Ultimate guide for those considering Euro projector headlights - all the basics in one thread!

[PlatinumFiST]

Congrats @PlatinumFiST ! My LED strips don't flicker at all. But then again I've done the wiring change so hopefully that's all you need to do. Which H1 bulb retainers did you end up with?

Some updates to report...

1. I haggled with Cars245 and got 26% of my order credited - $92 - i used it to order the replacement which arrived in perfect condition in 3 days. I am no longer using a zip ties to hold my passenger headlight quasi aligned. Now to find a good article on proper headlight alignment techniques. I would still say it was a so-so experience with Cars245. The order of events was...They offered 20%. I countered at 35%. They credited 26% without my approval and stopped communicating. At least i got something back. I plan to crack open the busted unit and glue the adjuster back on.

2. Due to the zip ties, i was running the passenger side without dust covers. The driver side had dust covers. I noticed that the driver side would get condensation in it but the passenger side never did. So I removed the dust covers from the driver side and viola, no condensation on that side either.

3. On a long drive to the city one night, my driver side LED went out. Flicking the switch on and off would get it back on but it would go out again in a few minutes. I suspected it was heat so I removed the dust cover and hung the mini ballast outside the headlight. The bulb stayed lit. I since moved the bulb over to the passenger side to see if the issue follows the bulb. It hasn't... yet. No dust covers on either headlight at this point.

Still VERY happy with the lights!

I'll be doing the additional circuit as time permits, and I hope that is soon!
I used some bulb holders that I was somewhat skeptical about until I tried them, they work just fine but there is no real locked position, they just grip the bulb collar and slide in to the h1 slots on the headlight. Alla Lighting H1 LED Headlight Bulb Adapter Holders https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R7S171R/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdo_btf_t1_XfrGFbF4TJ3PX

I wonder why the people at cars245 weren't willing to communicate. And 35% doesn't seem like too much to ask for in my opinion.

Shame that one of your LED bulbs is giving you trouble. I had the same happen with some auxbeams I bought secondhand. It didn't seem like it was heat, since it would die out again after another 2-3 minutes. I think it was just a faulty bulb.

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[PlatinumFiST]

The Night time is the right time! The night time is the right time! For pics Of the cutoffs!

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The poor thing is banished to street-side parking for now, but I'll post a cut-off picture when I find a good spot. The Euro cut-off is definitely something to get used to.

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[PlatinumFiST]

@TyphoonFiST I promised a cut-off shot! Obviously there's a little bit of light bleeding up above the cut-off but it isn't all that bright. The fan shape of the combined beams is something to get used to also, since the stock housings seemed to throw light everywhere.

I should note that this is with the fog lights on.
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[HardBoiledEgg]

IS THAT CUTOFF FACTORY EURO OR REPS?

CAUSE THATS NOT GOOD AT ALL

 

[PlatinumFiST]

IS THAT CUTOFF FACTORY EURO OR REPS?

CAUSE THATS NOT GOOD AT ALL

What's not good about the cut-off?

They are Euro replicas, and from what I can tell, the cut-off pattern pretty much matches the cut-off shape for left hand drive Euro headlights that you can see in the #1 OP. The LEDs do seem to overwhelm the housings a bit, but this is still a huge improvement over the fragmented and scattered light from the original housings.

A bit of oversight on my part - this picture was taken about 6 ft from the garage door. I can try to find a better spot to capture the cut-off from a greater distance. That might look a bit more like a typical projector cut-off.

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[Ludeem1]

I also put the replicas with some LED’s and some led fogs and just wow. I can actually see now lol

 

[PlatinumFiST]

I also put the replicas with some LED’s and some led fogs and just wow. I can actually see now lol

How are the luxeon fog lights?

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[Djkid1456]

How are the luxeon fog lights?

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I also have them. I think they're phenomenal. I installed mine about a year and a half ago and haven't had a single complaint since.

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[Ludeem1]

How are the luxeon fog lights?

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Love them, very bright. They also make the front end look cleaner

 

[KKaWing]

If anyone is thinking if their headlights will make it from Lativa with cars245.com, it will.

They've re-wrapped the headlights in pallet wrap, the original foam edging, secured the projector with a plastic piece and zipties (from the factory or them I don't know), bubble wrapped the light on top of the pallet wrap, then used some used up tape rolls to secure the rear and bottom tabs, air bags and random plastic stuffing to secure the empty space in the box. It took me nearly 30 minutes to unpack the lights. So, unless it got physically stomped on or smushed, it should come out fine.

Oh TNT shipping was insanely quick, 4 days from them to me.

 

[XR650R]

The Night time is the right time! The night time is the right time! For pics Of the cutoffs!

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View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbaBG2fv8ps

 

[mindmaster]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbaBG2fv8ps

 

[KKaWing]

Random tip: a 4mm socket works for the horizontal adjustment torx thing.

 

[Donny16]

Team,
I have been trying to unlock the mysteries of the auto leveling function, which the euro headlights are capable of with the correct hardware/wiring. I was able to locate another piece of the puzzle, the German wiring diagram for the euro headlight plug (below). The diagram shows that pin 3 (Violet-Green wire) is for the "Resistor Variable - Headlamp Leveling", which I believe is how the headlights are leveled. However, I am unable to locate a resistor or wiring diagram for the rest of the headlight wiring. Does anybody have any additional information regarding the auto leveling function?

 

[akiraproject24]

Thank you to the OP and those with invaluable input. Learned SO much reading through this thread. Decided to go with the Hella's myself. Seems like most of the issues with the Depo were mostly their black housing version which is no longer available, probably for good reason. Are these the correct Bosch indicators:

https://cars245.com/en/item/bosch-1987302812-bulb/


edit verified part numbers from a previous post on cars245 site.

https://cars245.com/en/item/hella-1EL354803051-headlight/

 

[lilbleh]

Team,
I have been trying to unlock the mysteries of the auto leveling function, which the euro headlights are capable of with the correct hardware/wiring. I was able to locate another piece of the puzzle, the German wiring diagram for the euro headlight plug (below). The diagram shows that pin 3 (Violet-Green wire) is for the "Resistor Variable - Headlamp Leveling", which I believe is how the headlights are leveled. However, I am unable to locate a resistor or wiring diagram for the rest of the headlight wiring. Does anybody have any additional information regarding the auto leveling function?

View attachment 38078

Do you have the proper switch (must have the leveling function on the switch)? I also cannot do any wiring connection even with the proper switch because even if we can find out where the leveling pin is we need to connect the wire to the proper pin position on the switch. That is my biggest problem, which pin on the headlight and connect to which pin on the switch.

 

[CherryM]

I just purchased my Depo Headlights. My question is I want to keep my headlight switch on Auto and with the switch on Auto I want to know if it’s possible to have the DRL strip on? And of course when the headlights kick on because the auto switch senses it then the headlight and the strip are on. Is it possible to run the strip with the headlight switch on Auto?
Thank you very much!!

 

[akiraproject24]

I just purchased my Depo Headlights. My question is I want to keep my headlight switch on Auto and with the switch on Auto I want to know if it’s possible to have the DRL strip on? And of course when the headlights kick on because the auto switch senses it then the headlight and the strip are on. Is it possible to run the strip with the headlight switch on Auto?
Thank you very much!!

I dont know for sure but from reading up on these threads a few times, I believe if you swap the pins then use an add a circuit you will have full functionality of the DRL. DRL on high mode when set to auto and then when the lights come on it will kick the DRL to a low mode.

 

[lilbleh]

I just purchased my Depo Headlights. My question is I want to keep my headlight switch on Auto and with the switch on Auto I want to know if it’s possible to have the DRL strip on? And of course when the headlights kick on because the auto switch senses it then the headlight and the strip are on. Is it possible to run the strip with the headlight switch on Auto?
Thank you very much!!

I am not sure exactly how the USA version is wired, but for European Fiesta, you actually only need to move 1 pin and the rest is automatic since the lighting on Fiestas go through the BCM (Body Control Module) so the auto function takes over the strips control and will auto dim when you switch on the low beams or turn on the parking light.

 

[Ludeem1]

A pin has to be moved and you’ll get the DRL to work, it’s the pin for the parking lights, my DRL is really bright and doesn’t dim. There’s a few videos on YouTube super easy