Bimmian Solaris bulbs + DEPO Smoked corners = bad match ?

[WHUDAFXUP]

So I got the Solaris bulbs from Bimmian the the DEPO smoked turn signals. Now, 2 weeks later the "chrome" coating inside the signals is all bubbled up and starts peeling off. Anyone experienced this before? I had emailed Bimmian when I got bulbs and let them now that they would heat up instantly (you couldn't even touch them), they assured me that would be perfectly normal. Now I'm stuck with molten turn signals :)

[sillieidiot]

yea it happened to me, but it wasn't that they gotten all bubbled up. my bulb melted the depo housing and the bulb exploded. i just too a picture of what i was talking about and they sent me new ones. i'm just waiting for my oem clears to put them in.

[k3vkoh]

That's bad :yikes: ...I was thinking whether or not to get those Solaris bulb, guess its a no for me.

[sillieidiot]

well they work fine on oem clears. i have oem rears and sides, and nothing is wrong, but the depo clears didn't hold up so well

[WilliamLD]

I just ordered smoked corners and sidemarkers from umnitza, and was wondering if those are depo's? and if there was any other options with the bulbs instead of using the solaris bulbs?

[BMWPower06]

on my OEM signals, the Solaris bulbs are fine, i have had em up front for almost a year with no problems

[WHUDAFXUP]

I just ordered smoked corners and sidemarkers from umnitza, and was wondering if those are depo's? and if there was any other options with the bulbs instead of using the solaris bulbs?

um-nitza sells DEPO, that's where I got them from. Those stupid bulbs ! God I regret buying them. Man, I even told Bimmian there was something wrong with them. But they said it would be allright. Now I gotta buy new corners! Sucks

[sillieidiot]

um-nitza sells DEPO, that's where I got them from. Those stupid bulbs ! God I regret buying them. Man, I even told Bimmian there was something wrong with them. But they said it would be allright. Now I gotta buy new corners! Sucks

^ yea sucks, wished bimmian would replace my corners too. their fault for telling me its alright when it's really not

[Two Outtakes]

i have the bulbs for my clears and the fronts are going a greenish color! :rolleyes:

[WHUDAFXUP]

they put out way too much heat. Same here. I should have not installed them in the first place. I was dumb listening to their explanation. Well $60 turn signals is not a fortune, but still ...:banghead:

[bimmerCi]

my invisibulbs are holding up fine on my oem clears...and if your corners are smoked, do the regular amber bulbs still look bad (are the invidibulbs really necessary)?

[aznazasin]

instead of buying the solaris bulbs which cost around $20, go to the dealership and ask for 2 front signal bulbs for a 2001 325ci...the bulbs for that year and model are clear but light up amber...they work fine and cost $3 each

[djmatty]

my invisibulbs are holding up fine on my oem clears...and if your corners are smoked, do the regular amber bulbs still look bad (are the invidibulbs really necessary)?
Yes, they look bad with smoked lenses as well.

[3rd_collective]

instead of buying the solaris bulbs which cost around $20, go to the dealership and ask for 2 front signal bulbs for a 2001 325ci...the bulbs for that year and model are clear but light up amber...they work fine and cost $3 each

Really!! Part number please.

[easyman]

^yeah i have never heard of that anyone know anything about this?

[aznazasin]

im calling the bmw dealership tomorrow and ill find out and let you guys know

[sillieidiot]

if it's true i'm buying a whole set for myself

[MB Hawaii]

Thanks for sharing the info guys. I have DEPO's and was going to order the Solaris bulbs from bimmian tomorrow. :)

[WHUDAFXUP]

Thanks for sharing the info guys. I have DEPO's and was going to order the Solaris bulbs from bimmian tomorrow. :)

Don't

[aznazasin]

ok called the dealership....part number for the clear signal bulbs are

6 3 2 1 7 1 6 0 7 9 0

oh and its $5 at my dealership but it may vary

[Gir]

^ Good to know. Last time I talke to the parts guy he gave me a "I don't know what the hell you are talking about" look.

[sna77]

er, the OEM silver bulbs are part # 63 21 6 934 227

Also, check this thread:
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=356554

pics of both bulbs. For what its worth, I've had the Solaris bulbs and not had issues with them. Theya re not as bright as the OEM ones but look better with facelifted clear lenses. If I had smoked corners, I'd use the OEM ones, because they are brighter and wont show through as much...

[aznazasin]

these bulbs arent silver....theyre clear but light up amber and its a different part number for different years but they all fit the same corners.

[3rd_collective]

ok called the dealership....part number for the clear signal bulbs are

6 3 2 1 7 1 6 0 7 9 0

oh and its $5 at my dealership but it may vary

Just called my dealer, they have 6 in stock. Going by there today and hopefully the offset is correct for my application. :woot:

[aznazasin]

heres how they look on clear corners...none of that orange crap...these bulbs have the tabs at 180 degrees

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i168/aznazasin/carwash_7.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i168/aznazasin/rearsignals.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i168/aznazasin/burnout.jpg

glad i could help:thumbup:

[3rd_collective]

Yes, thanks for the info. One more question, did you car come with clear corners or did you get aftermarket. Reason being the offset. I can't remember what there were on my car.

[MB Hawaii]

these bulbs arent silver....theyre clear but light up amber and its a different part number for different years but they all fit the same corners.

So no heat issues with the OEM bulbs? What about the 180 degrees offset? I believe mine is 150 degrees. I can't just unscrew the bulb and screw it onto the old one?

[aznazasin]

my car was a 2001 and came with the orange corners. when i bought the aftermarket ones, the offset did not change.

[WHUDAFXUP]

What about PHILIPS, I believe they're called Silvervision. PHilips is a brand name, nothing bad can happen with one of their bulbs, right?

[aznazasin]

So no heat issues with the OEM bulbs? What about the 180 degrees offset? I believe mine is 150 degrees. I can't just unscrew the bulb and screw it onto the old one?

if you give me ur address ill send you a set of bulbs holders from my new smoke corners from depo. i didnt use them because my OEM bulb holder works perfectly. you pay shipping though. and NO, the OEM bulbs cause no heat problems whatsoever. they are 180 degrees or you can try to modify your holder or remove the tabs from the bulb and figure out some sort of way to hold it in.

What about PHILIPS, I believe they're called Silvervision. PHilips is a brand name, nothing bad can happen with one of their bulbs, right?

Solaris are brand name too but from this thread, they seem to have melted the Depo corners. im not sure about Phillips, i've never tried them.

[Simon2150]

my car was a 2001 and came with the orange corners. when i bought the aftermarket ones, the offset did not change.
in your pics, do those bulbs light up orange or white, they look white to me :dunno:

[aznazasin]

theyre a brighter amber than the OEM orange bulbs but not white..i wished they were

[sna77]

er, the OEM silver bulbs are part # 63 21 6 934 227

Also, check this thread:
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=356554

pics of both bulbs. For what its worth, I've had the Solaris bulbs and not had issues with them. Theya re not as bright as the OEM ones but look better with facelifted clear lenses. If I had smoked corners, I'd use the OEM ones, because they are brighter and wont show through as much...


If you have OEM clears, you need these bulbs (they have the 150 degree offset). Aftermarket clears re-use the existing bulbs, so they are 150 offset

[sna77]

theyre a brighter amber than the OEM orange bulbs but not white..i wished they were


if you reallyt want white, just use the clear bulbs that came in the original amber corners...

[sillieidiot]

if you reallyt want white, just use the clear bulbs that came in the original amber corners...

even those don't come out white. it's more of a diluted yellow color. i tried already, looks like crap. aznazasin, could you take another picture of the corners with it on? its so blurry, looks like it's more of a really light (in color) orange

[aznazasin]

even those don't come out white. it's more of a diluted yellow color. i tried already, looks like crap. aznazasin, could you take another picture of the corners with it on? its so blurry, looks like it's more of a really light (in color) orange

its not white...its a lighter orange as i stated earlier.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i168/aznazasin/night2.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i168/aznazasin/night.jpg

[sna77]

either way, having a white bulb is just asking fro trouble... you wont pass inspection with white turn signals, and its asking to get pulled over by the police

[Deepeyes]

I have gone through 2 sets of the bimmian solaris bulbs, each time the silver coating just faded off after about 5-6 months :thumbdwn:

[Gir]

either way, having a white bulb is just asking fro trouble... you wont pass inspection with white turn signals, and its asking to get pulled over by the police

I don't know about that. As long as they blink the correct color, orange, you should be fine regardless of how they look when they're off.

I have gone through 2 sets of the bimmian solaris bulbs, each time the silver coating just faded off after about 5-6 months

Agreed, I dropped mine when I was installing it, the silver coating came right off. Philips bulbs are better but they are harder to come by.

[hi its me alec]

instead of buying the solaris bulbs which cost around $20, go to the dealership and ask for 2 front signal bulbs for a 2001 325ci...the bulbs for that year and model are clear but light up amber...they work fine and cost $3 each

Those came stock with my car (1999 328i). It's not exactly 'amber' though, it's more of just an off-orange hue. It's not distinguishably amber, but it's definitely not white.

I still have those in my rear and side signals...they look great. :)

[sna77]

I don't know about that. As long as they blink the correct color, orange, you should be fine regardless of how they look when they're off.



Agreed, I dropped mine when I was installing it, the silver coating came right off. Philips bulbs are better but they are harder to come by.


The OEM bulps are Philips. Stamped right on them.

[WHUDAFXUP]

The OEM bulps are Philips. Stamped right on them.

Yup. But I want the silver coated ones :)

[bassik40]

Just in case anyone wanted white bulbs and wondered about legal issues, theyre perfectly fine. Only thing that i think is funny is you can have either white or amber turn signals for the front, however, the sidemarkers need to be amber. Go to the cali chp site and its all there in black and white. Pretty much if its legal in cali, you should be fine everywhere, our laws suck.

[sna77]

Yup. But I want the silver coated ones :)

The OEM SILVER bulbs are Philips. Stamped right on them. part # 63 21 6 934 227

[sna77]

Just in case anyone wanted white bulbs and wondered about legal issues, theyre perfectly fine. Only thing that i think is funny is you can have either white or amber turn signals for the front, however, the sidemarkers need to be amber. Go to the cali chp site and its all there in black and white. Pretty much if its legal in cali, you should be fine everywhere, our laws suck.

Untrue. Front turn signals must be amber. Rear turn signals must be red or amber. Read:
*****


Officer, Richard L. Purvis #4726
Arizona DPS Highway Patrol
District 13
2610 South 16 Street
Phoenix, AZ 85040

Dear Officer Purvis:

This is in reply to your letter of January 16, 2000, with respect to aftermarket clear lamp assemblies.

You report that you have cited motorists for using replacement lamp assemblies that "have totally clear exteriors," having "no red reflectors on the rear product and no amber reflectors on the front product." You would now like to bring enforcement actions against sellers of this equipment, and you have asked "to have any Federal standards reference material that shows clearly that all U.S. vehicles must have the red rear reflective lenses and the amber front reflectors."

The basic Federal motor vehicle safety lighting regulation is 49 CFR 571.108 Standard No. 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 applies to both original and replacement lighting equipment. Title 49 U.S.C. 30115 and Standard No. 108 require that all lighting equipment that is intended to replace original lighting equipment be certified as complying with Standard No. 108. Paragraph S5.8.10 allows the certification to be in the form of a DOT symbol on the product. If the certification is not on the product, Section 30115 requires it to be on a label or tag on the item or the box in which the lighting item is shipped. Therefore, in any enforcement action, it is important for us to examine the item or its container for certification to see whether the certification requirement of Section 30115 is being met.

Table I of Standard No. 108 (applicable to trucks, multipurpose passenger vehicles and buses whose overall width is 60 inches or more) and Table III (applicable to motor vehicles whose overall width is less than 60 inches) require front parking lamps to be white or amber, and front turn signal lamps and front side marker lamps and reflectors to be amber, and all rear and rear side lamps and reflectors to be red, (except that amber is permitted as an optional rear turn signal lamp color, and white is required for backup lamps). The colors themselves must meet the requirements of SAE Standard J578c, Color Specification for Electrical Signal Lighting Devices, February 1977. The colors amber and red may be produced by either a white bulb and amber or red inner or outer lens, or by an amber or red bulb and a colorless or clear lens.

Manufacturers are producing amber bulbs that meet the SAE color requirements. Thus, a replacement turn signal lamp incorporating a clear lens and an amber bulb is permitted by Standard No. 108 if it is certified by its manufacturer as discussed above. However, the same lamp with a bulb that is clear, blue, green, or any color other than amber would not be in compliance with Standard No. 108.

The clear lens - red bulb lamp raises different considerations. A red bulb is very expensive to manufacture, as gold must be used in order to meet the color specifications for red imposed by the standard. In fact, we know of no manufacturer who is producing a red bulb that is intended to make signal lamps with colorless lenses comply with Standard No. 108.

Your letter recounts another problem we have encountered with this type of replacement taillamp, i.e., the absence of a red reflex reflector on the lamp, and possibly the absence of a red reflex reflector on the side at the rear. If the original lamp incorporated a red reflex reflector(s) and the replacement lamp does not (and a separate reflector(s) is not provided in the package), the substitution of the new lamp for the old one will create a noncompliance with Standard No. 108, as the vehicle will no longer meet the requirements of Tables I and III, which require red reflex reflectors and side red reflex reflectors. The same would be true for the front, if amber side reflex reflectors were absent. You will be interested to know that one importer, American Products Company of Corona, California, is currently in the process of recalling 28,542 replacement taillamp lenses which were clear in color and lacked side and rear red reflex reflectors.
The removal of the original lamp and substitution of one that does not meet the color specifications for red or any other required color, or the removal of a lamp incorporating a reflex reflector(s) and replacing it with a lamp that has none, would be violations of Federal law, specifically 49 U.S.C. 30122, if performed by a manufacturer, distributor, dealer, or motor vehicle repair business.

You also mention that sales of this replacement equipment may be a violation "of the business license to sell illegal and unsafe safety products," and ask if we have "any federal publications . . . that deal with this issue." We have no publications or advisories that would help you. However, I would like to point out that, under 49 U.S.C. 30112(a), it is a violation of Federal law to sell, or offer for sale, any item of motor vehicle equipment unless it complies with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards and is certified as complying under Section 30115. Thus, the businesses that you mentioned may be violating this Section.

If you have information indicating that manufacturers or distributors are offering noncomplying signal lamps and that motor vehicle equipment dealers are selling or installing them, please send this information to Ms. Marilynne Jacobs, Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC 20950.

We have seen no insurance industry articles of the nature that concerns you.

If you have further questions, you may phone Taylor Vinson of this Office (202-366-5263).

Sincerely,
Frank Seales, Jr.
Chief Counsel
ref:108
d.4/7/2000

[sillieidiot]

Untrue. Front turn signals must be amber. Rear turn signals must be red or amber.

I guess it's not true for your state. But in cali, white or amber in the front is fine, sides have to be amber if they're toward the front (toward the rear, they have to be red), and the rears can be red or amber.

[auburnu008]

I just did this and it came out perfect...and cheap also.
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=301913&highlight=painting+light+bulbs

[sna77]

I guess it's not true for your state. But in cali, white or amber in the front is fine, sides have to be amber if they're toward the front (toward the rear, they have to be red), and the rears can be red or amber.


its a federal law. your info is wrong. read above

[sna77]

I just did this and it came out perfect...and cheap also.
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=301913&highlight=painting+light+bulbs


its not very bright though is the issue. the oem bulbs are bright. remember the point of turn signals is to alert other drivers u are slowing down and turning so they dont slam into u.

[3rd_collective]

It's not exactly 'amber' though, it's more of just an off-orange hue. It's not distinguishably amber, but it's definitely not white.

True, I just swapped out my ambers for these clear/orange bulbs. The color appears to be somewhere between amber and OEM 4300 hid bulbs. Don't know if I like it yet, thinking of just getting LED bulbs. Not as bright, but cheaper than solaris, etc...

[sillieidiot]

from CA dmv website:

24953. (a) Any turn signal system used to give a signal of intention to turn right or left shall project a flashing white or amber light visible to the front and a flashing red or amber light visible to the rear.

(b) Side-mounted turn signal lamps projecting a flashing amber light to either side may be used to supplement the front and rear turn signals. Side-mounted turn signal lamps mounted to the rear of the center of the vehicle may project a flashing red light no part of which shall be visible from the front.

(c) In addition to any required turn signal lamps, any vehicle may be equipped with supplemental rear turn signal lamps mounted to the rear of the rearmost portion of the driver's seat in its rearmost position.

(d) In addition to any required or authorized turn signal lamps, any vehicle may be equipped with supplemental rear turn signal lamps that are mounted on, or are an integral portion of, the outside rearview mirrors, so long as the lamps flash simultaneously with the rear turn signal lamps, the light emitted from the lamps is projected only to the rear of the vehicle and is not visible to the driver under normal operating conditions, except for a visual indicator designed to allow monitoring of lamp operation, and the lamps do not project a glaring light

[willyd]

instead of buying the solaris bulbs which cost around $20, go to the dealership and ask for 2 front signal bulbs for a 2001 325ci...the bulbs for that year and model are clear but light up amber...they work fine and cost $3 each

those bulbs don't fit certain cars....they didn't fit my 323...
but if you check, and they do, then go for it.

[jon323i]

I'm just throwing this out.. i got the "xtec" silver coated amber bulbs (or whatever the brand is bimmerblvd sells) up front and I've used them for about 3 months, no problems. They do get really really hot, but i have Depo clear corners and no melting or anything has occured.

I have the new 'brighter' Solaris on the rear and also no probs, but they just blink and don't stay on to produce the heat levels of the fronts.

[Krazee]

So I got the Solaris bulbs from Bimmian the the DEPO smoked turn signals. Now, 2 weeks later the "chrome" coating inside the signals is all bubbled up and starts peeling off. Anyone experienced this before? I had emailed Bimmian when I got bulbs and let them now that they would heat up instantly (you couldn't even touch them), they assured me that would be perfectly normal. Now I'm stuck with molten turn signals :)

I have the same exact setup and today I found it was melted. There is now a gap on the back of the turn signal... not huge but still a gap I didn't need.

I just want to add my 2 cents to NOT buy the Solaris bulbs.

[freshprince2421]

So I have stock orange bulbs in my crystal smoked front depo corners. My passenger side corner has what looks like heat damage. The painted inside is all cracked. Almost resembles scales on a reptile.

Since I have no reason to believe my stock bulbs emit too much heat the only explanation is that DEPO products are not of high quality? I might just have a lemon but I doubt it :thumbdwn:

[sillieidiot]

I have the same exact setup and today I found it was melted. There is now a gap on the back of the turn signal... not huge but still a gap I didn't need.

I just want to add my 2 cents to NOT buy the Solaris bulbs.

actually the solaris bulbs are great (it's not bright, but at night it's a nice intense orange instead of amber). it's just the depo corners suck. well half of them anyways.

[Krazee]

So I have stock orange bulbs in my crystal smoked front depo corners. My passenger side corner has what looks like heat damage. The painted inside is all cracked. Almost resembles scales on a reptile.

Since I have no reason to believe my stock bulbs emit too much heat the only explanation is that DEPO products are not of high quality? I might just have a lemon but I doubt it :thumbdwn:

Hmmm, that might be the case... The silver paint in the inside of the Depo Corners heat up and then melt onto the bulb which cracks it.

[Krazee]

actually the solaris bulbs are great (it's not bright, but at night it's a nice intense orange instead of amber). it's just the depo corners suck. well half of them anyways.

AH HA! just read this. Make so much sense. I hear they make facelifted OEM corners but then why don't these resellers just sell those instead of depo?

It must be the low cost and high profits?

[tradingflare]

Man, I was about 2 mins from going DEPO clears and Solaris bulbs until I read this...thanks for uncovering this thread for me.

Seriously, what are you guys doing that's working? I want clears, and my bulbs have to be (or light up) amber. I haven't looked, but I'm pretty sure my housings are orange and bulbs are clear in my stock set up...So...I want to reverse this...Clear housing and amber bulbs...What products will work? I heard that OEM clears are not DOT compliant, or something of that nature...I'm clueless what that means.

Is the general consensus to go with Solaris bulbs if using OEM clears, and OEM bulbs if using DEPO clears? Did that make sense?

Anyways, I gotta research the OEM amber bulbs...maybe they won't burn through the DEPO's

[Krazee]

From my research I am now going to do:
OEM Corners with possible Solaris again. If not, another type of bulb...

It is the DEPO corners that are low quality... You know how you drive at night and the corners stay dim... that is when it melts the corners.

[awei130]

does anyone know if the OEM bulb (63 21 6 934 227) will fit on a 323CI? I'm not really sure on what the offset of my bulb is.

[cobra94r]

does anyone know if the OEM bulb (63 21 6 934 227) will fit on a 323CI? I'm not really sure on what the offset of my bulb is.

I am in the process of installing clears all the way around. I DO know that my '99 323i has a 180* offset. Other than that.... I dont know. I am following this thread cause I really would like to find an alternative to Solaris clear/amber bulbs.

Good luck!

[mistrzmiasta]

Solaris bulbs suck as much as anything could suck...they are garbage...and so is bimmian for that matter for selling overpriced junk....in strauss auto i have found chrome bulbs for 9 bucks a pair....i don't know what im paying $25 for at bimmian but i definitely ain't quality....

[sillieidiot]

Solaris bulbs suck as much as anything could suck...they are garbage...and so is bimmian for that matter for selling overpriced junk....in strauss auto i have found chrome bulbs for 9 bucks a pair....i don't know what im paying $25 for at bimmian but i definitely ain't quality....

the bulbs are pretty good if you're going for the really dark orange look. there's no other bulbs that offer that. they used to have the diamond coat ones, those were pretty bright, almost OEM.