Snerlo's R36 DRL Mk2 Installation

[snerlo]

Yeah, everyone has different wants with regards to when they come on. Mine only come on when you push the key into the second position (ie the position right before the starter motor kicks in) so if I have accessories on, they aren't on at all. It was really easy to get through the firewall in the end. Pretty easy install once you know what you're doing. I have installed three DRL's sets of various shapes and sizes now. Gets easier every time!!

[Netrover]

LED parkers arrived yesterday. Installed and looking great.

LED's now right through the interior except footwell (thinking about red LED's for this), DRL's and LED puddle lights.

Great mods and easy to do.

[dannyjak]

Hi guys

A couple of questions if you could kindly help:

- I want the DRLs to be on when I unlock the car, or when it is running. I guess the only time to want them to be off is when the car is locked. Any idea which fuse I can connect to for this?

- Alternatively, if I want them to be on only when the car is running, can I just connect the power wire to a fuse in the engine bay that has power running through it when the car is running?

- I dont actually mind if they dont dim when the parkers/headlights are on, therefore if I dont connect the second wire, will they technically be on at 100% whenever the DRLs are powered?

[snerlo]

Hi guys

A couple of questions if you could kindly help:

- I want the DRLs to be on when I unlock the car, or when it is running. I guess the only time to want them to be off is when the car is locked. Any idea which fuse I can connect to for this?

You are going to need a few more parts mate to get something like this going. Ie. a relay that you can have two inputs in and one outlet but I am not knowing if there is something like this without doing some searching so you might have to have a look on that one.

- Alternatively, if I want them to be on only when the car is running, can I just connect the power wire to a fuse in the engine bay that has power running through it when the car is running?

Possibly, but you will have to do some testing with a test light. Can't tell you without doing it myself. Easier to just wire it into one of the fuses in the end of the dash with a piggyback fuse connector as they come on when the ignition is on just before the starter motor kicks in.

- I dont actually mind if they dont dim when the parkers/headlights are on, therefore if I dont connect the second wire, will they technically be on at 100% whenever the DRLs are powered?

Yes.

[b j p]

- A wouldn't say that was true. There are heaps of things that get power when you unlock the car; the puddle mirrors for instance. You could use that as a power source if you wanted to. Not sure why you'd want that to happen though.

- I wouldn't say it was easier either to go through the firewall because you have to run the cable, cable tie it etc, when the fuse box under the bonnet is within <20cm from the DRL control box can be mounted. My issue with using under the bonnet was that I wanted the ability to switch them on and off if I needed which is why I ran it internally and installed the switch. They are not ADR approved which means you could get booked for them in QLD (assuming a police officer knew they didn't come standard and was having a bad day) not sure about other states. Although this is a very very minor possibility.

You can use any of the three (10amp) at the bottom right of this picture if you just want them on when you start the car.

[dannyjak]

Thanks BJP, what about the inside fuse box, if I wanted to go with that option, any of the 10amp fuses would be fine since they all get powered on when the car is started also?

[snerlo]

You are correct bjp but he wanted them to either come on with the unlock but also to work when the car was going and he'll need a relay of some description for that to occur if he wants both options at the same time. It is doable, believe me.

[donksebastian]

Keen to DRLs in my car also now, nice info here

[dannyjak]

Hi guys

Any helpful hints on how to remove the silver part of the front bumper? and any tricks to popping out the existing turn signal units?

[snerlo]

silver part is just screws up the top beneath the bonnet and then two either side just below the number plate. Then it is a gentle exercise of pulling the part forward but be careful because the parking sensors don't have a long wire on them so you will have to unclip them which will be tight. The blinkers are a single screw. You can see it if you get down on your hands and knees and look up from below.

[3C4M Guy]

If only we could buy a comprehensive step-by-step workshop manual, we wouldn't be asking each other "how do you remove ...?". I'm told the DVD-ROM manuals have the print function disabled - otherwise I'd buy one and print the whole thing.

[dannyjak]

OK finally did it over the weekend. Didnt need to take out the grill. Ran the wiring above the radiator shroud. Powered it from the engine bay fuse. Hardest part was getting to the screws of the indicators haha

[Jakeys]

Hey guys,


So I just got word I will be receiving my DRL’s after a wait, so I came back to review this thread and I noticed something which doesn’t seem to have been addressed.

Did you notice that every time you turn the ignition on the parker LEDs will blink a couple of times?(My MY10 does and oversea MY09 onwards does)


And these DRL turn on when the ignition is on, so when the parker blinks, the DRL will dim a few times as the parker blinks.

That's the bcm testing the circuits. It's expecting filament globes so pulses the globe to test continuity with low voltage. It's enough to turn on an led. You should see the tails on my octy at startup, its like a disco!

thats right. so if you connect the DRL's dim wire to parker, expecting the DRL will dim a few times.

Are you guys aware you can stop this happening? This is an option in VCDS, kamold is correct, the car pulses most of the lights at startup to identify any that have failed, any that have been replaced with LED will do this. The function is called Cold Start Diagnosis and you can turn it off for each set of lights individually, ie if you only replaced your parkers with LED then you can turn it off just for parkers but still have it check all your other lights.

I have done this myself as I do have LED parkers, I can find the applicable option for you if you want, although a quick Google should make light work of it.

[Passat R36]

Yes I know the option and I have a VCDS.It does not bother me as I left the DRL on full all the time, I didn't connect the blue wire to anything.

If you turn the option off, will the car tell you when the Parker bulb is really faulty?

[Jakeys]

Yes I know the option and I have a VCDS.It does not bother me as I left the DRL on full all the time, I didn't connect the blue wire to anything.

If you turn the option off, will the car tell you when the Parker bulb is really faulty?

Not at start up, but it will notice when you turn them on. It definitely stops the flickering though. (I noticed my reverse light doing it when I switched that for a high powered LED)