DRLs - anyone tried these? ** now with pics on pg10 **

[mad_pete]

"I'm hoping the smoked ones look more subdued as I'm going for safety over bling"  - yeah sorry I meant subdued when they are off    I was wondering how "invisible" the smoked ones look when the car is parked.

[mad_pete]

Are the smoked ones actually darker than chrome when on then ?

[vRS_Pagey]

Welcome along Pete, this may help with your decision, although fitted to my vRS, I wrapped my retrofitted DRL's in Lamin-X smoke tint.  When off they are hardly noticeable, but the film makes little or no difference to the light output when they are on.....

[mad_pete]

That's great, that's exactly the look I am going for. Thanks. I've ordered a pair I'll post up when I get them fitted. Thanks.

[mad_pete]

I went for the smoked and they arrived super quick. (excellent speed from veedubmachine)  I'll post up as soon as I get them on.

[bodger00]

You won't regret getting them Pete I have had mine on for two years now and I've had no problems at all.

[mad_pete]

Just need to be brave about the wire run to the fuse box and get em on now.

[mad_pete]

and here they are. Glad I went with smoked

[PND]

Welcome aboard!! I think that's 3 of us now! 

Looks really good. 

[Teutonic_Tamer]

.
IIRC, the UK originally was against dedicated DRL legislation

O-rly . . . and your source is? 

For the record - the UK has NEVER been 'against' any DRL legislation. 

and was in favour of the dipping method but was quashed by the EC - This may have something to do with it.

Bullsh*t!  The 'dim-dip' regulations had fcuk all to do with DRLs.  The dim-dip regs were bought in in the 1980s - to try to stop twats driving on only side lights.  That law backfired - because whilst it became impossible to drive on sidelights where it was legally possible to do so (ie, in a built up area subject to a 30mph speed limit AND lit by street lights), the said twats then insisted on driving in 40/50/60/70mph areas still on dim-dim, instead of proper headlamps.  And driving at 70mph with the wrong lights is far more dangerous than driving at 30mph with the wrong lights!  For this reason, and this reason only - the dim-dip law was rescinded.

I've read that currently 17 countries in Europe have DRL legislation. I doubt that the UK is up to speed on this yet.

Erm . . . is the UK not a member state of the EU now??????  UK 'Type Approval' has to comply with EU Type Approval - so if its law in the EU, it is law in the UK.

Whatever the legislation, the light from LED's is far more effective and efficient than using other light sources, dimmed or otherwise < IMO! [well, actually in some high level studies too].

Agreed.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I have a mk5 golf haynes manual. Will try and post up the relevant pages lster if you want.

My thread of free workshop manuals also has wiring diagrams too - though if you arn't an auto electrician, the Haynes ones are easier to follow! 

[Teutonic_Tamer]

By the way when you asked me about a switch?? Apparently you cannot put a switch in by law as they would then be deemed as a spot/fog light, they have to be wired in such a way that the car controls them rather than the driver.

Darren

....Are you sure about that? Even if the DRL units are officially marked (as my Hella's are) as "DRL" and with E marks etc?

The switch is prohibited - simply because DRLs now HAVE to be live when the engine is running.  But don't get that confused with any 'override' to dim them or turn them off completely when the headlamps were turned on,

My VW dealer gave me the option of a switch but we decided (against T_T's info!) to follow the Hella recommendations for being acceptable in most of Europe by switching via ignition etc.

WTF are you on about?  I was NEVER party to any advice you recieved on how to install your own DRLs.  However, I did pass comments AFTER you had them fitted - so please don't try and say your install was 'against my info' 

And the comment on your dealer offering you a switch - that sorta proves they too don't know the law either (though I conceed that your DRL retrofits were one of the early adopters).

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I mean that you don't have to buy these if you want daylights.

Ι know there's a code via Vag-Com that turns your lights on the moment you release the handbrake.

....Except that the standard lights on your car do not meet the correct specifications of Daytime Running Lights

Which is . . . . . .  ?

For the record - firstly, the standard OEM headlamps - AND/OR foglamps can be perfectly legally made to meet 'DRL' regulations; and secondly, there is NO specific specification which details the type of light which a DRL must use.

unless included as such ex factory - Audi LED DRLs for example.

And that is just ONE example.  Mercedes double strip LEDs (which stay on full brightness even with diped and main beam headlamps) is completely 'DRL legal'.  As is the tungsten (ie, conventional filament bulbs, not LEDs) as used on current Audi A3s, Vauxhall Insignias etc also perfectly DRL legal.  As is the latest BMW 'angel eye' DRLs perfectly 'DRL-legal'.

Red, your DRL bulsh*tometer has gone completely off the scale!

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I like having fogs but the amount they're used I don't think they're necessary. The A6/S6 ones look awesome 

Because I live in an area where fog/sea-mist is common, I thoroughly tested my use of the stock fog lights before deciding that they were fairly useless in how much they helped - I use my Xenons dipped for fog.

If you found your standard fogs not much cop - then they wern't properly aligned.  The standard Mk5 fogs work very well - when they are correctly aligned.  It is also important not to use these fancy 'super bright white' bulbs in fogs - the best bulbs for fogs are 'all seasons' bulbs - but because these look slightly 'yellow', some peeps seem to think they don't look 'cool'. 

Why is it that some cars are factory supplied with front fog lights and others aren't? Mk5 GTI and R32 for example.

Many reasons . . . cost, cooling, style, establishment, etc.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Cost issues? The R32 was expensive enough back in its day.

....I don't doubt you're right. It does tend to also indicate that the car manufacturers aren't too fussed about the effectiveness of front fogs, plus without any compulsory legislation.

Ahhhh . . . that is a different issue.  A 'proper' fog lamp needs a specifically designed beam, angled in a very low, wide and flat pattern.  That usually means a wide rectangular lamp, mounted as low as possible.  The current Mk6 fog design is all wrong (tall and thin, rather than short and wide).  And the Mk4 was a no-no too (too small, and mounted too high).