DRL's - so 00's?

[SmoothRB]

Ok so I've seen some on a bus now and also some cheapo looking ones on a Hilux.

Still exclusive and a sign of status on 'luxury' cars?

[soad]

In a word - no.

All new cars seem to pretty much have them, it's a standard thing, nowt to do with prices.

[skip_1]

Yep it's some European directive or other.

[C2]

Had mine on the R turned off by the dealer.

[busta]

Shame they are all so garish. Volvo have been doing it for years without much fuss, in a way that neither adds nor subtracts from the cars styling (albeit there's not much style to add to or subtract from). I can't help thinking in 10 years time we'll be looking at the current fleet of DRL equipped cars thinking they look hideous.

[ewenm]

Have they ever been a sign of status? The old Volvo 240 I learnt to drive in years ago had DRLs... The LED versions do seem to get people all hot and bothered. Strange.

[SmoothRB]

ewenm said:

Have they ever been a sign of status? The old Volvo 240 I learnt to drive in years ago had DRLs... The LED versions do seem to get people all hot and bothered. Strange.

Yeah I guess that is what I mean. It is the 'fancy' LED variety...the type that stand out....but those were on a bus and a Hilux also.

Seems like gold plated taps in a scruffy bedsit. lol

[Richard-G]

this weeks drl post, look st blah motorbikes blah got mine turned off blah...........fact of the matter is its now law, in my opinion bmw's solution is best, im biased of course. However at least its inkeeping with the companies design policy/history, unlike audi who just wack em everywhere, new money yank style

[amir_j]

skip_1 said:

Yep it's some European directive or other.

Its becoming EU law for all new cars in a year or two so manufacturers have started early.

[SmoothRB]

Richard-G said:

this weeks drl post, look st blah motorbikes blah got mine turned off blah...........fact of the matter is its now law, in my opinion bmw's solution is best, im biased of course. However at least its inkeeping with the companies design policy/history, unlike audi who just wack em everywhere, new money yank style

Yes I do prefer the BMW variety. The Audi style seems to be most (easily?) copied and so is going to seem common and vulgar.

Why the need for seperete DRL's and low beams anyway? I just run my low beams night and day on my vehicles.

[kambites]

Are DRLs legally any different from side lights? Are manufacturers actually being forced to fit an extra set of lights, or are they just LED side lights that you can't switch off?

[Vic Cooper]

SmoothRB said:

Why the need for seperete DRL's and low beams anyway? I just run my low beams night and day on my vehicles.

For the less consumption (=less emission). It all about to being more visible at the day time.

[SmoothRB]

Vic Cooper said:

SmoothRB said:

Why the need for seperete DRL's and low beams anyway? I just run my low beams night and day on my vehicles.

For the less consumption (=less emission). It all about to being more visible at the day time.

I can think of more dramatic ways to cut emissions.

[busta]

kambites said:

Are DRLs legally any different from side lights? Are manufacturers actually being forced to fit an extra set of lights, or are they just LED side lights that you can't switch off?

Side lights are for increasing the visibility of a car when parked. When driving, if it's a dull day or visibility is poor you should used dipped beams.

As such, yes, DRLs are different as they are designed to increase the visibility of a car when driving in daylight. They are much brighter than sidelights and remove the need to use dipped beams in dull conditions.

Edited by busta on Monday 19th April 19:18

[kambites]

busta said:

kambites said:

Are DRLs legally any different from side lights? Are manufacturers actually being forced to fit an extra set of lights, or are they just LED side lights that you can't switch off?

Side lights are for increasing the visibility of a car when parked. When driving, if it's a dull day or visibility is poor you should used dipped beams.

As such, yes, DRLs are different as they are designed to increase the visibility of a car when driving in daylight. They are much brighter than sidelights and remove the need to use dipped beams in dull conditions.

Ah OK. So they're basically an unfocussed dipped beam?

[cheadle hulme]

kambites said:

Ah OK. So they're basically an unfocussed dipped beam?

Yes, they're designed to distract attention from anything nearby. Filtering cyclists for example.

[Vic Cooper]

SmoothRB said:

Vic Cooper said:

SmoothRB said:

Why the need for seperete DRL's and low beams anyway? I just run my low beams night and day on my vehicles.

For the less consumption (=less emission). It all about to being more visible at the day time.

I can think of more dramatic ways to cut emissions.

Due to it's mandatory to use any daytime lights (drl's, dipped beams, what you have on the car) in most of the EU countries, it's better to use DRL's instead of low/dipped beams, because they're mostly LED ones, or has 10-21W bulb instead of 55W. That's how it's meant to be.

[Ozzie Osmond]

There must be a lot of Audi buyers who feel very silly...

... and their mates in 911s.

[soad]

Ozzie Osmond said:

... and their mates in 911s.

Most 997 Turbos i've seen so far seems to have them turned off!

[r11co]

cheadle hulme said:

they're designed to distract attention from anything nearby. Filtering cyclists for example.

The late Paul Smith of Safespeed had begun some research into this before his untimely death. Motorcyclist and cyclist have a lot to lose from this typically half-baked and ill-thought-out EU directive.