21 replies to this topic

[adam02]

Hi, first post but been looking for an answer.

I'm driving a 2005/55 V50, and looking at adding some LED DRL's to the front fog insert and wiring them to run in connection with the side lights. Obviously the side lights + main lights are constantly on and I'm wondering if this is legal to have them on constantly, day and night.

I can't see them being dazzling due the position i'm putting them in.

here's the ones i'm going to add:
http://www.halfords....tegoryId_165688

just want verification that this is legal before i do so as cant find a simple answer anywhere.

thanks

[grainqey]

some "fog lights" are classed as driving lights, imo bmw front headlights are illegal in this country but they are EU certified or something so get round it (have amber running lights which afaik are forward facing which is illegal if im not mistaken)

also i think somebody was saying that you cant add L.E.D's when halogen etc bulbs are intended to be used with the headlight units etc

anyway im sure somebody will be along with the answer, one thing to bear in mind is that you might get stopped and fixed penalty given for driving with "fog lights" on

alex

Edited by grainqey, 01 April 2011 - 20:21 .

[adam02]

ta for reply, think you mis-understood

i don't currently have fog lights on the car, im just going to be putting the LED strips where the fog light insert is. im not replacing any halogen bulbs etc. or replacing any lights, these will just be simple additional lights which will be on at the same time as my side lights - aka all the time

should look something like this (just put white dots where they'll go lol)

[GazT4R]

They are white and forward facing so can't see any problem with them unless they are stupidly bright and dazzling.
Most of the trailors on trucks these days have abandoned bulbs and use LED's for the forward facing marker lights.
In short they are the correct colour and being used to mark the vehicle not as lighting.

Edited by GazT4R, 01 April 2011 - 20:34 .

[grainqey]

adam02, on 01 April 2011 - 20:27 , said:

ta for reply, think you mis-understood

i don't currently have fog lights on the car, im just going to be putting the LED strips where the fog light insert is. im not replacing any halogen bulbs etc. or replacing any lights, these will just be simple additional lights which will be on at the same time as my side lights - aka all the time

should look something like this (just put white dots where they'll go lol)

vlights.jpg

ahh i see now....
im not won over by adding led's like that, audi do it out of the factory and my personal opinion is they look a bit posery
if you like it then thats what matters, like gaz says i cant see what anybody can say

[adam02]

GazT4R, on 01 April 2011 - 20:33 , said:

They are white and forward facing so can't see any problem with them unless they are stupidly bright and dazzling.
Most of the trailors on trucks these days have abandoned bulbs and use LED's for the forward facing marker lights.
In short they are the correct colour and being used to mark the vehicle not as lighting.

yes they're white and they aren't bright enough to dazzle and doubt they could with how low they will be on the car.

yea i suppose they are only really to mark the vehicle, but they will be lit up lol

thanks for reply's though

[grainqey]

adam02, on 01 April 2011 - 20:45 , said:

yes they're white and they aren't bright enough to dazzle and doubt they could with how low they will be on the car.

yea i suppose they are only really to mark the vehicle, but they will be lit up lol

thanks for reply's though

lol they can be as low as you like, if foglights were aimed upwards they'd have the potential to dazzle oncoming drivers, on my last D5 i actually aimed the foglights level/just below level lol (idk why i bothered, maybe it was to give me something to do while i was setting the main beams lol)

sorry im being a shite, just make sure they arnt aimed daft like at oncoming driver eye level, the high intensity led's can be quite bright if looking directly at where they're pointing but i dont know how bright they are 10-20m away like oncoming traffic would be (p.s thats not aimed at you, just in general)

alex

Edited by grainqey, 01 April 2011 - 21:06 .

[adam02]

lol its ok
they will be aimed down or straight forward

[Rockin]

Im not sure of the legality but i was being followed by a merc with the very same idea you have. As they werent fully fixed to the car properly, they wobbled up and down causing a flashing type effect in my rear view mirror. Im sure at least a slapped wrist should have been given out on that occasion.

I do like the idea myself and think the Audi's look the dogs danglybits

[adam02]

if anyone has some recommendations for which LED's to use post a link please otherwise its the Prism ones from halfords

[FletchV70RAWD]

IIRC they have to go off when dipped beam is turned on.  Other than that they `should` be OK.  Also IIRC the UK now requires ALL new cars to have LED daylight running lights to be fitted at manufacturer.

I think Halfords website had a link to all the usueful gen .

[V70Ben]

Rockin, on 01 April 2011 - 21:10 , said:

Im not sure of the legality but i was being followed by a merc with the very same idea you have. As they werent fully fixed to the car properly, they wobbled up and down causing a flashing type effect in my rear view mirror. Im sure at least a slapped wrist should have been given out on that occasion.

I do like the idea myself and think the Audi's look the dogs danglybits

The merc's all do it

They aren't actually wobbling though - If you grab hold of your Rear View Mirror it stops



As for the LED running lights - Technically they'll be illegal, as they won't be E marked, and potentially depending on heights etc could breach the C&U regs...

New cars can get away with it - primarily as they have an EU Certificate of Conformity saying they are legal (regardless of whether it breaches our C&U Regs)

[Nunchukhamster]

adam02, on 02 April 2011 - 07:01 , said:

if anyone has some recommendations for which LED's to use post a link please otherwise its the Prism ones from halfords

http://www.oznium.com/car-lighting

[Peter68]

Nunchukhamster, on 02 April 2011 - 11:31 , said:

http://www.oznium.com/car-lighting

Hi

I think the comments are generally correct. HOWEVER there are specific measurements that they should conform to ie. Height, Distance from outside edge of bodywork etc. As said before they will become compulsory in EEC owing to the reduction in accident rates.

The best I have seen for quality are the ones on this site.

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Best of luck

[adam02]

V70Ben, on 02 April 2011 - 08:16 , said:

The merc's all do it

They aren't actually wobbling though - If you grab hold of your Rear View Mirror it stops



As for the LED running lights - Technically they'll be illegal, as they won't be E marked, and potentially depending on heights etc could breach the C&U regs...

New cars can get away with it - primarily as they have an EU Certificate of Conformity saying they are legal (regardless of whether it breaches our C&U Regs)

i think the halford ones are E marked, as comments state they are road legal so they must be to be road legal

[V70Ben]

adam02, on 02 April 2011 - 20:51 , said:

i think the halford ones are E marked, as comments state they are road legal so they must be to be road legal

When you get that out of Halfords in writing, when fitted to your vehicle - I'll be happy

They may meet the tests and requirements.... still doesn't mean it's legal to fit em

[adam02]

V70Ben, on 02 April 2011 - 21:00 , said:

When you get that out of Halfords in writing, when fitted to your vehicle - I'll be happy

They may meet the tests and requirements.... still doesn't mean it's legal to fit em

asking around it sounds like theres only laws on them if they're fitted with like their own on/off switch, as long as you wire them to the side lights they're all ok
found this but can't make much sense from it if u fancy havin a look
http://www.legislati...6/contents/made

[adam b]

Fair play to you for finding out if they are legal or not  but I just don't understand the attraction.
I'm sure the kids in McDonalds car park will love 'em though

[Peter68]

adam b, on 02 April 2011 - 21:52 , said:

Fair play to you for finding out if they are legal or not  but I just don't understand the attraction.
I'm sure the kids in McDonalds car park will love 'em though

If you owned a P2 S60 then you would soon find the attraction  of something that means you do not 'use up' headlight bulbs. When you come to replace a headlight bulb (can be done without taking bumper , head lamps etc off) then a few grazed fingers later gives the running lights an attraction.

Instead of running on dipped beams you could run on sidelights ( LED's now wired up to sidelights ) and then turn on Headlights for night time use.

[adam b]

I guess they are worse than the P2 V70 then! I've always driven with my headlights on whatever car i'm in