06-08 SG Forester Sports Headlights: Depo or Oem, which will light your way?
Hey!.... Welcome to another #modmonday! Your weekly Subaru part review from blingstrom.com! This week we will do a head to head on Oem Forester Sports headlights vs Depos. I have had experience with both and here is what I have found.
Oem up front and Depo in the back. Visually very similar at this distance.
One of the worst things on the 06-08 SG Foresters is the headlights... Mine came with extreme condensation within them and barely were able to light up the road. With that I decided to replace them with the much nicer 07-08 Sports lights, for those who aren't familiar these are the lights with the blacked out housing. I went with the Depo version due to the lower price point... but what does the lesser price do to the quality...?
Sad times… I’m not crying it’s just raining out…
Visually they are both very similar. The Subaru version will say Subaru in the lens and Ichiko on the headlight seal, otherwise it is very difficult to see any difference. Once the lights are on it's another story, the Depo has much more light scatter and one odd spot where it shoots light directly towards houses on both lights.
Oem front and Depo in the rear. How many times can I remove these headlights… too many to count.
Next on the list will be waterproof sealing, the first set of Depo's did well until one a car wash one month before one year of ownership it fogged over with moisture(this happened to me twice). Luckily I had them replaced due to this defect but if you check the Depo website this is normal. Beware of this.. the passenger side on the other hand lasted a good four and half years, so quality control can be spotty. The Subaru version has a one year warranty and I have had any moisture intrusion over a year of ownership.
Cooking with Blingstrom! I have been here many times with the Depos….More info on resealing your headlights here!
The last noticeable difference between the two lights is the Uv protective coating. Within a year the Depo was peeling and oxidizing while the Subaru unit is still going strong.
Polishing the Depos to keep them from oxidizing. Lamin-x film was installed after the clearing.
You can generally find a set of Depos for around $300 while the Subaru headlights will run you $300 a light. Are they twice the quality...? I would say they are. If you are looking for no fuss lights I would pay the price for the Subaru units. While the Depos need a little more attention you will keep some in the wallet while possibly needing more attention and elbow grease.
That fresh Oem shine.
Question, comments, thoughts? Leave them below!