Another DRL Query

J_R

Hi,

do not want to hijack other DRL thread.

Can anyone please advise, what is the situation regarding the EU directive of the compulsory fitting of DRL's from 7th February 2011 ? European Commission - Enterprise and Industry See the links to the press release and http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:257:0014:0015:en:PDF

Was considering purchasing a new car, so visited few showrooms. Neither Volkswagen, BMW or Hyundai dealers have heard of the above. VW salesman did say he heard something about it last week If if you are willing to pay 1800 extra for Xenon lights on the Golf they will throw in DRL's (AND fog lights).

So, anyone know what is the situation in Ireland ??

bazz26

The MkVI Golf does have DRLs as standard as does the B7 Passat. Most new Audis have them since about 2008. Not sure about BMW, the 3 Series doesn't afaik but that model is being replaced later this year anyway so I would expect the new 3 Series to have them as standard.

Are you sure you are not confusing standard halogen DRLs with led DRLs which generally are optional with the bi-xenon upgrade?

VW Golf LED DRLs:


VW Golf standard halogen DRLs:

Cookie_Monster

bazz26 wrote: »

Not sure about BMW, the 3 Series doesn't afaik but that model is being replaced later this year anyway so I would expect the new 3 Series to have them as standard.

08 3 series has them anyway. Lights remain on in the two rings even when switch is off.

as per this (the rings always stay on)

bazz26

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

08 3 series has them anyway. Lights remain on in the two rings even when switch is off.

I have a 08 E90 saloon and it doesn't have DRLs. Those angel eyes above are not standard on the E90 saloon anyway.

Cookie_Monster

bazz26 wrote: »

I have a 08 E90 saloon and it doesn't have DRLs. Those angel eyes above are not standard on the E90 saloon anyway.

hmmm.. my E92 has them, thought they were standard.

CiniO

AFAIK according to EU law, every new model which is be sold in EU after 1st (i think) February this year, must be equipped with DRLs.

Hence, it only applies to new models, so there is still pletny of models which were available beforehand, and obligatory DRLs don't apply to them.

Second thing is that using DRLs is not obligatory in Ireland, so even if car is equipped with one, you can always ask dealer to make them not turn on automatically.

J_R

CiniO wrote: »

AFAIK according to EU law, every new model which is be sold in EU after 1st (i think) February this year, must be equipped with DRLs.

Hence, it only applies to new models, so there is still pletny of models which were available beforehand, and obligatory DRLs don't apply to them.

Second thing is that using DRLs is not obligatory in Ireland, so even if car is equipped with one, you can always ask dealer to make them not turn on automatically.

Hi,

So only applies to cars manufactured after 7th April. ?

The models I inspected in the showrooms, Hyundai ix20, i30 and a Polo definitely did not have DRL's. Not 100% sure on a Golf but almost certain they were not fitted either. Also not on the list of standard euipment on the comfortline.

On the Golf the Xenon package is

Xenon headlamps with bending light including front fog lamps and LED separate daytime running lights € 1,618

BMW/Hyundai same dealer and I did not check the actual BMW cars as not purchasing another BMW.

bazz26

DRLs are standard on the Golf, just not the LED type DRLs. The standard DRLs on the Golf use an ordinary halogen bulb which is also used for the high beam. Visually you cannot tell from looking at the headlight cluster, you need to switch the car on. It is the lamp in the cluster closest to the grill as per the red Golf in the photos I posted earlier.

JoeA3

Bazz is almost on the money, except that if you opt for Xenons on a new Golf you will now get Audi-style LED DRL's in the headlamp, like this:



Golf GTD and GTI also get rear LED lamps as standard:

GeneHunt

I've noticed the new Mondeo (2011) has DRL's fitted as standard ONLY to the Titanium model, they're an optional extra on Zetec at €185 and not even possible as an option on the Style! Is this EU directive which came into effect/ force on 07-02-2011 being ignored here. If you check the UK Ford website it shows all models of the new Mondeo are fitted with DRL's.
Is it our TD's failing us again or are the car dealers here in Ireland ripping us off again, by stripping out standard equipment to make it a cheaper car!

I believe Ford (or any other manufacture*) should be made to recall all cars sold after 07-02-11 without DRL's and fit them at no extra cost...

* I've noticed a few other manufactures not fitting DRL's too, lets start naming and shaming them! (all models should be reg. 2011 onwards)

The current Mini (seen on the road in the last week not sure which spec it was)
BMW 3 series (Seen on the road in the last week not sure which spec it was)
The current Fiesta
New Focus (Optional)
New Mondeo (except Titanium)

Darsad

J_R wrote: »

Hi,

So only applies to cars manufactured after 7th April. ?

.

No AFAIK its only cars presented to the EU for type approval certification after April 7th ie new models so still plenty of current models manufactured after the date without DRL

JoeA3

GeneHunt wrote: »

I've noticed the new Mondeo (2011) has DRL's fitted as standard ONLY to the Titanium model, they're an optional extra on Zetec at €185 and not even possible as an option on the Style! Is this EU directive which came into effect/ force on 07-02-2011 being ignored here. If you check the UK Ford website it shows all models of the new Mondeo are fitted with DRL's.
Is it our TD's failing us again or are the car dealers here in Ireland ripping us off again, by stripping out standard equipment to make it a cheaper car!

I believe Ford (or any other manufacture*) should be made to recall all cars sold after 07-02-11 without DRL's and fit them at no extra cost...

* I've noticed a few other manufactures not fitting DRL's too, lets start naming and shaming them! (all models should be reg. 2011 onwards)

The current Mini (seen on the road in the last week not sure which spec it was)
BMW 3 series (Seen on the road in the last week not sure which spec it was)
The current Fiesta
New Focus (Optional)
New Mondeo (except Titanium)

Are you sure in the case of the Mondeo that it's just the fancy LED DRL's that are optional and that perhaps standard halogen DRL's are standard - i.e. similar to VW? I don't know myself, I'm not so familiar with the Ford specs.

GeneHunt

JoeA3 wrote: »

Are you sure in the case of the Mondeo that it's just the fancy LED DRL's that are optional and that perhaps standard halogen DRL's are standard - i.e. similar to VW? I don't know myself, I'm not so familiar with the Ford specs.

Hi JoeA3,

I've seen about 6 or 7 new Mondeos in the last two weeks alone with NO lights on during the day. Why I picked on the Mondeo is because my first sighting of the new mondeo was the Titanium model with the "fancy LED DRL's" (which I found a bit dazzling in the rear view mirror!) they're fitted into the bumper below headlight and above fog light. Then I noticed an other new Mondeo later that day while out walking, had a good look it because I was wondering why the DRL's were switched off, there was a black blank plastic piece in the bumper and I'm almost 100% sure that there was no other light on.
I'm fairly sure that it's not like the Golf (which I'm aware of it have the halogen DRL's). The Opel Insignia is another car which comes to mind as having two different types of DRL's in it's headlights - depending on spec.

_Kaiser_

One thing I noticed - which strikes me as EXTREMELY stupid - is that the newer Audis with front DRL's, don't have the rear lights lit as well

Surely it'd be important in poor visibility conditions to see cars ahead of you in your lane too, as well as the oncoming lane - if not more so?

CiniO

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

One thing I noticed - which strikes me as EXTREMELY stupid - is that the newer Audis with front DRL's, don't have the rear lights lit as well

Surely it'd be important in poor visibility conditions to see cars ahead of you in your lane too, as well as the oncoming lane - if not more so?

But that's the whole idea of DRL that they are only in front. And your rear side lights are off.

DRLs are only to be used during the day in good visibility conditions.

If the visibility is so poor, that drivers can't see other cars when approaching them from the back, then DRLs should not be used, but normal dipped headlights.

CiniO

Darsad wrote: »

No AFAIK its only cars presented to the EU for type approval certification after April 7th ie new models so still plenty of current models manufactured after the date without DRL

That's correct. Except from it's 7th February, not 7th April

If some manufacturer wants to keep producing and selling a model which was approved before that date, one can do it for pretty can do it even for few years from now.

Wetbench4

Good PDF article about DRL's

http://members.optusnet.com.au/carsafety/paine_drl_nrma_racv.pdf

rebel.ranter

Most BMWs can be programmed to have DRLs switched on from the e46/e39 era, i.e. about the late 90's onwards. Same for all VAG cars, it can be enabled by the dealer too, or someone with VAG-Com or PA-Soft or similar software.
It is literally only a software setting. I assume most manufacturers have a similar way of enabling them.

CiniO

rebel.ranter wrote: »

Most BMWs can be programmed to have DRLs switched on from the e46/e39 era, i.e. about the late 90's onwards. Same for all VAG cars, it can be enabled by the dealer too, or someone with VAG-Com or PA-Soft or similar software.
It is literally only a software setting. I assume most manufacturers have a similar way of enabling them.

But are you talking here about dedicated DRL lamps, or just normal dipped headlights used as DRLs?

rebel.ranter

CiniO wrote: »

But are you talking here about dedicated DRL lamps, or just normal dipped headlights used as DRLs?

Probably normal dipped headlights used as DRLs. I'll go enable my own during the week to see what comes on!

Mc Love

Here are the DRL's on the focus

Cookie_Monster

Mc Love wrote: »

Here are the DRL's on the focus

lots of cars seem to have favoured those rows of LEDs, can't say I like them. Why not just incorporate them into the headlight cluster, better looking, lights at a higher more noticeable level...

Mc Love

They are in the Ford Accessory booklet - have to say they look great in the flesh

rebel.ranter

rebel.ranter wrote: »

Probably normal dipped headlights used as DRLs. I'll go enable my own during the week to see what comes on!

I enabled them on my own car (BMW E39 5 Series) & it is the dipped headlights that come on. If you leave the headlights on & then turn the car off & key removed all the lights turn off. If the lights are set in the side light position the side lights stay on as normal with the key removed.

Just thought someone might be interestedto know.

Mc Love

Mine turn off as soon as the sidelights come on - which is what they are supposed to do anyway

vectra

DRL's on '10 Octavia