"for Michigan" (formichigan)
09/02/2016 at 12:43 • Filed to: Mazda3, DIY, Headlights
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"for Michigan" (formichigan)
09/02/2016 at 12:43 • Filed to: Mazda3, DIY, Headlights | 3
| 9 |
Hadn’t realized how much the left headlight had hazed over until I compared it to the new one. No wonder that side seemed dim.
After waiting three weeks for Amazon to replace the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , I cancelled the order, got my refund, and found the same part on Rock Auto for $100 less, shipped. So for $50 more than Amazon would have charged me for one headlight, I now have two new headlights.
The new, CAPA-certified units are from DEPO, a Taiwanese company that specializes in OEM-equivalent replacement headlights. The fit is perfect, the quality seems to be on par with the original parts, and they’ve actually made a few improvements.
Anyone who’s changed headlight bulbs on these cars knows what a pain it is to maneuver the bulb retaining spring on the projectors. The DEPO springs actually clear the housing and can be latched/unlatched without tools, making the process significantly easier and faster than the original.
Takuro Spirit
> for Michigan
09/02/2016 at 12:58 |
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Aw damn, my favorite thing to tell Mazda owners was “Sorry, you can’t buy just that metal clip you lost/bent/broke while trying to change your headlight. You gotta buy the WHOLE $XXX.XX ASSEMBLY”
They probably all went aftermarket and saw the price and design change and were like “Man, FUCK dat parts guy!”
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for Michigan
> Takuro Spirit
09/02/2016 at 13:05 |
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I’ve changed the low-beam bulbs on my car three times so far. I’m convinced those springs were designed by the devil himself.
Urambo Tauro
> for Michigan
09/02/2016 at 13:10 |
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Very nice! I’ve been looking into replacing the fog lamp housings on my Mustang recently, and DEPO was one of the names that came up.
I was just going to polish the old lenses, but I found one of them to be loose, and it fell off in my hands as I was working on it. Inside, the reflective film had all peeled away. This must be some cheap aftermarket housing installed by a previous owner, as it has no part numbers anywhere on it, (not even SAE or DOT markings). I have no way of knowing who made it (so that I could avoid buying the same one again).
Your post makes me feel better about the DEPO replacements I’ve been looking at. If they’re CAPA-certified like yours, then that means more to me than all those online reviews that say “they look great” and “installation was easy”.
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for Michigan
> Urambo Tauro
09/02/2016 at 13:21 |
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DEPO makes both certified and uncertified parts, so make sure the listing explicitly states CAPA certification. Amazon wanted $250 ea. for the CAPA Mazda headlights, but only $100 ea. for the non-certified ones. RockAuto sold me the CAPA units for $140 ea, though they weren’t listed as DEPO, but as Various Mfg. CAPA-certified.
I’ve heard DEPO’s non-certified parts are pretty good, but to some people “pretty good” means drilling new holes and tying things together with wire where there should be bolts. That’s what makes those reviews you mentioned so difficult to trust.
mazda616
> for Michigan
09/02/2016 at 13:57 |
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Oh, God.
That Mazda3 bulb retraining clip. I still have nightmares.
Those look amazing, though!
RazoE
> for Michigan
09/06/2016 at 09:27 |
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WHOA. Those are gorgeous! I cleaned my 3's headlights, but I am looking for a new set to finish an LED project. Would you mind posting a link? Thanks!
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RazoE
> for Michigan
09/06/2016 at 09:29 |
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It is nick-named “The devil’s clip” I changed my bulbs this weekend and I actually cut off the tip of it because it was keeping me from installing my bulbs.
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for Michigan
> RazoE
09/06/2016 at 10:30 |
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http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/maz…
Try this one. You’ll want the Various Manufacturer units. Just select CAPA Certified from the drop down menu. They only have one of each side left in stock right now.
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RazoE
> for Michigan
09/06/2016 at 10:52 |
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You are awesome, thanks!