the pair.
Its a '97 fitted with the very first type lights with H1 bulbs. I don't think my car would be suitable to your headlights unfortunately, thanks all the same.
Simon.
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: Simon270172 on 11 February 2015, 18:05:10
Buy the cheapest Depo ones you can, and strip them for parts, using the new lenses to refurbish your existing lights and be sure to fit a set of aluminium adjusters whilst you're at it :y

Just be aware that pre and post facelift lights are a slightly different shape :y
[/quote
Would that work? being that mine have patterned lenses and the Depo ones are just clear :-\.
My thoughts were that the reflector design is crap to begin with and the lens issue just highlights the problem.
At the moment my lenses are beautiful and look new, and as I said in the first post I've got nightbreakers fitted, but even so I might as well be using a davy lamp for all the good they are :(.
Simon
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: Simon270172 on 11 February 2015, 18:18:33
Alan,
As I understand it projector units take standard type halogen bulbs and HID units are something all together different again. When I said my car wasn't suitable, I should perhaps have said is not fitted with the self levelling gear I thought was required to safely use HIDs. Then again I may be wrong about that, and I know that HIDs give out a lot more light so may be a route to consider :-\.
Cheers Alan,
Simon.
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: TheBoy on 11 February 2015, 18:38:59
Get some projectors from a breaker, and clean them up :y
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: biggriffin on 11 February 2015, 18:51:11
Alan,
As I understand it projector units take standard type halogen bulbs and HID units are something all together different again. When I said my car wasn't suitable, I should perhaps have said is not fitted with the self levelling gear I thought was required to safely use HIDs. Then again I may be wrong about that, and I know that HIDs give out a lot more light so may be a route to consider :-\.
Cheers Alan,
Simon.
Only needed if factory fitted hid, retro fitted doesn't need it or washers.
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: MonzaGSE on 11 February 2015, 21:38:10
Depo/tyc lights are worthless in my opinion. Have come across quite a few omegas fitted with them, and they dont fit as well as original, there is often poor connection to the car wiring, and the overall quality is crap. Plastic gets brittle and cracks fast. I bought a new pair of hella original projector lamps(not xenon) to my 94 estate. The difference in light was really huge from the original 94 lamps. Stay away from depo. Just my two cents:)
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: Simon270172 on 12 February 2015, 20:05:42
Ok, I'll stay away from the Depo ones and try and find some GM projector units instead :y.
But if I source some second hand ones aren't they just as likely to need regular polishing?
I don't think I could justify, or to be truthful, afford new GM ones at the moment in my current job :(
Hey ho 8)
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: joff on 12 February 2015, 20:14:19
I put a Depo HID on the MV6 today. £94 off the bay of flea

and its coming back off tomorrow as its S<>T, rebuild of older unit with the lens off the Depo
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: Toledodude1973 on 12 February 2015, 20:14:31
I daren't think what a pair of GM lights would be,anyone here know?
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: 05omegav6 on 12 February 2015, 20:24:54
I daren't think what a pair of GM lights would be,anyone here know?
£566 rrp last time I looked... about 5 years ago :o

Well you did ask ::)

I should add, that's without bulbs, motors or ballast packs...
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: Steve B on 12 February 2015, 20:30:00
I daren't think what a pair of GM lights would be,anyone here know?
£566 rrp last time I looked... about 5 years ago :o

Well you did ask ::)

I should add, that's without bulbs, motors or ballast packs...
:D :D :D :D Could do your cam gaskets for that price 8 times
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: Simon270172 on 12 February 2015, 20:40:24
I daren't think what a pair of GM lights would be,anyone here know?
£566 rrp last time I looked... about 5 years ago :o

Well you did ask ::)

I should add, that's without bulbs, motors or ballast packs...
Fornicating with a slight directional deviation ;D
I can see the G3 coming out again....
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: Nick W on 12 February 2015, 21:08:51
Ok, I'll stay away from the Depo ones and try and find some GM projector units instead :y .
But if I source some second hand ones aren't they just as likely to need regular polishing?



Probably, but it's quick cheap and easy, especially if you buff them occasionally rather than let them deteriorate badly. Lesson learnt here!




Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: Magwheels on 12 February 2015, 23:18:14
I wet sanded, buffed and stuck a bit of "2k" lacquer on it.

They stayed bright (like new) for a good few years after that! :y
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: joff on 13 February 2015, 17:45:30
I put a Depo HID on the MV6 today. £94 off the bay of flea

and its coming back off tomorrow as its S<>T, rebuild of older unit with the lens off the Depo

Must get more sleep before trying to work on car, another plastic adjuster bit the dust today on the headlight I was trying to build for the MV6. So took the Depo back off to find the up and down adjuster was not located correctly. Will have to get it on the headlight tool now to check adjustment.
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: Simon270172 on 13 February 2015, 20:53:56
Seen some brand new hella projector units, need to know if lamp motors out of my existing ribbed lens hellas will fit :y
Cheers.
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: Simon270172 on 14 February 2015, 12:22:30
Well I've bought them now as they only had one LH unit and didn't want to miss out, so lets hope my level motors fit. £100 the pair delivered aint too bad I don't think.
Thanks to everyone :y :y
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: MonzaGSE on 14 February 2015, 15:08:20
Your old lamp motors will fit fine:)
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: joff on 14 February 2015, 15:25:15
Just ordered some adjusters off the bay, not alloy (could not find them) they are £11 plus postage and are made of a kind of resin with metal ball end, will see what they are like when they turn up and report back.
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: Simon270172 on 15 February 2015, 11:35:24
Your old lamp motors will fit fine:)
Thank you :y
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: Simon270172 on 15 February 2015, 11:40:10
Just ordered some adjusters off the bay, not alloy (could not find them) they are £11 plus postage and are made of a kind of resin with metal ball end, will see what they are like when they turn up and report back.
What's the problem with the adjusters? Seems like it's a common problem but I've never had any issues with mine, or am I about to with my new units? Is it worth changing them before I fit them to the car?
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: MonzaGSE on 15 February 2015, 11:45:21
If you bought new hella units i wouldnt mess around with the adjusters. Will probably work fine for many years:)
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: Simon270172 on 15 February 2015, 11:54:02
Oh goody :y
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: drinksoptional on 15 February 2015, 13:29:27
My calibra headlights were  shit  fitted hids  but when it snowed  I couldn't see .
The omega ain't much better due to this fading crap keep saying will get it sorted  always forget till night time.
I had a Frontera sport A series  its headlight were crap   .
Why cant Vauxhall make decent headlights
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: 05omegav6 on 15 February 2015, 13:52:05
The latest halogen cars are still shit... sis in law has a '64 Astra J GTC with pretty much every option except xenons and even her lights are utter shyte :-\
Title: Re: Another Headlight post
Post by: Nick W on 15 February 2015, 13:54:30
It is down to the design and style of the things. Fitting an oddly shaped light into the cramped spaces caused by modern style/engineering/safety requirements means you only have room for a small reflector and lens. Making the lens out of thin plastic doesn't help its effectiveness or durability either.
 A good quality, traditional 7" headlight with a glass lens gives good output, range and spread even with an ordinary H4 bulb. But they don't suit the look of a modern car.