whats with all the audis with them led lights.?

x in the city

Seems every second one passing me out today in broad day light was one...:rolleyes:

Eoin

They are standard on them now.

colm_mcm

Think you have to pay to get them, They're not standard on the A4 anyhow.

Eoin

Sorry - I meant to say they are factory fit, not halford type jobbies.

Mena

Day time running lights. Should be mandatory tbh.

colm_mcm

eoin wrote: »

halford type jobbies.

plenty of them going around, could be this generation's Lexus lights

Eoin

colm_mcm wrote: »

plenty of them going around, could be this generation's Lexus lights

I don't think they look great as standard, let alone replica ones. Same as Lexus lights actually. There were also some weird angel eye replicas in different colours doing the rounds in all makes of car as well.

darcy.jonny

haha ive been noticing that as well . maybe the owners think the car looks better with the lights on .............. other than that what could it be apart from maybe something like no light on the dashboard to day there on ???

CrowdedHouse

As Clarkson said "like a council house at Christmastime"

Buffman

DRL's, they will probably become mandatory in the future.

colm_mcm

darcy.jonny wrote: »

haha ive been noticing that as well . maybe the owners think the car looks better with the lights on

They come on automatically, they're a safety feature

-Chris-

Standard on R8, A6 LE, S6, RS6 & A5, optional on the A3, A4 (standard on the Sport), A6 & Q5.

You can turn them off from inside the cabin, but personally I'd leave them on because DRLs are a good safety feature (whether you like the look of them or not).

darcy.jonny

oh haha well that explains it

colm_mcm

It helps people realise it's not a Skoda too

bazz26

DRLs have been around for years, only it's just these days they seem to be fashion accessories more than safety equipment.

My S40 has them but nobody notices because they are not the nice fancy led type.

mickdw

I like them and wouldnt dream of turning them off

-Chris-

All scandanavian cars have them, it's only recently that the EU has decided that they should be compulsory.

The move to LEDS is becuase of energy efficiency and extended bulb life.

The usage of them in "cool" patterns is at the manufacturer's discretion...

GTE

I like the idea, and I think the one halfords have, just a rectangle of LED's that can be hidden away inside a gap in a bumper looks kinda good, a bit further in then the halfords pic.
I dont like the Audi attempt at style with them.

This brilliant white light seemingly coming nothing inside the bumper.

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_541307_langId_-1_categoryId_212516


But 100 quid? I could make that for much less. A bit expensive.


EDIT:
http://shop.ebay.ie/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=Daytime+running+lamp

Gumbo

-Chris- wrote: »

All scandanavian cars have them, it's only recently that the EU has decided that they should be compulsory.

The move to LEDS is becuase of energy efficiency and extended bulb life.

The usage of them in "cool" patterns is at the manufacturer's discretion...

However, from early 2011, all new types of passenger cars and light vans will have to be fitted with dedicated daytime running lamps in accordance with the relevant European directive.
taken from http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/FNE/story/?nID=46430

Ive seen some A4's (my neighbour) that has xenons and the DRL's are LED, then ive seen some A4's that the DRL's are halogen. is the DRL an option or just the LED an option over the halogen?

-Chris-

LED is an option over halogen.

Top Dog

-Chris- wrote: »

Standard on R8, A6 LE, S6, RS6 & A5, optional on the A3, A4 (standard on the Sport), A6 & Q5.

You can turn them off from inside the cabin, but personally I'd leave them on because DRLs are a good safety feature (whether you like the look of them or not).

Chris, you might know the answer to this one ... why is it the Audi DRL's only turn on the front lights? Would it not be easier and more cost effective to have a system like Saab or Volvo when it's essentially the parking lights that are on all the time (and thus the rear lights are also illuminated)? I'm sure Audi must have some reason behind only having them illuminate the front?

colm_mcm

Aren't the Audis that are equipped with DRLs also equipped with dusk sensors?

Heroditas

colm_mcm wrote: »

It helps people realise it's not a Skoda too

Also differentiates them from Seat Exeos too

-Chris-

Top Dog wrote: »

Chris, you might know the answer to this one ... why is it the Audi DRL's only turn on the front lights? Would it not be easier and more cost effective to have a system like Saab or Volvo when it's essentially the parking lights that are on all the time (and thus the rear lights are also illuminated)?

No idea why it's front only - I presume cos front DRLs make a bigger difference than rear lights.
No idea about cost-effectiveness either, it's never been mentioned in any training or product guides anyway...

Top Dog wrote: »

I'm sure Audi must have some reason behind only having them illuminate the front?

Thinking about it, it's probably the cheapest/most ecological way to have them run - most Audis don't have rear LEDs and so the most efficient way is to have LEDs at the front, and rear lights off altogether.

colm_mcm wrote: »

Aren't the Audis that are equipped with DRLs also equipped with dusk sensors?

Nope, you have to pay extra for that in most models.

Matt Simis

I know in some regions "extra" rear lights are a deemed safety hazard as they can be confused with brake lights, which then leads to confusion over when and if a person is actually braking. Driving around with Rear Fog lights on is even more dangerous as they usually use on set of what appears to be brake lights (looking like a blown brake bulb on the opposite side).

Front always on lights are a fantastic, documented, safety feature. I find people driving with front lights on far easier to see on uneven road surfaces when you are lining up an overtake. Which is exactly what they are meant to do (DRLs). From experience on both sides of the situation, I think they also allow people to see a car in their peripheral vision (pulling out at a T Junction) much faster too.
I have no DRLs, so have to put the Xenon low beams on for the same effect. My parking lights are teeny 5w bulbs (like most VWs) and therefore totally useless as DRLs. The 2008 model of my car has LED DRLs integrated (very subtlety) into the headlights. Looks like a white bar not a row of individual LEDs.

bazz26

Top Dog wrote: »

Chris, you might know the answer to this one ... why is it the Audi DRL's only turn on the front lights? Would it not be easier and more cost effective to have a system like Saab or Volvo when it's essentially the parking lights that are on all the time (and thus the rear lights are also illuminated)? I'm sure Audi must have some reason behind only having them illuminate the front?

The DRLs on my S40 are the standard dipped beams, H7 bulbs but they just run at a lower intensity during the day than at night. Supposed to extend the light of the bulbs afaik. You can have the S40's DRLs permenantly switched off by a Volvo dealer if you want.

The reason DRLs are only in the front is because they are designed to make the vehicle more visible to other road users ahead of you rather than behind you. That is the logic as I understand it anyways.

maidhc

bazz26 wrote: »

My S40 has them but nobody notices because they are not the nice fancy led type.

Didn't volvos have them since at least the 240?

bazzachazza

For those of you who dont like them. Get used to them every new car in two years time will have to have them by law. More new cars are coming with them ie new E class and Insignia. You can put the rear lights and front drls on you turn the light switch one to the right of auto and the front drls will go to dip setting and rear lights come on. Front drls will not be as bright so maybe not a good idea. I have driven with my lights on for the last 7 years since i went to sweden.

Top Dog

Matt Simis wrote: »

I know in some regions "extra" rear lights are a deemed safety hazard as they can be confused with brake lights.

Fair point - can kinda see the logic behind that.

Just wish Audi would factor in the laziness of the typical Irish driver - have lost count of the amount of Audi's I've seen now in low-light dusk situations still with only the DRL's on meaning they're near impossible to see from behind until you're on top of them. :rolleyes:

DubTony

I was going through the Rules of the Road a few weeks back, and it seems that it's a legal requirement here in Ireland to drive with lights on during the day in rural areas. Daytime running lights should be mandatory, especially in a grey, overcast climate like ours.