Adding DRL's to an older car

Adding DRL's to an older car

Author
Discussion

untakenname

Original Poster:

4,953 posts

191 months

Friday 31st March 2017
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I'm tempted to add some LED daytime running lights to my 2004 Mazda, just wondering what the general consensus on this would be, a bit naf or a modern tasteful upgrade?
Only thought I'd do it as DRL's do increase visibility quite markedly and the majority of modern cars have them now so if done correctly then it won't look too out of place.

LordHaveMurci

12,034 posts

168 months

Friday 31st March 2017
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Done well they can look good, sadly 99% are not done well.

vx220

2,689 posts

233 months

Friday 31st March 2017
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Just to piggyback this, has anyone seen any small DRLs? Maybe just one or two small LEDs per side?

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Sunday 2nd April 2017
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I stalked you a bit - RX-8, right?

A quick google seems to suggest that later RX-8s would have had OEM DRLs, so it might be worth looking into what it would take to retrofit those as that would be the best solution IMO.

I still think they look a bit naff though. biggrin

tr7v8

7,186 posts

227 months

Sunday 2nd April 2017
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The wife added the MX5 Parts DRLs to her Eunos when it was rebuilt & I poo poo'd the idea at the time.
I have been staggered on how much more visible it is. Important on a small low profile car.

vx220

2,689 posts

233 months

Sunday 2nd April 2017
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davepoth said:
I stalked you a bit - RX-8, right?
Me? No, back in an MR2 roadster.

As above, a small bright led in each headlight should do wonders for visibility (with regard to pedestrians as much as other motorists)

I quite enjoyed the stalker bit, if it was for me

vx220

2,689 posts

233 months

Sunday 2nd April 2017
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Google "motorbike drl" for small ones...

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Monday 3rd April 2017
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vx220 said:
Me? No, back in an MR2 roadster.

As above, a small bright led in each headlight should do wonders for visibility (with regard to pedestrians as much as other motorists)

I quite enjoyed the stalker bit, if it was for me
Nah, just the OP. biggrin

Looks like there are DRL LED foglight kits for your car, which would probably look better than strip lights.

https://www.google.com/search?q=MR2+roadster+DRL&a...

Jag_NE

2,949 posts

99 months

Monday 3rd April 2017
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sorry, i think it will look naff as hell.

the worst mod that seems to be trending at the moment is people adding a Mercedes 3 pointed star to the bonnet of cars that already have the large OEM star in the grille (the majority of new mercs). Looks extremely try hard and over the top.


Olivera

7,068 posts

238 months

Sunday 9th April 2017
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Utterly, utterly naff. It's like the owner of a £500 Vectra attempting to bring it up to date by fitting some chinese ebay fairy light DRLs.

If you want to appear more visible just put your side lights on.

Stickyfinger

8,429 posts

104 months

Sunday 9th April 2017
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Olivera said:
Utterly, utterly naff. It's like the owner of a £500 Vectra attempting to bring it up to date by fitting some chinese ebay fairy light DRLs.

If you want to appear more visible just put your side lights on.
Depends how you fit them to the car.....

Side Lights in older cars are really "Parking" lights and are utterly useless on country roads with tree shadows for example.

vx220

2,689 posts

233 months

Sunday 9th April 2017
quotequote all
Olivera said:
Utterly, utterly naff. It's like the owner of a £500 Vectra attempting to bring it up to date by fitting some chinese ebay fairy light DRLs.

If you want to appear more visible just put your side lights on.
Always driven my MR2 Roadsters with dipped headlights on, and my VX before that, but morons (in cars and on foot...) seem to be able to look over the top and pull out of step out in front of me anyway...

Being completely honest, I'm expecting to not like how they look, but fairly sure my car wouldn't look good decorated with pedestrian entrails either!

ambuletz

10,692 posts

180 months

Sunday 9th April 2017
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they will look crap. why not just use your ordinary side lights? I quite like cars that have that gentle low-light that lights up the inside of their headlight. It's a big light area and safer IMO, much easier to spot then the silly little side lights some cars have.

jas xjr

11,309 posts

238 months

Sunday 9th April 2017
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i just put my sidelights on, in the hope that it makes me a little more visible.

sonnenschein3000

710 posts

89 months

Monday 10th April 2017
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Aftermarket DRLs look really bad, even if they are an official accessory. If it didn't come with the car then don't bother IMO.

If you still really want DRLs then I'd have a look if there's a way to turn your front fog lights into DRL somehow.

Evolved

3,554 posts

186 months

Monday 10th April 2017
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DRL's look awful full stop! Factory or otherwise they're a naff modern addition.

Stickyfinger

8,429 posts

104 months

Monday 10th April 2017
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Evolved said:
DRL's look awful full stop! Factory or otherwise they're a naff modern addition.
How do you regard the additional viability they give in some lighting conditions ?

psi310398

9,037 posts

202 months

Thursday 13th April 2017
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This lot cater to the classic car market - http://www.bettercarlighting.co.uk/index.php?act=v... - and I've got them on my Alfa Spider. Not too conspicuous and great in reducing draw on a capricious electrical circuit!

Peter

tonyb1968

1,156 posts

145 months

Monday 17th April 2017
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Stickyfinger said:
Evolved said:
DRL's look awful full stop! Factory or otherwise they're a naff modern addition.
How do you regard the additional viability they give in some lighting conditions ?
Really if you get to a point where you need to rely on DRL's in stead of your normal headlights then it becomes a little sad.
DRL's on modern cars are usually fitted correctly, aftermarket ones are usually fitted badly, its far easier just to switch on your side lights to compensate 99% of the time and we use to live without them for years, not really noticed much difference tbh.

Stickyfinger

8,429 posts

104 months

Monday 17th April 2017
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tonyb1968 said:
Really if you get to a point where you need to rely on DRL's in stead of your normal headlights then it becomes a little sad.
DRL's on modern cars are usually fitted correctly, aftermarket ones are usually fitted badly, its far easier just to switch on your side lights to compensate 99% of the time and we use to live without them for years, not really noticed much difference tbh.
That does not answer my question.