I have a Cooper S 2012. My lights always set at automatic. I find the lights are quite dim at night. When I switch the light setting from daytime running to low beam highlight, the lights don't change at all. I went to the dealer and they told me the daytime running lights and low beam highlights are the same for my car. I doubt about the answer.
I'd like to see if it's the same for the ones made in the same year.
Thanks!

 

On our 2012 S, DRL is the same as low beam. We have xenon lights, so that might make a difference.

 

Do you have HID lights?

 

 

Yeah, DRL with halogen headlamps uses the low beams. The stock halogens are pretty terrible, I'm afraid.

I found the low beams on my 2012 were angled too low from the factory. Doing a proper headlight adjustment and putting in some high-quality bulbs (not that Silverstar crap: either Sylvania Xtravision or Philips X-treme Vision) helped a bit, but they're still not great.

 

Working on a 2009 my daughter just purchased, with HID. Low output, even with new bulbs. Turns out the previous owner put in cheap bulbs, (my guess) and the reflector bowl was burnt, lost is mirror finish.

Just finished replacing the HID lenses with a set from Morimoto. Great light now.!