350i Drive Lights

[John042]

Hi all. Just notice whilst re-commissioning my 1988 350i that the front drive lights only operate on main beam. Is that normal?

[KKson]

On my 350i they operate whenever the switch is on, no matter whether its on side lights, dipped or main beam. On my 1986 390SE they did operate only on main beam. There was a small bypass wire on the relay. I removed this and now they operate with both dipped and main beam.

[John042]

Thanks Keith. I was considering slaving a12v supply from the side light circuit into the switch. The circuit would still be protected by the fuse/relay. Cheers J C.

[eesbad]

On mine, they are the flash if the pods are down and then only come on permanently with lights on and main beam selected.

[John042]

Thanks Rick, I reckon there will be quite a few wiring variations of the drive lights. Incidentally are the Ceibe lights available?

[colin mee]

Mine are on the front fogs switch

[eesbad]

John042 said:

Incidentally are the Ceibe lights available?

Original airport lights with the correct driving lenses are rare. Occasionally come up as new old stock, but go for hundreds! You can pick up fog light lensed versions (Peugeot 205, for instance) for more reasonable money.

[colin mee]

Mr tank was selling some

[KKson]

colin mee said:

Mr tank was selling some

According to the Facebook group I think they've been sold. There's a new pair on eBay, starting price £100. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/cibie-35-airport-drivin...f:1&frcectupt=true

[SLB]

My 88 350i front driving lamps only work on full beam too. I think a mod was documented on here a few years ago so they could be used for signalling with the pods down but involved cutting wires so I didn't want to try it. Mine has the dim/dip system so the pods raise and the headlights glow when the side lights come on, but an MOT inspector didn't like it saying it would flatten the battery too quickly when parked, so I removed the dim/dip module from the passenger footwell. Now the pods go up on side lights but the head lights don't glow - a good reminder I've left the side lights on but looks like the head light have failed.

[eesbad]

KKson said:

There's a new pair on eBay, starting price £100. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/cibie-35-airport-drivin...f:1&frcectupt=true

They have got fog light lenses and not driving ones. It says as much on the box, even though he has "driving lamps" in the title.

[adam quantrill]

SLB said:

Mine has the dim/dip system so the pods raise and the headlights glow when the side lights come on, but an MOT inspector didn't like it saying it would flatten the battery too quickly when parked, .

Yeah but - when the ignition is off the pods go back down and it should revert to normal sides only.

Besides, it's none of his business how quickly the battery goes flat!

[BIG DUNC]

On mine, they were wired as fogs and came on all the time they were switched on (providing the side lights were on).

I read in the book that they should also come on if you flashed the headlights so I thought about altering the wiring to achieve that.

I cannot remember exactly what I did now (it was 20 ish years ago) , but it wa successful. However, an unexpected side effect was that if you turned the headlights off with main beam on, the pods stayed up and main beam remained on.

I didn't like it and in the end undid my mod and let it remain as original.

[John042]

Hi All, thanks for the replies. I guess mine must be original, what ever that was! Drive lights on only with main beam. All lights off but drive lights flash with column stalk. Guess I'll leave well alone. One reflector not good so could replace with a Pug one? My headlights also glow dimly on side lights.

[BIG DUNC]

You say that with a sad face, but actually, that is exactly what driving lights are meant to do - come on to assist with main beam. It is also how Griff's were wired up when they came out of the factory.

A fog light would be a different lense as it would be designed to maximise visibility in fog, and in that case you don't want main beam on because it will cause glare.

If you believe that you have driving lights fitted, and that they only come on with main beam, then that is exactly what should happen.

[John042]

Correct Duncan, wired as should be. Pity about one reflector though. As you say replacing it with a fog lens would defeat the purpose.

[350zwelgje]

I use these (SIM brand I think) as replacement for the cibies that were wrecked on the wedge:
https://www.verstralershop.nl/en/lights/auxiliary-...
Around 35 pound a piece, which I consider not bad. Perhaps they are available in the UK as well.

Rob

[John042]

Thanks Rob, certainly a future alternative. Many thanks John C.

[adam quantrill]

On my first white wedge I could turn on the driving lights with sides only, which was pretty cool for driving approaching dusk where headlamps weren't much cop anyway. Also - less air resistance. The pop-ups give noticeable (minor) buffeting at speed with the top down.