Daytime Running Lights DIY - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

97 SL320 · #16 10-04-2012, 08:23 PM

Great detail on the build.

For reduced brightness GM ( at least in the late 90's ) put the high beams in series using a couple of relays.

DRL use has long been a law in Canada, supposedly the law was invoked because of many overcast days up north.

There is a down side to using headlights or any lights close to the turn signals as they tend to washout turn signal lamps during the day. A much better approach is to illuminate the front turn signal bulbs while still allowing them to flash when the turn signals are used. ( The GM "Dust Buster" and Venture type mini vans use this strategy. )

compu_85 · #17 10-04-2012, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixto

Do the 86-up fog lights turn off with high beams as on the up-to-85s?

What does the 500E have to switch the aux lights in the bumper?

Sixto
87 300D

86 up lights - going against DOT regs - keep the fog lights on with the high beams (the way I like them).

As I understand it the 500E's bumper lights are just fog lights. The spot where the fog light is in the normal fixture is replaced with an additional high beam (so you have the H4 high beam and the extra high beam burning with the high beams on).

-J

vstech · #18 10-04-2012, 10:42 PM

if there is no switch for the drl's you can get a reduction on many insurance policies. drl on with the engine, perfect.
to remedy the added drain before the motor is started, you can have the relay disconnect with the parking brake, like GM does...

Jeremy5848 · #19 10-04-2012, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97 SL320

There is a down side to using headlights or any lights close to the turn signals as they tend to washout turn signal lamps during the day. A much better approach is to illuminate the front turn signal bulbs while still allowing them to flash when the turn signals are used. ( The GM "Dust Buster" and Venture type mini vans use this strategy. )

Some great ideas being dredged up here! Using W124 fogs for DRL puts them farthest from the turn signals and less likely to wash them out. When you flash the high beams with the "light horn" the car goes from two eyes to four eyes and back. IMO that is more likely to be noticed.

Jeremy

gsxr · #20 10-05-2012, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixto

Do the 86-up fog lights turn off with high beams as on the up-to-85s?

No, that was a W123 thang. The W124 lets you control the fogs separately from the headlights, which is nice, IMO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixto

What does the 500E have to switch the aux lights in the bumper?

The 500E has fog lights in the bumper which turn on when you pull the knob outward. The auxiliary high beam lights are between the main headlights and the grille, and turn on automatically when you flip on high beams. This is a MUCH, MUCH better lighting setup than on the rest of the 124's.

EDBSO · #21 10-05-2012, 11:19 PM

Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 requires DRLs on all new vehicles made or imported after January 1, 1990. Canada's proposed DRL regulation was essentially similar to regulations in place in Scandinavia, with an axial luminous intensity limit of 1,500 candela, but automakers claimed it was too expensive to add a new front lighting device, and would increase warranty costs (by dint of increased bulb replacements) to run the low beams. After a pitched regulatory battle, the standard was rewritten to permit the use of reduced-voltage high beam headlamps producing up to 7,000 axial candela, as well as permitting any light color from white to amber or selective yellow. These changes to the regulation permitted automakers to implement a less costly DRL, such as by connecting the high beam filaments in series to supply each filament with half its rated voltage, or by burning the front turn signals full time except when they are actually flashing as turn indicators.

Your '95 and '96 if imported into Canada would have come from the factory with DRLs. There should be something in the WIS to explain how they did it.

My '99 M3 from Atlanta was converted to DRLs by replacing the US light relay with the Canadian relay which turned on the DRLs.

Jeremy5848 · #22 10-06-2012, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDBSO

Your '95 and '96 if imported into Canada would have come from the factory with DRLs. There should be something in the WIS to explain how they did it.

My '99 M3 from Atlanta was converted to DRLs by replacing the US light relay with the Canadian relay which turned on the DRLs.

Does the Canadian DRL as implemented by Mercedes for the 124 models turn on the taillights and instrument lights as well as the headlights?

J.

MBeige · #23 10-06-2012, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsxr

No, that was a W123 thang. The W124 lets you control the fogs separately from the headlights, which is nice, IMO.

The US w123 was wired like this, so the fogs were only activated when the low beams were on. If the low beams shut off (as in the case of using high beams), the fogs would have no power supply.

The Euro w123, in most cases than not, would be wired like the w124 where the fogs were taking power from the park lights. Since the park lights are on regardless of low or high beam function, the fogs will have a continuous power supply unless the headlight switch was turned off completely.

I was thinking about this thread on my way home because it became dark. When it's dusk or dawn, I turn on the city lights in my w123 and w201 (both have Euro lights). When in inclement weather, I use the fogs in the w201 with city lights. I have not yet done the modification to the w123 to have the same configuration, I heard it's an easy mod to perform. This would allow me to use the fogs with city lights only, which is useful as DRLs for the previous mentioned reasons. I find the low beams adequate for my needs.