Hi all:
After searching the archives, I see that there are several Canadians who think guys like me are COMPLETELY dumb, but nonetheless, I'd like to add DRLs to my 2003 P5. Has anyone done the job and documented it? What componentry is needed to do it "the factory way" (retrofit)? Is there another easier way that I can do it by running a wire or two that works just as well but that's easier?

Any information you have would be great. I may get sick of it later, but for now, I think it will look cool.

Thanks!

 

Another idea that I think looks better, run your fogs to come on with your "parking" lights.

 

Not to detract from the original question, but how does one accomplish this? What circut do you tap into?

 

You had someone ripping on you for wanting DRL's!? Forgive my frankness, but anyone who does that is an idiot. DRL's, regardless of whether anyone thinks they're cool or not, are a confirmed safety improvement, and helps you become more visible to more people, everywhere, at all times. This is a feature that degrades neither the performance nor physical appearance of one's car, and only a fool could be against safety.

And to anyone who doesn't care about maximum safety, refer to NegatiZE's tragic post for a refresher on what cars can do to people; if they don't outright kill you in the first place.

Safety is important. It's worth minor sacrifice, especially if the only logical argument against it is that it isn't "cool". *ALL* cars should be required to have DRL's (not just in Canada).

 

Borrowed from another thread:

Pull off the side panel of the drivers dash (between the dash and the door), it's just clips and pulls directly off. You'll access the wiring behind the fog light switch here. Look up under the dash, above where your left foot sits. There's four electronic boxes, the smallest (Black) one is the fogs relay. Feel it click as you turn the fogs on and off from the switch. Find the red wire going into the relay, and cut it. Connect a piece of wire to the red wire going into the relay, and run it up to the fog switch. Insulate the other end (no short circuits here). At the fog switch, tap that new wire into the light green/black wire, and you're done. Now the fogs come on with parking lights and headlights. They'll still shut off with high beams, though. I'm still working on that solution.

 

I second that arguement and I want to add DRL's to my rear section now too. I believe that should be a requirement no matter where you are! Go ahead laugh but, if your in a major accident then a minor one within 6 months apart; I'll see if your still laughing. I was in a coma for 3 weeks and I am still trying to get my life back to the way it was one and half YEARS later. Safety should always be a concern to everyone. I hate the fact that the US doesn't have DRL's as a requirement and that neither Canada or the US has a requirment for the rears. Put them in. I don't know how but when I do, I'll post a 'how-to' up here. L8R.

 

Why not do the fog light mod, and drive with those on all the time? Similar concept as DRL, increasing noticability, and you've got rear lights as brandon suggested.

Plus it looks cooler IMO.

 

I remember reading in a previous thread on this topic that some of the wiring is actually different between DRL and non-DRL cars, so that retrofitting a US-spec car with the 'factory' DRL setup (low beams only at reduced intensity) would be more difficult than an alternative such as having the fog lights alone come on automatically with the ignition. Even if you do set them up to work with the parking lights you still need to turn them on every time you get in the car, which is probably not what you had in mind.

 

Yes, I was suggesting the fog mod as an easier, more attractive-looking alternative. But you're right, he'd still have to his parking lights on manually.

 

I didn't do that "fog light to DRL" mod.
I just worry I might mess things up.
However, I have my headlamps on all the time whenever I am driving.
Does that sounds stupid to do?
I mean having headlight on even in daytime instead of having some kind of DRL.

 

I drive with my lights on too, unless it's a really bright sunny day. I haven't done the mod to mine, but if I did, I'd run the parking/fogs all the time and save full headlights for darker situations.

It sounds simple enough to do.

 

Automatically turns your original low-beam headlights on/off with ignition!

 

That JC Whitney is a good link...thank you! I wonder if anyone has used this module from JC Whitney. They used to have a reputation for absolute crap...fuel atomizers that increased your fuel economy 150% and deer whistles and OOOHHHGGGAAA horns and crap like that. Has they reputation gotten any better in the last few years since their merger (takeover) of CarParts.com? I'm happy to spend the $25 if I thought that would be a permanent fix. I'm worried that with JC's reputation, it might not be a fix, and maybe worse (short due to it's poor quality or something). Anyone know anything about this part?

I think I'm getting somewhere!

Thanks again!
Kevin

 

For those of you that want pictures of the foglight rewire mod I have the pics. Email me at red-racer@budweiser.com asking for them and I'll send them to you. The pics go along with what nate0123 had posted.

 

FWIW, I did the foglight mod, and love it. Well worth the short time it takes to do. I have absolutely no experience with wiring or anything, and if I can do it, you can do it!