I am thinking of adding daytime running lights to my Fabia. Whether you agree with them or not, it looks as though they will become a reality on all new cars from next year. Though there will be no requirement for older cars to use their lights full time, "lights on" will increasingly become the norm and those without will increasingly be at a disadvantage. I like the idea of independent LED lights but can't see a way of fitting them that doesn't look tacky and I don't want to replace the foglamps. It seems there isn't a software setting for DRL on the Fabia but a search on here saved a kitten and came up with a genuine Skoda accessory, part no. BEA 409 001. This doesn't appear to be an accessory that has officially been sold in the UK so could anyone (from Allams perhaps :-)) tell me if it's possible to get hold of one of these and maybe provide a bit more detail of exactly how it works? Presumably it uses the existing dipped beams (possibly at reduced voltage?). Does it also switch the sidelights on? Would there be any efficiency gains in using this kit over simply switching the lights on (apart from the convenience factor)?

Thanks, Clive

I'd say that's more like the Scandinavian 'dipped-beam-on-all-the-time' approach, rather than something like dim-dip. I don't know for sure, but I reckon that would be an ECU hack...???

Can't you just flick them on when you get in the car for the Scandinavian 'dipped-beam-on-all-the-time' approach?

That's what I do. Some of my mates hate me for it (any other car they see on the road during the day with lights on they think are silly).. but I know from my own experience both behind the wheel and not that you see the cars with the lights much sooner than the cars with out.. regardless of weather and time of day,

I drive with my lights on all the time, even at work...... My train has whites on the front and reds (tails) on the rear..........

Couldnt you get something like these LED DAYTIME FRONT RUNNING LIGHTS AUDI R8 LOOK EASY FIT on eBay, also Bulbs Lenses, Lights Lighting Accessories, Car Tuning Styling, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 13-Jun-09 16:12:42 BST) and just wire them to a 12v supply that comes on with the ignition. There must be a switched 12v supply in the fuse box

I also would like to know if you find anything out about having the lights on a dimmer brightness.

My old classic mini had this, and my girlfiends 95' nissan mica also has it!

I would rather have the main beam bulb on a dimmer setting rather than the dipped bulb, as ive seen some Audi A3's with this setup (looks quite orange) but looks good all the same, as some of us have Xenons so couldnt dim those!

Heres an Audi with them: http://blogs.cars.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/05/18/dinkrs44.jpg

Also found a Honda with this setup: http://z.about.com/d/cars/1/0/x/g/ag_07civicsi_drls.jpg

The bulbs apparently use 30% of the total power output.

Edited 19 May, 200917 yr by sleithykeithy

Anyone know what the brightest side light bulb is? Upgrading it to a much bright unit is another way to get daylight running lights.. course, you'd still have to remember to switch them off and on.

Last time I checked, the most powerful w5w bulb was 10w. So still not bright enough to be used as a DRL in my opinion.

Si

there are LED sidelights out there aceparts - LED bulbs by fitting (all) > 501 W5W Capless - HID Kits, Xenon Bulbs, LED Bulbs, Sidelights and Interior LED bulb kits although whether they are brighter than normal is debateable.

They do come in pretty colours though

I seem to remember that DIM-DIP was outlawed by the EEC as it seen as a sort of restrictive practise - as it would require a lot of re-design work for any non UK manufacturer. Also, running modern halogen bulbs at a reduced voltage is said to shorten their lives. One other, curious to me, fact is that DRL for EU only switch on the front lights - no rear ones at all! I think that the idea is to use high efficiency low wattage bulbs so that safety is improved without wasting too much extra power. Hella, I thought, were gearing themselves up to market a few aftermarket kits for people that wanted to retro-fit this feature. I'd think that modifying the foglights (for dual bulb ones) would be the slickest way to achieve what you want.

Actually, Dim-Dip, for all its bad points was genuinely a good idea "for its time" as it meant that you could never accidentally drive around with only sidelights on - which is now an offence - and why are cars still being supplied with these sidelights as they should only ever get used down one side as parking lights!

I bought these here but I'm holding off fitting them since I'm seriously considering upgrading my car within the next 6 months. They are very good quality but require wiring them yourself and using a heat gun to melt the glue around your headlights to insert the strips. Scary.

Am I right in saying, that DRLs only turn on the front lights and leave the tail ones off? Also, I used to like Dim-Dip lights that we had on our MG Maestro, it's a shame they were banned.

Am I right in saying, that DRLs only turn on the front lights and leave the tail ones off? Also, I used to like Dim-Dip lights that we had on our MG Maestro, it's a shame they were banned.

Yep, I'm sure you're right. The Audis and Insignias around here are like that, anyway.