Bugeye headlights. Morettes, Depo or Stock?

[CalvinT]

I've been reading all the posts I can find about Morettes and Depo replica JDM headlights set up for LHD.

I'm considering replacing my stock headlights with either one. But I won't do it unless they give better lighting than stock. I'm not interested in making a cosmetic change or in HIDs.

Everyone seems to agree the Morettes give better light than the stock headlight. I've noticed quite a few posts for the Morettes talk about broken tabs or cracked masks or skins. Are the Morettes that fragile? Or is because of how they've been handled? Also I see comments about scratches on the lenses. No one has complained about fitment.

If I get them I'll be buying new ones since they're available again through rapidford in the UK but I don't want lights that won't hold up as well as the stock lights.

The Depo JDM replicas seem to be well regarded as far as durability and fitment. But they haven't been around for very long and haven't built up a reputation. I don't see many comments about them giving better light than the stock headlights.

The Morettes use Vario projectors which are supposed to be very good. I'm not sure how good the Depo projectors are.

The Morettes are supposed to be plug and play. The Depos need to have the connector pins swapped since they're not set up for a switched ground system.

I'd appreciate comments from people who have been using either headlights. Any pluses or minuses to either one. Also are there other choices?

Again, I'm only interested in LHD halogen lights, not HIDs and not JDM. Also I'm not interested in modding the stock lights.

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

[murrdogg24]

im interested as well hope someone will chime in about the depos

[SportyMark]

I have run two sets of morettes (in two different bugeyes)

Love them fit and finish is great, and light quality is wonderful.

[CalvinT]

Originally Posted by SportyMark

I have run two sets of morettes (in two different bugeyes)

Love them fit and finish is great, and light quality is wonderful.

How long have you had them?

[paulpat]

bump... I'm in for the answer

[wrxl98]

i've had my Morettes a couple of years.

no problems with tab or other breakage. i would recommend you put Lamin-X or similar protective film on the lenses. i had to adjust the hood latch to get the hood to close after installling the Morettes.

it took four months to get the headlight harness connector adapters from RapidFord/Morette and then they sent the wrong ones (i had made my own long before they finally sent me the wrong ones).

also, your Morettes may not work properly if you have already upgraded to a relayed headlight harness and try to use the Morette harness that comes with relays. probably best to wire your Morettes up without using relays.

Morettes use "Valeo" lights.

[Handsdown]

get the depos... just don't put hids in the h1 projectors.

[CalvinT]

Originally Posted by Handsdown

get the depos... just don't put hids in the h1 projectors.

So why should I get the Depos? Just because you said to?

[CalvinT]

Originally Posted by wrxl98

i've had my Morettes a couple of years.

no problems with tab or other breakage. i would recommend you put Lamin-X or similar protective film on the lenses. i had to adjust the hood latch to get the hood to close after installling the Morettes.

it took four months to get the headlight harness connector adapters from RapidFord/Morette and then they sent the wrong ones (i had made my own long before they finally sent me the wrong ones).

also, your Morettes may not work properly if you have already upgraded to a relayed headlight harness and try to use the Morette harness that comes with relays. probably best to wire your Morettes up without using relays.

Morettes use "Valeo" lights.

Are the lenses plastic or glass? I have the stock foglights and they're fine. Thanks for the info on the hood latch and difficulty with harness adapters. I have original wiring and don't want to cut the stock harness.

And thanks to you and SportyMark for very helpful posts.

[alt14]

Originally Posted by CalvinT

So why should I get the Depos? Just because you said to?

You did ask a question.. he gave you an answer, switching the pins isn't hard and neither is the cut off shields. I do not know if the shields can just be flipped however, if not you'll still spend less with new or custom made ones.

I'd also use lamin-x on the lenes, I used them when I did my quad retrofit on a new set of depos as an insurance.

[CalvinT]

Originally Posted by alt14

You did ask a question.. he gave you an answer, switching the pins isn't hard and neither is the cut off shields. I do not know if the shields can just be flipped however, if not you'll still spend less with new or custom made ones.

I'd also use lamin-x on the lenes, I used them when I did my quad retrofit on a new set of depos as an insurance.

I did ask a question, but NASIOC is loaded with guys who have opinions. Some are well founded and some aren't. If someone asks me a question, I'll give an answer then explain why.

I have no idea if Handsdown has any experience with Depos or just saw the picture on ebay, likes how they look and wishes he had them.

Thank you for your comments. I don't mind swapping pins and the Depos I've seen for sale are for LHD so there would be no need for me to change the shields.

Since you have Depos. How are fitment and build quality right out of the box?

[alt14]

They're spec'ed to oem quality, pretty much identical other than instead of saying Subaru down at the bottom where dot and sae is stamped it says depo. They have a decent warranty to tell if there is going to be problems too.

Frederick and Satrya I think have both had the depo jdm's. I'd try to get some more information from them

[SportyMark]

I have had the morettes for 2 years in my wagon (RIP accident)

and I have had this set on my sedal for 3 years, and they were used when I got them, so I figure they have been used for at least 5 years, no broken tabs, no cracks.

[frederik]

Originally Posted by alt14

They're spec'ed to oem quality, pretty much identical other than instead of saying Subaru down at the bottom where dot and sae is stamped it says depo. They have a decent warranty to tell if there is going to be problems too.

Frederick and Satrya I think have both had the depo jdm's. I'd try to get some more information from them

I have the genuine JDMs retrofitted with RX350bx, not the depo. And Handsdown too has the genuine JDMs retrofitted with TSX projectors.

Satrya has custom made retrofits, I think he started from the USDM housings and modified them completely. So he has not used the depo replica either.

Look for the jdm depo thread I think tha is where you'll see most information on these.

[alt14]

I don't know why I was thinking you two had depos but I know you had jdm ones

[satrya]

Originally Posted by alt14

I don't know why I was thinking you two had depos but I know you had jdm ones

Both frederik and I responded about wiring in that depo replica headlight thread... maybe that's why.


+1 on putting clear headlight film.
One caution though, is if you use something where the bulb sits very close to the lens that you want to put the film on, you may need to wait for a few days before turning on the bulb. This is particularly important if anyone takes the Morette route, because the sealed low & high beams have no additional lens that cover the whole headlight assembly, making the clear film very close to the light source. If you don't wait long enough for the alcohol and any residual installation fluid to clear, it could cause a burn mark at the center where it is closest to the bulb. This also applies to projector foglights with outside lens housing that is spaced very close to the projector lens.

[alt14]

I guess that was it, thanks.
And thanks for the heads up on the film, I'm doing my brothers silverado and the fx-r's are about three millimeters from the lens so it could have caused that burning

[satrya]

Originally Posted by alt14

I guess that was it, thanks.
And thanks for the heads up on the film, I'm doing my brothers silverado and the fx-r's are about three millimeters from the lens so it could have caused that burning

So far, I've only had first hand experience (with clear film burning when not waiting long enough) on halogen projectors on regular 55W bulbs. In one of my retrofits, a pair of biX with regular 35W HIDs didn't seem to be an issue. The biX lens sits less than half an inch from the headlight lens, and I don't believe I waited even 2 days before using them.

So, depending on how much heat the projectors emit, and how close the projector lens is to the housing lens, it may or may not be ok. A 55W halogen probably emits more infra red (heat) than even a boosted (50+W) HID on the lens.

I'm not sure if the ultra violet emission (which HID arcs generate but is usually filtered in a good bulb) can also contribute to the burning.

[alt14]

The quarts glass should cut down on a good bit of the ultra-violet emissions but I think I'll wait anyway even with 35watt bulbs/ballasts

[CalvinT]

From the replies so far...

It seems the Depos might have good fit. But apparently the halogen versions don't put out any better light than the stock headlights. Which means there's no good reason to install them unless you just want a different look or want to mod them for HID. Also the Depos will have the same yellowing/hazing problem sooner or later.

I've heard good things about the Morettes, but that some hood adjustment may be needed.

I've ruled out Depos, will probably go with Morettes. If I do, I'll post my experience on here.

[satrya]

Clear lens film should prevent hazing. My oem ones survived this long (since early 2001).

[Handsdown]

Originally Posted by CalvinT

Handsdown just saw the picture on ebay, likes how they look and wishes he had them.

nah, i'm good with my JDM sti lamps with my tsx retrofits thanks

i'd rather have the depo lenses than the morettes because i think if you can fit a larger lamp, it will be better. you can retrofit the depos, you can't retrofit a morette*

*without dropping a grand on valeo sealed HIDs

[CalvinT]

Originally Posted by Handsdown

nah, i'm good with my JDM sti lamps with my tsx retrofits thanks

i'd rather have the depo lenses than the morettes because i think if you can fit a larger lamp, it will be better. you can retrofit the depos, you can't retrofit a morette*

*without dropping a grand on valeo sealed HIDs

Thanks for explaining. This is a perfect example of why I want someone to explain their recommendation. I'm not interested in doing a retrofit of any kind. Also I stated twice in my original post that I was not interested in HID. The Depo might be a better choice for you, but not for me.

[alt14]

+1 on the clear film though.. on whatever you decide on getting the film will help on hazing and small rocks and chips