phillips led drl installed.....what you think?

[Rishi1331]

I'm pretty happy the way they turned out.

[GQM45s]

nice job on the work - but IMO i think it is kind of played out... i see so many cars with them now. But I am glad you like it and good work on the clean setup. You should have a DIY for people who want to do so

[Rishi1331]

I just decided to swap everything to led. Just waiting in my fog lights.
I wanted it to look as close to oem as possible. Thanks man

[Larz]

Well done, Rishi! I did the same to mine last year. I know it's a very popular mod and frequently seen on many other cars, so it''s not rare by any standard, but it's still an excellent mod as our M's don't come with DRLs. You have also increased your visibility to other drivers on the road and safety is a good thing.

[quinner49er]

it's still an excellent mod as our M's don't come with DRLs. You have also increased your visibility to other drivers on the road and safety is a good thing.

Actually our M's do come with DRLs in Canada, where by law all cars must have DRLs. They just don't install the DRL module in the US destination vehicles. Since the cars are all built on the same assembly line it should theoretically be possible to order and install the Canadian DRL module on any US vehicle. Ours use the halogen high-beam lights. They activate when the engine is running and the parking brake is released. They stay on if the lighting system is in the OFF, AUTO or parking light position, but turn off if full headlights are turned on, either manually or by activation of full lights under the AUTO system.

Perhaps not as cool as the LED system installed by Rishi and Larz, but the safety and visibility factor is undeniable. With all the other mandated safety standards, I have never understood why the US does not require DRLs.

[Rishi1331]

Well done, Rishi! I did the same to mine last year. I know it's a very popular mod and frequently seen on many other cars, so it''s not rare by any standard, but it's still an excellent mod as our M's don't come with DRLs. You have also increased your visibility to other drivers on the road and safety is a good thing.

Thanks...little by litttle...

[Ilya]

it's still an excellent mod as our M's don't come with DRLs. You have also increased your visibility to other drivers on the road and safety is a good thing.

Actually our M's do come with DRLs in Canada, where by law all cars must have DRLs. They just don't install the DRL module in the US destination vehicles. Since the cars are all built on the same assembly line it should theoretically be possible to order and install the Canadian DRL module on any US vehicle. Ours use the halogen high-beam lights. They activate when the engine is running and the parking brake is released. They stay on if the lighting system is in the OFF, AUTO or parking light position, but turn off if full headlights are turned on, either manually or by activation of full lights under the AUTO system.

Perhaps not as cool as the LED system installed by Rishi and Larz, but the safety and visibility factor is undeniable. With all the other mandated safety standards, I have never understood why the US does not require DRLs.

So the high beams are on during the day? WTF? That is stupid. They are bad enough driving against at night, even worse during the day.

I can understand the little amber light between the high-beam bulb and the projector being the DRL but the high beams? That's stupid.

[atlM35]

The high beam bulbs are used but are not as bright when in DRL mode.

[quinner49er]

The high beam bulbs are used but are not as bright when in DRL mode.

Thanks for clarifying that AtlM35, I had meant to mention that.

So the high beams are on during the day? WTF? That is stupid. They are bad enough driving against at night, even worse during the day.

I can understand the little amber light between the high-beam bulb and the projector being the DRL but the high beams? That's stupid

IlyaKol, even if the high beams were on full power, because the pupils of your eyes are much more closed in broad daylight than in the dark, you would not notice the glare of the high beams the same way as you do at night. The little amber bulbs, by the same token, would not be strong enough to serve the purpose of the DRL, which is to ensure that your car can be seen coming!

It is the same concept as overhead street lighting. If you have looked at street lights when they first come on at dusk they generate a lot less glare than when you are driving down a road in pitch darkness and come across an occasional overhead light. It is the relative light that your eyes perceive, more than the absolute output.

Both Canada and Europe have had a lot of experience with DRLs. They do make a difference and I really notice that difference when I am driving in the US, especially under less-than-ideal daylight driving conditions. And if we want to complain about headlight glare, my pet peeve is with the young kid customizers who go out and buy the cheap replacement headlights for their Civics and Subarus that try to mimic the colour of Xenon lights. Now those really do cause poorly-controlled, eye-blinding glare, even on low beam, much more annoying than even the high-beam halogens on our cars!

[Ilya]

The high beam bulbs are used but are not as bright when in DRL mode.

Thanks for clarifying that AtlM35, I had meant to mention that.

So the high beams are on during the day? WTF? That is stupid. They are bad enough driving against at night, even worse during the day.

I can understand the little amber light between the high-beam bulb and the projector being the DRL but the high beams? That's stupid

IlyaKol, even if the high beams were on full power, because the pupils of your eyes are much more closed in broad daylight than in the dark, you would not notice the glare of the high beams the same way as you do at night. The little amber bulbs, by the same token, would not be strong enough to serve the purpose of the DRL, which is to ensure that your car can be seen coming!

It is the same concept as overhead street lighting. If you have looked at street lights when they first come on at dusk they generate a lot less glare than when you are driving down a road in pitch darkness and come across an occasional overhead light. It is the relative light that your eyes perceive, more than the absolute output.

Both Canada and Europe have had a lot of experience with DRLs. They do make a difference and I really notice that difference when I am driving in the US, especially under less-than-ideal daylight driving conditions. And if we want to complain about headlight glare, my pet peeve is with the young kid customizers who go out and buy the cheap replacement headlights for their Civics and Subarus that try to mimic the colour of Xenon lights. Now those really do cause poorly-controlled, eye-blinding glare, even on low beam, much more annoying than even the high-beam halogens on our cars!

Thanks for clarifying lol. And I agree with you about the Civics and such...OR, the huge lifted pick up trucks which are right at eye level and blind the crap out of you. My pet peeve too man.

That being said, I like DRL's and bought LED amber bulbs to be brighter. One day I'll get around to installing that KP technologies piece that allows for the fog lights to work independent so I can run just fogs and just the little amber lights.

[quinner49er]

Hey IlyaKol, with you on the pick-up trucks, too! The LED amber bulbs and /or fogs would also work and are used on some cars up here. Each manufacturer has their own way of meeting the DRL regulations and as a result use different light configurations. For example, the new Audis use the LED lights around the headlight cover as their DRLs and they work just fine for that.

The use of the (dimmed) high beams has become the most consistent. When the DRL rules first came in every manufacturer scrambled to come up with something they could quickly implement, so initially there were lots of combinations, including full-on high beams.

Glad to see you also embracing DRLs on your M. I have long been a proponent of them. Even before we got the regulations on them here, I originally would run full lights if I was on a highway trip, especially if it was a two-lane road. Then later I started installing amber halogen fog lights on my cars and would use them for daytime travel, independent of any other lights. Today we have lots more choices for the lights we can use. Enjoy your M and have fun but safe driving!

[Ilya]

I run full lights every day. For safety and because of the look. But, unlike the Civics and trucks, my lights are aimed properly. And are in a housing designed for HID's (projector) not a reflector housing (non-HID).

[Larz]

Another option for DRLs is the newest version from Phillips. I have the 'Daylight-8 DRL' but now they've gone a step beyond that with a light 'bar' unit! No little LED's just a straight white line. If mine weren't still working fab, I'd get them. Only drawback is the packaging ... it has English and (gulp ) French text. Ebay has them on offer for $240 US, but you can do much better if you can find them on sale. Mine were $175 most places but I got them when they ran a discount for $120. Easiest mod I've done.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-PHILIPS-UNI ... 106wt_1152