ok so i picked up ziggy today and was disapointed when i realized that the driving lights only come on when you turn on the high beams...is there anyway 2 change this?

 

That's the law in many states...I've seen others do it but I've never figured out why you'd want to?

 

feel that is a waste of money if i never get 2 use them

keep in mind i do mainly city driving

 

Why would you need driving lights in the city?

Driving lights are enhancements to high beams. Did you want to blind oncoming drivers?

 

Driving lights are like higher high-beams....

Basically.... your driving lights would blind drivers more than your brights. You don't drive with your brights on in the city... or do you?

 

wow sarcasim gets u no were i was just curious

 

On a previous vehicle I owned, I had to purchase a european lightswitch to access a driving lights only mode for my U.S. model vehicle. Maybe its the same with the Mini Cooper? (Your question is not a stupid one, BTW.)

 

I could have sworn that on MINI USA is mentioned that there is a switch...is that not the case? I too ordered the driving lights on my MINI (should arrive in a month). I really ordered them to try to capture the classic MINI rally look.

 

Yeah you need to have a really thick skin around some of these keyboard commandos.

 

You can use your driving lights as daytime running lights. You can buy a kit that you wire off an IGN fuse and splice into your driving lights +wire. Some kits contain a resistor so the lights are reduced intensity. They still go to full intensity when the hi-beams go on.The lower intensity lights go on whenever you turn the ignition on. Uses the same bulb. Some kits have isolation circuitry so the computer does not know the kit is installed. I don't know if this is needed on the MINI. If isolation is needed on the MINI, you could simply wire a diode into one of the kits power leads, that does not have isolation circuitry, to achieve the same result, I would think. Conversely, if you buy a kit with isolation, but not reduced intensity, and you then want reduced intensity, you can wire a resistor into the + power out to the lights.

Click on: http://www.daytime-running-lights.com/

Reduced intensity DRL kit: http://www.automotiveelectronicacces...aeapn480hd.htm

 

No one was being sarcastic...those were legitimate questions. Driving lights are intended to be BRIGHT and to supplement your high beams. Like I and the others simply pointed out, we're not sure of the value of running driving lights without high beams normal headlights.

That said many have done it and that's their choice. I think it will be much harder with the OEM lights because of the way they use the body module to control the lights, whereas with aftermarket lights folks can tap into whatever power source they wish.

 

well thanks 2 all no worries bout the sarcasm

bobj: i dont like the daytime driving lights but thanks for the info

bruleto: there is a switch but it is for the fog lights not the driving lights the driving lights switch only works with high beams,they fooled me to

the first three replys: no worries just alil disapointed to find out about the lights

anyways its the thrill of the ride not the lights so...lets motor

 

Yes it can be changed...legality aside.

My BAD - the following refers to a GEN1 install. I have not messed with these on a GEN2, but I'll bet it is similar....sorry - early morning fubar

Talking of the factory set up ** for GEN1** (I've installed a few for folks):

There's a wire from the DL's relay that should be near the left side of the drivers postion under the panel on the under side of the dash -the one some replace with the parcel shelf, that runs across the car to the control box behind the right side kick panel down in the footwell. Relay sits almost right behind the switch for the DL's.

As I recall this wire is yellow. This is the trigger wire tied into the relay that controls the DLs. Per the original factory instructions, this wire was tapped to the high beam trigger wire. This way the DL relay could only go on when the high beam trigger was hot.

So, if you locate this wire, and 'break' it from the high beam trigger line and relocate it to a switched / hot ... something that will always be hot when the ignition is on....like the cig lighter maybe, then the lights can go on and off at will. This is only a relay trigger line so low amps....not a huge worry there.

In essence you're gonna fool the DLs into thinking the high beam is always on. I have not done this on the factory kit, but have with PIAA and Hella w/out a problem

The install instructions used to be on the MINIMANIA site in pdf form for additional info. I understand MINI now provides a guide on how to wire both ways, but I haven't seen it.

p.s. there was no computer reprogramming required for the fatory DL install, so no worries there}

 

Capt_bj, Legality aside, good solution.

 

I think if you dont point them at the
oncomming windshields it would not be illegal (?)

If you pointed them down I mean. They would be
like extra fog lights. Fog lights don't seem illegal.
Even on monster trucks where they are as high
as my windshield.

THANKS for the link on the DRLs. I want to get some
driving lights and use them as yellow (bulb) DRLs.
I don't want to blind people just be visible.

 

The downside of using driving lights for DRLs is that people tend to judge a car's distance from the distance between headlights. If all they see is your lights (say while driving into the sun glare) they may think your car is a lot further away than it really is.