Fitting Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)

[arcadelt]

Hello All.

I would like to fit some aftermarket DRLs to my 2010 Tiguan for safety purposes, and am leaning towards something from the Hella range attached to my nudge bar. I note in the car's manual that I can set the dipped beam headlights (or side lights and the number plate lights) as DRLs through a combination of blinker and ignition switching. I also understand that the fog lights can be set through VCDS instead in countries where this is allowed. I have two questions in relation to DRLs that I hope the forum can answer:

1. I haven't turned on the DRLs as described above, but I'm interested to know whether this sets the headlights (or side lights and the number plate lights) to work in accordance with Australian Design Rules. That is, the lights come on when the ignition is engaged and turn off whenever the headlights are turned on (which, in this case, are the DRLs too)?
2. If the answer to question 1 is yes, I'm further interested to know whether it's possible to tap into the Tiguan's built-in management of DRLs to operate the aftermarket DRLs, and if so, is this something that any vehicle electrician can do, or needs a CAN bus educated VW specialist?

Thanks for reading, and if anyone has done this before or has general advice on DRLs, I'd be happy to hear that too.

Cheers

[ian]

I've fitted these to my Tiguan with an inline fuse

[Sanman]

Not exactly direct help, but I was reading the user comments from Powerbulbs (UK) Philips DRLs (copied below), and it appears that if Philips has thought of these issues, so I would infer that Hella has thought of this also. Compliant mounting height and spacing is mentioned, and as ADRs are aligned to Euro, check your desired position complies. You might also ask Hella to send you the manual.

Extremely bright and good quality LED modules. Brighter than the factory LED DRLs on some new cars. These lights do not dim but rather cut out completely when the position lights are turned on. No info on this on the web or anywhere until I received the lights and read the paper manual. Also with most newer cars like mine, the DRLs will turn off after engine has been idling for a while, especially while stuck in traffic, not a good look in my opinion. It will turn on again once the car is moving. This is due to the alternator trying to save fuel and causing the battery's voltage to drop below the threshold where the DRL's control box tell the lights to turn off as if the engine is turned off. I needed to use the orange wire as per hybrid vehicle wiring instructions to get around this. As a personal taste, I've since wired up a simple PWM and relay controller and the DRLs now dim by around half instead of turning off completely with the headlights turn on.

[arcadelt]

I've fitted these to my Tiguan with an inline fuse

Sorry Ian, but I don't understand what an inline fuse does. Does this mean your DRLs turn on and off in accordance with ADRs, and are they managed by the CAN bus? BTW, what brand are those - they look just like what I might be after?

[arcadelt]

Not exactly direct help, but I was reading the user comments from Powerbulbs (UK) Philips DRLs (copied below), and it appears that if Philips has thought of these issues, so I would infer that Hella has thought of this also. Compliant mounting height and spacing is mentioned, and as ADRs are aligned to Euro, check your desired position complies. You might also ask Hella to send you the manual.

So Sanman, I think you're suggesting that Hella may have done all the hard work, and I just need to find someone who can fit them properly. I'll give Hella Australia a call and see what they say. Thanks for the help.

[Sanman]

So Sanman, I think you're suggesting that Hella may have done all the hard work, and I just need to find someone who can fit them properly. I'll give Hella Australia a call and see what they say. Thanks for the help.

Let us know how you got on

[TIGR]

What did you end up deciding on?

I'm tempted to get something similar to these:
VW Scirocco R20 LED DRL - 1K8941055A & 1K8941056A Euro Car Upgrades

Although then i realise that my non xenon headlights will look out of place..
Which will cause me to spend more $$ on something like:
genuine VW Tiguan Bi-Xenon LED DRL AFS Headlights OEM R-Line 5N1941751 Euro Car Upgrades

Grrr! why no xenon/drl's as stock VW!!

[arcadelt]

Hi TIGR. Actually, I haven't decided anything yet. I called Hella Australia, but they could not answer my questions over the phone, asking that I put my question in writing. I haven't done that, as I thought I would conducted my own research. What I have discovered is that Hella Australia do not outline their DRLs operation and ADR compliance on their website.

In the meantime, I've been thinking of these, as I will probably only be mounting them on my nudge bar:
NEW Genuine Hella Ledayline 4 Daytime Running Lights 12V DRL LED Complete KIT | eBay

They are not listed in the Hella Australian catalogue, so I think they are out of Singapore. Hella Singapore have a pretty good installation video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fARIYGQwlQ4

While the Hella kit looks to be standalone as Sanman suggested above (that is, they tap into the headlight wire, but have their own box of tricks to determine their operation), they seem to dim the DRLs when the main lights come on, rather than turn them off as required by ADRs. I'm not sure how much of a problem that is, as I see plenty of cars driving at night with DRLs on, as well as dipped and high beam, and many of these seem to be models where the DRLs are OEM, such as Audis and Jeeps.

I had a look at those Scirocco DRLs when I was getting my car fitted out by Euro Car Upgrades, but they are curved and I really couldn't see anywhere to fit them on my 2010 Tig that looked natural. They might fit more nicely on the R-Line Tiguan in the lower grill. With respect to not matching your halogens, it shouldn't matter because if they are fitted in accordance with ADRs, they will never be on at the same time...that's IF. If not, you could always get whiter halogen globes, as properly fitting Bi-Xenons is very expensive if done properly because of the need for the washers to be installed too...again IF.