This isn't yet another general discussion on drl's btw.

HOPEFULLY ...subject to test drive and general inspection, picking up a vRS estate next Monday.

My dislike of these daytime running light things is fairly well documented, and the first job was going to be to have them disconnected, but i've now been led to believe that they double up as sidelights, so that idea is now looking like a no go'er unfortunately .

Is this so?

Looks like I'll possibly have to put up and shut up if that's the case.

You are correct in that the DRL's do double up as sidelights on the vRS, they dim, so disabling them would be unwise.

It is however possible to reduce their brightness in DRL mode using VCDS, you can reduce them to the sidelight level of intensity all of the time.

Another option, one that requires much more time and effort is to enable to W5W sidelight bulbs in the main headlight cluster.

As the vRS uses the same headlights as the rest of the range the bulbs are still present, but they are not wired up.

You will need to rewire them and alter the coding on the car. The coding will be the challenge as you need to tell the car to power your new wiring rather than the LED DRL's, unless you use the wiring from the back of the DRL's to power the W5W sidelights, that way you can disable the LED DRL's completely.

they are a legal requirement on all new cars from feb 2011.

bill

Not on the MkII Octavia, this model was type approved before the legislation was introduced.

Not on the MkII Octavia, this model was type approved before the legislation was introduced.

I was going to say.....!

You are correct in that the DRL's do double up as sidelights on the vRS, they dim, so disabling them would be unwise.

It is however possible to reduce their brightness in DRL mode using VCDS, you can reduce them to the sidelight level of intensity all of the time.

Now THAT seems like an excellent option, and will make some enquiries.

Tar very much.

No issue with the dimmer ones,like fitted to the previous Golf, albeit still a waste of time imo, but that's just me.

It'sj ust the brightness of those led's that does my head in.

Apologies to all you drl luvers.

The legal requirement was on the manufacturer to fit them, where they are required to,

not for a user to have them activated.

Is the Octavia different from a Fabia where the DRL's can be Switched off but the Light unit still comes on as a Sidelight at the lower light output when switched on as a Sidelight, single parking light

or as Sidelights on with headlights.?

george

I thought you could turn off the drl's & then they only worked as sidelights?

I thought you could turn off the drl's & then they only worked as sidelights?

oooo, I really don't know. :think:

I'll find out next week, so no probs.

Failing that, I'll just stick black tape over them during daylight, and tear it off at dusk!!

Failing that, I'll just stick black tape over them during daylight, and tear it off at dusk!!

Just don't use sidelight mode when its dusk, with dipped headlights on no one will know the LED sidelights are covered

Seriously though, if the DRL function can be turned off leaving them to operate only as sidelightsd then your prayers have been answered!

If the car has maxidot computor then in the lighting section drls can be turned off there. I know my blackline it works.

Just hope it HASN'T got the other hate of my life...XENONS!

Wonder if it's possible to bin them and put proper 'candle lit' units in? :evil:

Edited 2 January, 201313 yr by Mr Ree

The DRLs can be coded out so they only operate as sidelights when they are switched on.

Mike

Getting better all the time this!

Off topic like, but did they stop doing the black leather with the pale grey cloth inserts on the face lift model?

Seats on this one look as though they're all black now.

Probably not a bad thing really, but the white back and base panels did look so smart when clean.

Drl's can be deactivated without VCDS with or without Maxidot.

If you have Maxidot... Settings > lighting > uncheck drl

Without Maxidot, from memory you switch the ignition on, pull the wiper stalk towards you and then push and hold it up or down for a few seconds. I can't remember if it's up or down to deactivate, but it's in the handbook.

Once deactivated they will function only as sidelights when the sidelights/headlights are turned on.

Drl's can be deactivated without VCDS with or without Maxidot.

If you have Maxidot... Settings > lighting > uncheck drl

Without Maxidot, from memory you switch the ignition on, pull the wiper stalk towards you and then push and hold it up or down for a few seconds. I can't remember if it's up or down to deactivate, but it's in the handbook.

Once deactivated they will function only as sidelights when the sidelights/headlights are turned on.

What Phil said.

Tar lads. You've ALL been most helpful .