Using parking lights as DLRL
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Weaverville, Ca
1992 MB 190E, 2016 MB C300
Using parking lights as DLRL
Here in Ca it's illegal to drive with parking lights on unless the headlights are on at the same time. I'm thinking of installing LED bulbs in the parking lights (eyebrows) and using as DLRL. Seems like these would be similar to the LED DLRL's on the newer W204's with white light except for the much higher location. Does anyone know if this would fly and be acceptable?
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From: PA
2019 E63s AMG
As long as is not night time, I don't see why it would be illegal to use the DRL alone. Installing LEDs alone won't change their function though, they will still work the same as when they had halogen.
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From: California
MB W204/W212, BMW E66, Porsche 958, VW MK6 TDI, Maserati Ghibli SQ4
Believe he means Canada and not California when he says Ca. I believe he's right on that as on Canadian models, the parking lights on only function in the light switch is removed compared to US models. I know some have done retrofits on their headlight switches to get this function working again though so they can only have their parking lights on by itself.
Now that said, it won't fly legally to just have brighter eyebrows so you should be exempt from the DRL on by itself rule, but from an aesthetics standpoint, it will look a lot better with LEDs in there vs the dingy yellow halogen bulbs. Although LEDs will be brighter, the way the housing is designed, the light is still somewhat diffused though.
Now that said, it won't fly legally to just have brighter eyebrows so you should be exempt from the DRL on by itself rule, but from an aesthetics standpoint, it will look a lot better with LEDs in there vs the dingy yellow halogen bulbs. Although LEDs will be brighter, the way the housing is designed, the light is still somewhat diffused though.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Weaverville, Ca
1992 MB 190E, 2016 MB C300
It's California. I Googled the Calif. DMV law and from what I gathered it's illegal to drive anytime with just the parking lights. But with the W204, the eyebrows are long and have multi bulbs each and it seems to me that they are similar looking to DLRL especially with LEDS. I'm thinking they should pass for DLRL
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From: California
MB W204/W212, BMW E66, Porsche 958, VW MK6 TDI, Maserati Ghibli SQ4
Ah I see. Yeah found the vehicle code (24800). So the difference is Parking lights vs DRL which we see all the time on those LED strips and angel eyes. To be honest, no cops in California will give you grief for running just the eyebrows as most will consider them just DRL anyways. Of course, running just your brows and dusk/night is a different story, but during day, you'll be fine.
Now that I think about it though, I think that code was more specific to certain other models where the amber signals double as parking lights, especially on older vehicles. They don't want your front amber lights on both sides to be on by itself.
Now that I think about it though, I think that code was more specific to certain other models where the amber signals double as parking lights, especially on older vehicles. They don't want your front amber lights on both sides to be on by itself.
Last edited by AZN Optics; Mar 2, 2016 at 02:32 PM.
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From: Santa Rosa, CA
2012 Mercedes C250
You're correct about parking lights-only her in sunny CA. I've never been sure just how the OEMs get away with parking-light-based DRLs on their cars.
More importantly, though, I'm scratching my head and wondering why on Earth you WANT daytime idiot lights? In my 2012, the first thing I asked the salesman before I bought was whether I could turn them off, and then did just that before I even left their lot.
I figure, if someone can't see a 3000-5000 pound vehicle during the day, some stupid little lights aren't going to help. They also make motorcycles less visible by making them blend in- bikes have had 'permanent' headlights since the seventies just so they stand out in traffic. Oops... More unintended consequences from the experts in government.
Sorry to derail your thread. DRLs are one of my pet peeves.
More importantly, though, I'm scratching my head and wondering why on Earth you WANT daytime idiot lights? In my 2012, the first thing I asked the salesman before I bought was whether I could turn them off, and then did just that before I even left their lot.
I figure, if someone can't see a 3000-5000 pound vehicle during the day, some stupid little lights aren't going to help. They also make motorcycles less visible by making them blend in- bikes have had 'permanent' headlights since the seventies just so they stand out in traffic. Oops... More unintended consequences from the experts in government.
Sorry to derail your thread. DRLs are one of my pet peeves.
