In my headlights (non-Xenon), there is a 3rd bulb position that I have never seen light up. Does anyone know what its purpose is? Has anyone hooked it up?

I'm thinking it's what some people call a city light or a side light, but I'm just guessing here.

 

Most likely it is for the DRLs if you have chosen to have them programed to be on.

The "city light" or "sidelite" is the light on the side fender and is activated by depressing the turn signal in the direction of the light you want lit with the key out.
It also activates the marker lights front and rear on that side.
_________________
Pepper White Cooper,
Black Top & Mirrors,
Sport Seats, Fog Lights,
8 Spoke wheels, Multi-Function Steering Wheel, Proud Member of North American Motoring.com

 

>>Most likely it is for the DRLs if you have chosen to have them programed to be on.
>>
>>The "city light" or "sidelite" is the light on the side fender and is activated by depressing the turn signal in the direction of the light you want lit with the key out.
>>It also activates the marker lights front and rear on that side.
>>_________________

It's not the DRLs, because there aren't any bulbs in them at present. Plus. my search of this site tells me the DRLs are simply the high beam bulbs at a decreased brightness.

In my former VW Jetta, a similar type spot was used for cars that had fog lights. Also on my former Jetta, after I switched to European headlight assemblies, the parking lights in the front turn signals were replaced with small 5w clear bulbs in the main beam reflector.

 

I think I know what you are talking about and I believe it is more cosmetic than anything. I wondered the same thing when I first got the Mini. You are correct about the DRLs. They are your high beams at 50%.

 

>>Most likely it is for the DRLs if you have chosen to have them programed to be on.

 

"MINI DRLs are the high beams at reduced voltage. Shame on MINIUSA, this is not a good kind of DRL."

True enough, but don't get excited at MINI. All US DRLs are reduced voltage headlamps without the tailamps being lit up.

 

I was told DRL could not be activated with the Xenon's... i think that is true cuz other cars i kno of w/ xenons do not have daytime runners either....

 

im running the H7's for my DRL's. Mine have the Xenon option. I too
agree that you can't charge the xenon's at half charge like you can
with regular halogen bulbs.

 

>>I was told DRL could not be activated with the Xenon's... i think that is true cuz other cars i kno of w/ xenons do not have daytime runners either....

I have to disagree. The proof is in my garage; I have xenon and DRL.
DRL is high beams at reduced power. In our case, high beams are halogen.

Also, what do you guys see is wrong with this DRL setup!?
The only alternatives I have seen are either low beams at full strength, or fog lights. I actually prefer our DRL setup than these other two.......

 

>> don't get excited at MINI. All US DRLs are reduced voltage headlamps without the >> tailamps being lit up.

That's not correct either. There are a bunch of different kinds of DRLs in the US and Canada. There's reduced-voltage high beams without taillamps, reduced-voltage headlamps without taillamps, full-voltage low beams with taillamps, full-voltage low beams without taillamps, full-time front turn signals (nonflashing), and separate DRL-only lights that don't do anything else.

 

>>Also, what do you guys see is wrong with this DRL setup!?
>>The only alternatives I have seen are either low beams at full strength, or fog lights.

Fog lights aren't legal as DRLs in the US (but OK in Canada). The problems with the high beam DRLs are: Too much glare and a very narrow beam pattern that sort of defeats the purpose of having DRLs since the high beams at reduced voltage are basically invisible from more than a few degrees off "dead center".

 

Kevin-

You talking about that third hole inside the headlamp assy? I've noticed that cars with Xenons have something there that says "XENON" or something like that, where non-xenon cars have a hole with a back face that looks like to be at about 45deg.

Maybe this is where the Xenon transformer dohicky thingamajig is?

Derek

 

That's what I'm talking about. It looks like a place for another lamp reflector. I've not had a chance to look closely at a car with Xenons, so I can't tell you what they have there.

 

Unless it has something to do with Xenons (which I don't have) the third "place" in the headlight reflector does absolutely nothing and is basically pointless. Strange huh??

 

That hole was originally for the turn signals as in this photo. They decided not to do that when they realized that if you raised the bonnet your emergency flashers were now pointed at the sky.

 

now THAT is an aero kit I can get into!!!

Thanks for the history!

 

>>That hole was originally for the turn signals as in this photo. They decided not to do that when they realized that if you raised the bonnet your emergency flashers were now pointed at the sky.
>>

Makes perfect sense now. Thanks!

 

Oooowh.... Who's going to be the first to show us how to enable the turn signals back in the Headlights? Maybe I can keep my fog lights and use the current turn signal holes for extra brake cooling?!

 

Unlike the rear fog lights, the wiring for the turn signals in the headlights is completely absent in the current configuration. Some one could develop a retro fit kit, but it would not be legal, or safe.

 

>>Unlike the rear fog lights, the wiring for the turn signals in the headlights is completely absent in the current configuration. Some one could develop a retro fit kit, but it would not be legal, or safe.


But what about putting a set of driving lamps there instead of on the bumper?

 

Mmmm, I got an idear. I'm thinking about perhaps putting some "low wattage"
194 bulbs or something in that place, wiring them up to the parking lamps and
using it as a pseudo "city-light" configuration?

I'll have to investigate more, I suspect the xenon's, tho might use it as
some sort of anti-condensation measure, perhaps???

My original idea was to put a massively powerful bulb in there and use it as a
long-range driving light (but very narrow beam). But I thought 1.) heat might
be too much 2.) the size of the reflector might be so tiny that it would be
like a white laserbeam of light. Only good to drive up to peoples house any
annoy (or aim up to shine in tailgaiting SUV mirrors?)

cheers,

-Matt

 

they should have used that spot for the DRL's...