I dislike DRLs because of he glare they create (largely from the fact that they operate the high beams). They cause people to forget to activate their normal lights thus running around at night with their high beams on. Even at reduced power they create more blinding glare than low beams because of the way they're aimed.

I make a point to activate my low beams when conditions warrant. You can be the most effective safety device in your car.

 

No, I actually installed a DRL module & connected it up to the fog lights. I think that you are referring to the parking lights, which are above the fog lights.

 

As Ken Cooper mentioned earlier DRL's are mandatory in Canada. This originated in Scandinavian countries who studied the fact that cars are more visible to others when equipped with DRL's and therefore reduced accidents.
As usual Volvo was first on the block to equip their cars with DRL's as standard.

IMO they are a benefit especially with all the usual suspects chatting on cell phones, making toast and generally not paying attention. It has to help.

 

More pros than cons. I will use them when it arrives.

 

Don't have them on my MINI. Don't like them either.
My wife's VW has them, and can't be easily turned off, so I live with it.

Irritatingly, there's a new PA law that says you have to have your headlights
(daylight running lights qualify) on whenever there's enough rain to use your wipers
(including intermittent setting), so I have to pay attention to turning
them on when it even drizzles. Also have to turn them on in "active"
construction areas. At least we don't have $3000+ speeding tickets here
as they do in VA.


...yet.

 

Actually, on my R56 the only difference between DRLs and low beam headlights is, when the DRLs are on the instrumentation and mood lighting is off. I can't see a difference one in the external lighting, neither front nor rear.

 

Don't forget to post back the results. I just put it on my calander, "Soul to report DRL results" in 2 monts.

 

I like DRL and use 'em every time I motor. I like to be visible and I like the way a car looks w/ running lights on...

John 2007 MCS Sparking Silver

 

I find them especially comforting on the Dragon [or any other really curvy road] during the daytime, especially when driving some of those blindsided twisties. I just cannot understand why anyone would not want to be more visible when driving....

 

Nope, the upper half of my foglights are on when I drive at all times. The parking lights are different. They shut off after a short time.
I take that back. I have no lights on during the day. I must have been seeing things!

 

I'm confused. I have the auto head lights feature (convenience package??) and I just leave the lights in the auto position. I'm pretty sure they are in DRL mode in the daytime and when it gets dark they become normal headlights.

Besides, next time you drive notice how easier it is pick cars out when they have DRLs. I've noticed they help even at high noon...my sunglasses will darken everything, the lights bring them back.

I don't worry about the bulbs burning out. I live in a big city and never get to use my brights anyway. That's why I haven't bought rally lights yet. I love the look but I'd never get to use them .

 

That's really interesting...the upper half of the fog lights are the parking lights. I wonder why yours are on? Do the side and tail lights come on as well?

 

Why is that law irritating??? I am amazed by the ignoramouses driving in rain without lights on. Don't they notice how hard it is to see other cars with drivers doing the same stupid thing????? Requiring headlights to be on in the rain is the law many places -- and for good reason.

Now, if we could only get moseying PA drivers the hell out of the left lanes, it would be great, too....

 

I ran the first year without them and noticed a lot of idiots were turning left in front of me as if I wasn't there (an all to common happening recalled from my motorcycling times) so I had them turned on and believe they help.

They are not at all intrusively bright, 50% power as some have stated.

 

I use them on mine because I like being as visible as possible in my little MINI. I'm not worried about the bulbs burning out because I had DRL's on my old car, and in 9 years I never had to replace a headlight or high beam (don't remember which one the DRL's ran on). I also never forget to turn my lights on when needed, because unlike many of the nuts out there that don't turn them on when it's raining or getting dark, I actually look at my guages while driving and know that when I can't read them that well, lights should be on!

 

DRL are the WORST idea ever. I ride a motorcycle, and the cars running around with DRLs have made it much more hazardous for us motorcyclists...

It used to be that when you saw lights during the day...you automatically thought, "bike"...not any longer...

 

so, now when you see 2 DRLs headed your way you automatically think of 2 side-by-side bikers? what's hazardous about that?

 

He's prob miffed at the driver's running around with only one DRL still good. It's not fun expecting a bike to pass you to all of a sudden feel a car or suv going 90 past you.

 

I just went out and tested the running lights. When they are on, they use the exact same lights as when you have your normal lights on. That is, the standard headlights (not brights), at full power (not 50%), the rear red lights, the side marker lights, and the top half of the fog lights, which are the parking lights.

I have the Xenon's and auto headlights, so maybe it is different for non-xenon's, and non-auto headlights, that's possible.

 

Your's must be different from mine, as I have an '06 MCS and an '03 Cooper. With mine, the DRLs are dim and only come on when the car is in gear. They are not full power anything, because at dusk, when I turn on my normal headlights, there is a much brighter world out there.

Another thing, when my DRLs are on, my rear lights are not, nor are my side lights...just the front headlights. That's why, when it rains, I make sure my parking lights are on, too, or I just turn on the whole system.

 

Apparently the 07's do things differently. I do have the xenons lowbeams in my 05. My daytime running brights are on at 50% power.

I've heard the bike argument before, and I'm not sure I buy it. I have a lot of bike experience and know for a fact people can be looking right at your motorcycle and still not see you, lights or no. With more autos running daytime lights, drivers seeing a single light can no longer ignore it because its just a motorcycle, now it may well be a HumVee with a burned out headlight.

 

+1 See IIHS

Running vehicle lights in the daytime does not significantly shorten bulb life

+1, its the law in MD too.

There might be some misinformation here. In general, cars with Xenon and Halogens use the Halogen bulbs. The bulbs are switched on and off very rapidly giving the impression of "50%" power. You can't do that with Xenons. If you got Bi-Xenons, then they are on full bright. That might explain the OPs' statement if he has bi-xenon

Check the IIHS resource referenced above.

"Daytime running lights (DRLs) are a low-cost method to reduce crashes. They are especially effective in preventing daytime head-on and front-corner collisions by increasing vehicle conspicuity and making it easier to detect approaching vehicles from farther away. ...

Nearly all published reports indicate DRLs reduce multiple-vehicle daytime crashes."

At the moment its a personal decision. Don't be surprised if its mandated in the future. If you running DRLs with bi-xenons, then the IIHS statement, IMO, does not hold water. It does with halogens running at reduced power levels.

 

My R56 DRLs work the same as yours only mine has non-auto Halogens. The difference is inside the car. With DRLs programmed on, and headlamps turned off, your instrumentation and mood lighting is not illuminated.

 

My mistake. No lights are on during the day (DRL off), at least today. I swear I've seen the parking lights on during the day before (Auto lights always set to on). Maybe I should have my vision checked.

 

If you leave the lights in auto mode, what you might be seeing are the parking lights on when you unlock the car with the remote.