Hi all, as the title suggests, I would like to activate DRL's on my '56' pre-FL via VCDS but am wondering if it is possible to set this up to run the main beam at a reduced power as seen on VW & Audi vehicles? I have Xenon dipped beams.

I am aware of the Scandinavian and North American options and would maybe go for reduced power front fog lights but I don't really want my tail lights on all the time (Scandinavian), or the on/off with handbrake (North American).

I did find a thread where someone had successfully set up the Scandinavian option without rear tail lights on but I cannot find it again now.....

Cheers,

Peter

OK, so it seems I have answered my own question as I have found that the VW / Audi cars have a dual filament H15 (55W/15W) so it would appear that VCDS is not the way.

Does anyone have the coding to switch off tail and number plate lights in the Scandinavian option, then program front fog lights on reduced power?

Thanks....

You could run a separate ignition live to the main beam bulb through a relay and a resistor. This would illuminate the bulbs but at a reduced brightness, which would then switch off when the normal lights were switched on.

Dead easy to do and would produce the same result as your after. The resistors are cheap and working out the values wouldn't be to hard.

Its a good option.

Hi xpower, thanks for that but I don't really want to mess with any wiring.

I've been to see my VCDS man Dave 'myheartbeatsfortwo' this afternoon and he has activated the North American option for me with the front fogs acting as DRL's set at 60% brightness. The tail lights remain off, which is how I prefer it.

However, the only thing I'm not convinced about is the fact that the 'sidelights' setting on the headlight switch doesn't override the DRL's, unless the handbrake is on. The only way to get sidelights and tail lights on is to switch dipped headlights on.

I wish I could find the thread about switching the tail lights off on the Scandinavian setting!!

Cheers,

Pete

Correct the NAR works the way you describe, from memory you cannot remove the rear sidelights when you activate it via the Scandinavian setting either, you needed the other setting (ROW??) but not sure if you can use the fog lights then, it’s been a while since I have coded an early MKII.

You can set drl power for the fogs. This should use them only

I use Scandinavian mode with the fogs at 55%, but my personal opinion is that having rear lights on is good as I want people to see the back of my car not run into it.

I guess it comes down to personal preference. I like the more OEM look with reduced lighting only showing to the front for use in normal daytime conditions/visibility. I'd have my dipped headlights on otherwise.

I think the Scandinavian setting (as is) just looks like someone has their sidelights and front fogs on and I don't fancy being tarred with the boy racer brigade.

I guess it comes down to personal preference. I like the more OEM look with reduced lighting only showing to the front for use in normal daytime conditions/visibility. I'd have my dipped headlights on otherwise.

I think the Scandinavian setting (as is) just looks like someone has their sidelights and front fogs on and I don't fancy being tarred with the boy racer brigade.

Scandinavian can be run with fogs at 0% I believe, so effectively just side lights front and back.

I had towed with this but decided that the reduced output was enough to make them look like secondary side lights rather than the boy racer look at me my car has fog lights.