DRL Question

H

Hotride

Active member
 Nth Qld
I have installed Angel Eye's into my headlights (I have disconnected the Parker lights and replaced them with the AE's). and I want the angel eyes to come on whenever I turn the car on.

As far as I can tell the only way to do this would be to connect the AE's to a switched power source, but I don't really want to run external wires coming out of my headlights. Has anyone any idea how I might achieve this goal? has anyone tried to make their parker lights turn on with the car?

I have been having a look at the cars DRL (daytime running lights) settings, but it seems the only options for DRL's are low beam or high beam lights, not just the parker lights. Also I assume DRL's would turn on as the car turns on... is this correct?

need some advice, I like to leave my lights on "Auto" but the parkers (AE's) wont turn on unless it gets dark
 
Pawnsacrifice has done this and put up a detailed post. Can't remember if he ran extra writes out not,I think he did, but I'll let you search for the post. :wink:
 
srhutch said:
Pawnsacrifice has done this and put up a detailed post. Can't remember if he ran extra writes out not,I think he did, but I'll let you search for the post. :wink:
Click to expand...

I think Pawn actually put in a new switch (which he fabricated to be identical to the existing buttons!) to do this
 
I have seen pawn sacrifices thread http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=25979 but he ran extra wires from inside the headlights to the cabin and then made custom on/off buttons for the AE's

Not exactly what I'm looking for, but could be the only option. I was hoping there is a way to set the Parkers to automatically on. But wiring into a switched power supply could achieve the same goal.

Does anyone know if I wired the AE's into a switched power supply, can I still leave the Parker wires attached to avoid a bulb out warning, or would it be bad to have 2 sets of wires connected to the AE's?
 
How DRL functions varies by destination country and if xenon equipped. In all cases, yes, DRL goes on when the ignition is on, provided it is enabled on your vehicle. It is often disabled in countries where DRLs are not required by law, the diagnostic computer is required to enable it.

AFAIK, in no case does DRL turn on parking lights, so for this option to work, your AEs need to be powered by whatever goes on with DRL on your vehicle. Not sure if doing that would confuse the bulb out circuit, but should be OK as it's looking for high/infinite resistance, not lower. Also be sure total circuit load is managed.

If you do go with switched power, first, as above, be sure the circuit can handle the load, you may need a relay to a more robust source. Going this route, you don't need the parking wires anymore, so why not simply reconnect them to the parking lights? I wouldn't risk running two circuits to one light system, you do NOT want to risk damaging the light controller, it's full of sensitive electronics and is very dear.
 
DRL's are not required here, so mine are disabled atm (but i do have xenons). Dont think I would like to wire the AE's up to the xenon wires (just incase things went badly)

Anyways to make my Angel Eye's work I have simply removed the parker bulbs and tapped into the parker bulb wires, If I stick the bulbs back in they will still work, along with the AE's. The problem is I don't like the look of parker's with the AE's on together.

So moving the AE's to switched power looks easy enough - run a wire from the headlights, along the bonnet into the cabin, connect an on/off switch, then run the wire to a switched power source. But If I do this I still have to put the parker bulbs back in or I will get a bulb out warning... hence why I was thinking about connecting the switched and parker power to the AE's

no perfect solutions as yet... but I'm determined to figure one out lol

P.S. - Pawn how did you get around this issue?
 
If you want to eliminate the bulb out warning you can fit a resistor in the socket... To trick it into thinking the bulb is there.

I also think that if the car thinks the sidelights are out it leaves the indicators permanently lit so they act as sidelights.... Not a good look!
 
Hotride, I haven't touched the sidelights (parkers), mine are still there. The lights AEs turn on automatically with the car, there is one temporary override switch (on a Flip-Flop relay) and a rocker switch under the steering column as an override.

I think, looking at the manual, there is an option to program the side / park lights to come on with the ignition. I know that Gookah, who has the same DRL kit as me, wired his into the side lights with no error messages.

EDIT:
Here you go, from the 2003 manual (link to the PDF in my sig.)...
DrivingLamps.jpg


So, you could wire the AEs into side lights and then get those programmed as above. If you get a bulb error with your AEs you may need to add a resistor as aquazi mentioned above.

Just to add for UK members, I believe Gookah has his car MOT'd with the AEs set up as the side lights.
 
PawnSacrifice said:
Just to add for UK members, I believe Gookah has his car MOT'd with the AEs set up as the side lights.
Click to expand...


I removed the existing sidelight lamps(bulbs) and had no warning lights on dash, because the AE's had replaced them as sidelights (parking lights)
However, if you just remove the lamps, but the AE's are wired to a seperate circuit, then you will get a lamp failure warning when turning on the headlamps.

Incidentally it passed MOT no problem with the angels used as sidelights (That was on my previous car)
 
Gookah my car is currently wired up the same as yours, AE's replacing the sidelight. I just want them to come on automatically when I turn the car on, instead of having to turn the lights on each time.

Hopefully pawn is right and I can get the sidelights set to come on with the car. otherwise I will need to wire them to a separate circuit. my BMW tech is away till next week, hopefully he can give me some good news.
 
Hotride said:
Gookah my car is currently wired up the same as yours, AE's replacing the sidelight. I just want them to come on automatically when I turn the car on, instead of having to turn the lights on each time.

Hopefully pawn is right and I can get the sidelights set to come on with the car. otherwise I will need to wire them to a separate circuit. my BMW tech is away till next week, hopefully he can give me some good news.
Click to expand...

You could always run an ignition switched (accessory - 1st turn of key) 12v supply into the sidelight circuit instead, so that they always come one when you turn the key.
However all the sidelights (rear lights/numberplate) will be on with the AE's at the same time if that's not a problem to you.

You would need to connect to the lights on the output side of a separate relay though (12v ignition switched supply to coil). or disconnect the circuit back to the light switch, otherwise turning on the light switch with the key out, will energise the ignition supply circuit in reverse.
 
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