Hello all,

Went to the dealer today to have my rear fogs activated and once again had to decide on whether I wanted the Daytime Running Lights programmed ON or OFF. I've had them on since I got the car in April 03 but this time opted for off. I discovered that with the DRLs off you can switch on the front fog lights with only the driving/parking lights on rather than the headlights...

This decision made me curious, so I'm asking YOU!!!

Do you have your DRLs programmed on or off and WHY???

 

I never liked DRLs and prefer to use the fog lights at dawn and dusk to be seen when not really needed to see.

 

i like them and also have my rear light connected to the drl so both front and rear are on. here, in the dc area, it is required by law to have the headlights on when raining. i wish the law included the rear lights too. there are too many close-calls on highways when cars don't have their rear lights on (too much spray).

my question is drl supposedly runs at 60-80% intensity. with zenon on minis, how does this get accomplished?

 

^^^^
The way I understand it, the DRLs are the highbeam bulbs (halogen, I think) running at 50-60%. The xenons only come on when you switch on the headlights.

 

We have DRLs enabled in both of our MINIs. I think they offer an increased safety margin by making the car more visible to others in the road. They are also great in tight parking garages.

In the Cooper CVT, the DRLs are activated as soon as the car is put out of Park and they are turned off automatically when the shifter is returned to Park as well.


In the Cooper S, they come on as soon as the car is started and turn off when the engine is shutdown.


Very nice safety feature to have, IMO.

 

I have my DRLs on.

I found DRLs to be the most useful during bad weather as well as extremely sunny weather.
I definitely want to be seen by others at all times.

I can also think of two other reasons why I want my DRLs to be on. The first one is that I recall
reading somewhere that it is harder for laser units to acquire a speed reading with your high beams
on. Even though DRLs don't run at full power, since there is no way to detect Laser, every little
bit helps. The second reason is that the MINI with all the lights lit up, looks really really cool.

 

I have had my DRLs on since I got the car in Jan.
I like them, but wish I coudl turn on teh fog lights without DRLs:
one way that could be done by MINI if they chose to do so is to have the DRLs come on only when the light switch is OFF, and when the switch is set to position 1, DRLs stay off, and you could turn on fogs without the Xenons.
IMHO the fogs with the Xenions are pretty much useless in real fog, since the Xenons will blind you.
MINI, please?

 

I don't like DRL's, and especially since they hinder the ability to use my Foglights, there's no way in hell I'm getting the DRL's activated.

Sidenote: I see cars with DRL's driving at night - they forget that they have DRL's and forget to turn on the rest of their lights, now THAT's much more dangerous than anything in the daylight! I see this situation alarmingly often actually.

 

MINI2 has had a couple of threads about this. I posted the following a week or so ago:

{snip}

The only time they turn off is when my low beam headlights are lit. Other than that, if the ignition is switched on, the DRLs are too. By the way, the standing lights do not activate the DRLs for obvoius reasons! Also, on my car the DRLs are actually the high beams lit at a lower intensity

Begin unsolicited testimony for DRLs...

I think the DRLs saved my life (or serious injury) soon after I bought the car. I was driving east on a two-lane road at sunset. My path had me rounding a curve "coming out of the sun" onto a straightaway with a line of oncoming traffic. A car (driven by a certifiable bonehead) pulled out of the oncoming traffic into my lane to pass and quickly darted back just in time to miss me. He went off the road on the other side and I stopped to give him a piece of my mind. I must admit that he was very apologetic and pointed my attention back down the road to the curve from where I had come. It was virtually impossible to see anything exiting the curve due to the overpowering brilliance of the sun. He told me that he was alerted to my presence by my "headlights".

Everyone was safe and sound. Rather than giving him a piece of my mind, I reflected on the "piece of mind" I had been given by the DRLs.

YMMV,

Theo

 

1st click on my handbrake turns off lights but doesn't apply brakes. Turn on parking lights, now your fogs work. 1st post--Wo-hoo.THANKS everyone for all your help. Mike Bowman,Houston, Tx. p.s. BMWUSA fix the @*^%$%$&^STUMBLE !

 

Another factor is most insurance companies give a discount for DRLs.

 

DRL was set on when I took delivery. Next dealer visit, I'll have them turned off. I'd rather turn the headlights on for safety, if needed.

There are times, such as arriving late at an astronomy club starparty, that you do not want ANY lights on. To bad MINI doesn't provide a simple override that would let you turn them off, if you choose, without a dealer visit.

 

I had my DRLs turned on and I like them. I even think they look good. As far as turning the low beams on for DRLs, I'd never remember to do this.....or to turn them off. Also, the high beams at partial intensity look at lot better than using low beams for DRLs. However, I wish I had not had the follow me home lights turned on, at least not with a 90 second delay. I always have to look back at my car until they turn off......don't trust the auto shut-off.


R.E.

 

I have DRLs activated- all MINIs sold by my dealership do.

I like my xenons and can tell right away at night if I don't have them on so no problem remembering to turn on lights at night.

We often have rain in my area so the DRLs are OK to have on for visibility reasons. Rule of thumb is if I have to turn on the wipers then the headlights go on too.

 

I have DRL's activated, I think it makes your car more visible. I have found that at night I have never forgotten to turn on my Xenon's, the DRL's are too dim to drive with at night, at least for me.

 

Also note that when you activate the DRLs, the instrument lights and rear lights are NOT activated. Those who may forget to turn their headlights on at dusk will be reminded by the fact that the gauges are unlit.

However, the true beauty of this whole DRL issue is that a *choice* exists! To each his own. I, personally, choose to be enlightened.

My two pence,

Theo

 

I too choose to be enlightened-along with it being a safety issue, I've noticed they light up the back of my garage which tends to be a little dark even during the day.
Also had the opportunity to see my MINI on the track. The day was overcast & raining & the MINIs with their DRL's on could be seen much better than the ones with them off. But to each his own & unless your State requires them you still have the right to say yay or nay :smile: :smile: :smile:

Lois

 

Well ... didn't activate mine. Lived in Canada for a few years where it's required by law and didn't like them. People became too complacent. When will we stop having our vehicles do for us what we should know already? If it's bad weather, dark, sunset ... overcast, raining cats and dogs turn on your freaking lights. Amazing thing is when you do ... your rear tails come on at the same time! Ain't technology grand?

Ciao

Geoff

 

Turning on my parking lights and fog lights (or headlights when applicable) is as much a part of my car-starting ritual as putting on my seatbelt.

I prefer not to have the DRL's programmed as there may be some future situation in which my personal safety depends on being able to discretely leave a dangerous situation at night with all lights blacked out.

 

>>I prefer not to have the DRL's programmed as there may be some future situation in which my personal safety depends on being able to discretely leave a dangerous situation at night with all lights blacked out.
>>
>><<

Yucca! Never took you for being a gangbanger! Might I suggest a brake-light cut-off switch to improve night-time stealth? After your gang of MINIacs pulls a stunt, you must be able to flee the scene nonchalantly, and "fade" into the crowd. As if!

Tell all the nice people about your night vision scope.....


Clo/Wanda

 

ix-nay o-nay e-thay ight-nay ision-vay ope-scay!

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>>Turning on my parking lights and fog lights (or headlights when applicable) is as much a part of my car-starting ritual as putting on my seatbelt.
>>
>>I prefer not to have the DRL's programmed as there may be some future situation in which my personal safety depends on being able to discretely leave a dangerous situation at night with all lights blacked out.
>>
>>

I can understand not wanting DRLs just because.......but it's awfully hand to conceive of a situation were I would need to sneak off for my safety. I guess my little town just doesn't have much excitement.........and I'm to old to worry about trying to escape the wrath of a jealous husband.

 

I haven't figured out exactly when I might need to escape in my MINI under the cover of darkness, but I do like to have control of most every vehicle function possible.

Considering the fact that I too am a law-abiding respecter of other's wives/girlfriends, it is highly unlikely that I will ever need the dark of night to escape from any unsavory situation:P

 

DRL's off Chef. I turn on my headlights when the situation warrants it, and I like to run the fogs with the parking lights on.

Regards,

Red

 

>>I don't like DRL's, and especially since they hinder the ability to use my Foglights, there's no way in hell I'm getting the DRL's activated.
>>

If you turn your park lamps on you can turn the fog lamps on.


>>Sidenote: I see cars with DRL's driving at night - they forget that they have DRL's and forget to turn on the rest of their lights, now THAT's much more dangerous than anything in the daylight! I see this situation alarmingly often actually.
>>

The gauges on the mini don't light up unless the lights are turned on. People driving without their lights on at night are clueless. Them not having their lights on should give you a heads up that they are MORONS and you should exit their area as quickly as possible.