Hi, I am just about to get my new Superb SE L and would very much like to have 'Scandinavian' (I think?) style DRL's activated.

It makes no sense to me to have DRL's at the front and not at the rear.

I know it can be coded on the Mk3 superbs but have not heard whether it can be turned on with the Mk4.

If it can what is the best way to do this?

Hopefully someone will be along to help.  DRLs to the front only do not make sense, but then neither do they to the front and rear in poor visibility.  Put on the cars lights.  Side position lights front and rear and headlights.  If not bright daytime / sunlight and do not trust Auto lights to do it. 

bit of a sidebar .

Are lighting up times still published in newspapers?

Haven't bought a physical one of those (local or national) for years.

I did code front+rear DRLs using VCDS some years ago, I remember that it was a bit involved, and included coding several "channels" or functions for each of the taillights, then setting the dimming level. 
there are threads on Ross Tech and other forums, 

https://forums.ross-tech.com/index.php?threads/17426/

 

My preference is front + rear DRLs (rears dimmed compared to normal taillight operation but still visible)  and 5x brake lights, but then 2 of my Skodas have been rear-ended...

 

I was under the impression that relatively recent VW Group cars had a setting you could use to have Scandinavian DRL,

but I am not sure about the very latest ones.

 

If they are sold in Sweden............

 

I hope nobody actually just turns on lights because their is a daylight time published someplace for their area, and actually knows what visibility there is and drive to see and be seen.     Actually as anyone with their eyes open can see there are many that seem to let the car decide when head lights and side lights are needed and have probably no idea what their vehicle has on.       I just drove in the pith rain with very poor visibility and many d!cks have on just DRL,s or not even DRL,s or sidelights. 

I follow the advice of wipers on, headlights on

Just now, Stonekeeper said:

I follow the advice of wipers on, headlights on

 

I'm pretty sure our Kodiaq has a setting in the lights menu to turn the headlights on if the wipers are working.  They certainly come on that way...

 

Doesn't help the OP though ..   sorry 

1 hour ago, Ootohere said:

I hope nobody actually just turns on lights because their is a daylight time published someplace for their area, and actually knows what visibility there is and drive to see and be seen.     Actually as anyone with their eyes open can see there are many that seem to let the car decide when head lights and side lights are needed and have probably no idea what their vehicle has on.       I just drove in the pith rain with very poor visibility and many d!cks have on just DRL,s or not even DRL,s or sidelights. 

Remember  "Lighting up time" is one of the  Highway code requirements

You MUST ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise regardless of visibility

(my italics)

as opposed too :

You MUST use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h), or 20mph (32km/h) in Wales, unless otherwise specified.

Night (the hours of darkness) is defined as the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise).

(So theoretically in a lit residential street you only legally need sidelights on whilst driving???)

Or the generic

You MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226).

 

https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/lighting-requirements.html

Edited 28 September, 20241 yr by Winston_Woof

44 minutes ago, Winston_Woof said:

(So theoretically in a lit residential street you only legally need sidelights on whilst driving???)

 

Whilst driving? None of the rules you quote mention driving 😆

I remember driving in London in the 1960s and 1970s where everybody drove on sidelights only and if you had dipped headlights on, they'd flash at you.

 

Lighting up times were probably more appropriate in the past when cars had dynamos and many had 6 volt electrics and they only switched on anything electrical when absolutely necessary.

 

On Radio 2's weekday afternoon programme when it was presented by Steve Wright, he often mentioned lighting up times.  I think he mentioned it out of interest as one of his factoids to compare the times between north and south and, to a lesser degree, east and west.

 

I've had my DRL's coded to come on front and rear, especially as we drive abroad every year in countries that require you to have lights on 24/7.  I've also set the dipped headlights to come on if I use my wipers and I've also set the sensitivity level to the highest.

On 28/09/2024 at 19:58, Penpusher said:

I remember driving in London in the 1960s and 1970s where everybody drove on sidelights only and if you had dipped headlights on, they'd flash at you.

 

Lighting up times were probably more appropriate in the past when cars had dynamos and many had 6 volt electrics and they only switched on anything electrical when absolutely necessary.

 

On Radio 2's weekday afternoon programme when it was presented by Steve Wright, he often mentioned lighting up times.  I think he mentioned it out of interest as one of his factoids to compare the times between north and south and, to a lesser degree, east and west.

 

I've had my DRL's coded to come on front and rear, especially as we drive abroad every year in countries that require you to have lights on 24/7.  I've also set the dipped headlights to come on if I use my wipers and I've also set the sensitivity level to the highest.

Have you had this done on a MK4??

1 hour ago, dec76 said:

Have you had this done on a MK4??

Don't know this for certain because I have a Karoq, but there's a setting in Carista that allows you to have the rear lights on as DRLs.

I'd be surprised if you couldn't do this on a later model Superb too - the Carista website gives you a pretty good indication of what it'll do for specific models without having to cough for one and then send it back because it didn't do what you wanted.

This is a separate setting to 'Scandinavian DRLs'. If you opt for that, the rear number plate lights are on as well.

I've enabled the rears as DRLs on my car, not the Scandinavian version, and set the [adjustable] brightness at 75%.

As others have said, I can see no logic in not having the rears as DRLs as well as the fronts.

As far as I'm aware, my car has an arse end as well as a nose end.

1 hour ago, dec76 said:

Have you had this done on a MK4??

Not me, as I have a MKIII and have no experience of a MK4.

It seems that there is now a block on most modification that users cab do. Ross Tech are one of the main manufacturers of the required devices. There website says that there is a “new” security system blocking most changes that were possible on earlier models. Due to the new international and EU safety rules I understand, to stop you from switching off mandatory safety settings. My understanding is that all lighting systems are covered by this.

The information is a few months old, with Ross Tech saying they have been waiting quite a while for a response from VAG.

Don’t buy any device that says it can do the coding mods on newer vehicles, they are not able to do so.

My understanding is that it’s not simple for dealerships either. They require authority from Germany and it’s a chargeable service to them 🤷‍♂️

I was hoping to to the same lighting change.

John

You could always just switch the lights on.

Busa-Boy,

That’s very true and a simple solution. However if I could have changed it to switch on automatically,it would have been one less it to think off😎

Thanks for the reply

John

10 hours ago, Trickiejohn said:

Busa-Boy,

That’s very true and a simple solution. However if I could have changed it to switch on automatically,it would have been one less it to think off😎

Thanks for the reply

John

Trckiejohn,

I understand completely, I was just being a little wicked 😂

But then depths to which some contributors delve on what others would consider a trivial issue does make me smile. But, I realise of course that it’s just people trying to be helpful.

We’re an odd bunch, we motorists, aren’t we ? I remember a Volvo C70 Cabriolet I owned at the turn of the century - it had a tiny turn screw concealed below the rotary light switch which allowed you to turn off the DRLs. I deactivated them immediately - “I’ll decide when my lights are on Sven, not you, thank you very much “ And proceeded to drive with the headlights on for 90% of the time 😳 Fast forward 20 odd years and my current motorbike doesn’t even have a light switch, only a dipped/main switch, if the ignition is on, the lights are on. And a very good thing too - anything that can help stack the odds a little more in my favour when I’m on the road ( on two wheels or four ) is ok by me. Why “full” DRLs aren’t as universal as things such as seat belts and ABS is beyond me.

But then in the next breath, I’m railing at the Big Brother/Nanny State systems that (I feel) are so frustrating and detract from driving enjoyment - but you must understand that being the world’s best driver - I don’t need them - it’s all the others , but then , they shouldn’t be on the roads in the first place 😂

Busa Boy,

I thought you were jacking my chain a little to be honest.

My first “new” car back in 1985 was a Saab 99. Lovely car came without a radio/cassette player. I owned it for 6 years and never bought one…..

It did however have enormous rubber bumpers front and rear, and daylights front and rear as well.

It only every let me down once, on Germany’s Baltic coast one year, my oil pump started to leak.

I managed to get a tow to the local Saab garage. When the mechanic asked me to open to bonnet and start the engine, his first reaction was… Oh look, pointing at my fuel pump, that was just starting to drip.

He replaced both in about 3 hours.

I replaced it with a new Mitsubishi that didn’t last long. The car was nice performed well enough for me but the brakes were just like a light switch off or on😩

Ever since I’ve always have my sidelights on. Being visible is not a bad thing.

As for the Nanny systems, as big a pain as they are, I think new drivers who have only a auto licence never learn to read the road conditions ahead and may take years to learn what a drive with a manual has to pick up very quickly.