MINI2

1703 · Jun 5th, 2004, 09:42 PM

Hi all,

I just have the driving lights installed today and they can only turned on with the high beam. Is that the correct setup? Can I have it reset to turn on at any time?

Thanks in adance.

1703

ALD0 · Jun 5th, 2004, 09:58 PM

Yes that is how it should be-I would not reckomend having it re wired on a Independant switch.

They are great as they are now!!

andyupnorth · Jun 5th, 2004, 10:36 PM

That's the correct set-up. It's illegal in the UK to have driving lights on with dipped beams.

wardmj1 · Jun 7th, 2004, 10:24 AM

??? Is this the case? My driving lights are independatly switched on and work with any beam on.
Am I driving illegally? My car came like this!

MukiMunki · Jun 7th, 2004, 10:26 AM

I reckon it's supposed to be main-beam only. Wardmj1 - are yours MINI or aftermarket?

ALD0 · Jun 7th, 2004, 10:27 AM

Only if you drive abot with them on all the time.

xplode · Jun 7th, 2004, 11:10 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by interceptor

Only if you drive abot with them on all the time.

i don't know that this is actually true? if it's illegal to drive with driving lights on with dipped beams, it's likely illegal to have them wired to even work that way?

Tom D · Jun 7th, 2004, 11:58 PM

As I understand this, the driving lights are the halogen bulbs at half voltage. The xenons are not used for driving lights. The driving lights are on at all times while the engine is running, unless the emergency brake is on. Unless it is different in the UK, that is how they work on this side of the pond. Perhaps Paul can verify.

astra · Jun 8th, 2004, 06:25 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Tom D

As I understand this, the driving lights are the halogen bulbs at half voltage. The xenons are not used for driving lights. The driving lights are on at all times while the engine is running, unless the emergency brake is on. Unless it is different in the UK, that is how they work on this side of the pond. Perhaps Paul can verify.

I think you are confusing the Daytime Running Lights for the driving lights..

I know that in the US.. the usual gag is that "driving" or auxillary lights can only be used in conjunction with "high" beams..

and "fog" lights should only be on when the dipped beam is on..

most of my past vehicles have been wired this way from the factory.. of course having the fogs and the low beams on sometimes is really useless in heavy fog.. you really want the fogs to cut under..

the other consideration is number of lights and the legality there.. in Ca, you can only have 4 headlights illuminated at any one time.. so in theory ,, it is ileagle to have the main beam, fog and driving lights on at the same time..

ALD0 · Jun 8th, 2004, 08:09 AM

How confusing is this now!!

Your Spot lamps should only be on if you have you High beam on-You shouldn't drive around with them all the time-otherwise you blind everyone. You can turn them on all the time if you have a independant switch which I wouldn't reckomend!

Your Fog lights can come on even if you just have your sidelights on but should only be used for when it's foggy!!!

MiniAdventurer · Jun 8th, 2004, 08:52 AM

i have driving lights that only come on on high beam- i think you'd blind everyone if you drove about with them on while on dipped beam!

JpMcC · Jun 8th, 2004, 10:54 AM

is it possible to have the spot lamps on a different switch, for instance where the ASC switch is suppose to be, I dont have this feature but would like to be able to add an extra switch that could be used for the spot lamps!!!

any help appriciated, jp

Wobert · Jun 8th, 2004, 11:47 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by interceptor

How confusing is this now!!

Your Spot lamps should only be on if you have you High beam on-You shouldn't drive around with them all the time-otherwise you blind everyone. You can turn them on all the time if you have a independant switch which I wouldn't reckomend!

Your Fog lights can come on even if you just have your sidelights on but should only be used for when it's foggy!!!

Interceptor is quite correct......the spotlights do not have beam deflectors, to guide the light beam towards the nearside of the road. As such, they should be treated as additonal MAIN BEAM lights, and should therefore only be lit when main beam is on.

You can wire them differently, but you should legally only use them as above.

To do otherwise could leave to open to being pulled by the boys in blue.

Robert

mad brummie · Jun 8th, 2004, 04:15 PM

i wouldn't want mine wired any other way than on main beam, they are too damn bright to be used safely for anything else.

MukiMunki · Jun 8th, 2004, 04:33 PM

If they were wired separately how would you dip them in a hurry if there was oncoming traffic?

Johnny225 · Jun 8th, 2004, 04:52 PM

I'm actually glad they can only be turned on with the high beams, as they are extremely bright. The only time I use them is on an open country road at night with no one else near me. The main thing is that they look great.

Jun 5th, 2004, 09:42 PM	#1
1703 MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Jan 2004 Local Time: 06:07 AM Posts: 14 Offline	Driving light on only with high beam... Hi all, I just have the driving lights installed today and they can only turned on with the high beam. Is that the correct setup? Can I have it reset to turn on at any time? Thanks in adance. 1703

Jun 5th, 2004, 10:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
andyupnorth MINI2 Master Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Newcastle Local Time: 07:07 AM Posts: 781 Offline	That's the correct set-up. It's illegal in the UK to have driving lights on with dipped beams. "Do try to keep up Nigel!"

Jun 7th, 2004, 10:26 AM	#5 (permalink)
MukiMunki MINI2 Regular Join Date: May 2004 Local Time: 07:07 AM Posts: 337 Offline	I reckon it's supposed to be main-beam only. Wardmj1 - are yours MINI or aftermarket? 54 Plate All Black Cooper S with Chilli, BoostCD, MFSW, Heated bits. http://www.evoposters.net/carsb/album43

Jun 7th, 2004, 11:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
xplode minimalist Join Date: May 2002 Location: here Local Time: 02:07 AM Posts: 586 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by interceptor Only if you drive abot with them on all the time. i don't know that this is actually true? if it's illegal to drive with driving lights on with dipped beams, it's likely illegal to have them wired to even work that way? cooper s '05 x brg/white/chrome, cordoba/anthracite/chrome, flik wasp 17x7 x delivered july 26th 2005 cooper '02 replaced x brg/white, R83 white, chrome, cordoba x built june 21st, arrived july 15th on the traviata, delivered july 26th 2002

Jun 7th, 2004, 11:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tom D MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Derby, Kansas, USA Local Time: 01:07 AM Posts: 339 Offline	As I understand this, the driving lights are the halogen bulbs at half voltage. The xenons are not used for driving lights. The driving lights are on at all times while the engine is running, unless the emergency brake is on. Unless it is different in the UK, that is how they work on this side of the pond. Perhaps Paul can verify. Tom 02 EB/B MCS

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Jun 5th, 2004, 09:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
ALD0 MINI2 Master My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chester Local Time: 07:07 AM Posts: 9,421 Offline	Yes that is how it should be-I would not reckomend having it re wired on a Independant switch. They are great as they are now!!

Jun 7th, 2004, 10:24 AM	#4 (permalink)
wardmj1 The car in front...a Mini Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: London Local Time: 07:07 AM Posts: 43 Offline	??? Is this the case? My driving lights are independatly switched on and work with any beam on. Am I driving illegally? My car came like this!

Jun 7th, 2004, 10:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
ALD0 MINI2 Master My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chester Local Time: 07:07 AM Posts: 9,421 Offline	Only if you drive abot with them on all the time.

Jun 8th, 2004, 06:25 AM	#9 (permalink)
astra SCMM.org member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles Local Time: 10:07 PM Posts: 66 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Tom D As I understand this, the driving lights are the halogen bulbs at half voltage. The xenons are not used for driving lights. The driving lights are on at all times while the engine is running, unless the emergency brake is on. Unless it is different in the UK, that is how they work on this side of the pond. Perhaps Paul can verify. I think you are confusing the Daytime Running Lights for the driving lights.. I know that in the US.. the usual gag is that "driving" or auxillary lights can only be used in conjunction with "high" beams.. and "fog" lights should only be on when the dipped beam is on.. most of my past vehicles have been wired this way from the factory.. of course having the fogs and the low beams on sometimes is really useless in heavy fog.. you really want the fogs to cut under.. the other consideration is number of lights and the legality there.. in Ca, you can only have 4 headlights illuminated at any one time.. so in theory ,, it is ileagle to have the main beam, fog and driving lights on at the same time.. 11/03 BRG/Wht MCS

Jun 8th, 2004, 08:09 AM	#10 (permalink)
ALD0 MINI2 Master My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chester Local Time: 07:07 AM Posts: 9,421 Offline	How confusing is this now!! Your Spot lamps should only be on if you have you High beam on-You shouldn't drive around with them all the time-otherwise you blind everyone. You can turn them on all the time if you have a independant switch which I wouldn't reckomend! Your Fog lights can come on even if you just have your sidelights on but should only be used for when it's foggy!!!

Jun 8th, 2004, 08:52 AM	#11 (permalink)
MiniAdventurer mysterious girl Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: In the library... Local Time: 07:07 AM Posts: 7,940 Offline	i have driving lights that only come on on high beam- i think you'd blind everyone if you drove about with them on while on dipped beam!

Jun 8th, 2004, 10:54 AM	#12 (permalink)
JpMcC JP :-) My Classifieds Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Northern Ireland Local Time: 07:07 AM Posts: 1,754 Offline	is it possible to have the spot lamps on a different switch, for instance where the ASC switch is suppose to be, I dont have this feature but would like to be able to add an extra switch that could be used for the spot lamps!!! any help appriciated, jp The R56 lives another day.. time for the modifications to begin

Jun 8th, 2004, 11:47 AM	#13 (permalink)
Wobert Mr 120d Sport Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Chester, UK Local Time: 07:07 AM Posts: 4,645 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by interceptor How confusing is this now!! Your Spot lamps should only be on if you have you High beam on-You shouldn't drive around with them all the time-otherwise you blind everyone. You can turn them on all the time if you have a independant switch which I wouldn't reckomend! Your Fog lights can come on even if you just have your sidelights on but should only be used for when it's foggy!!! Interceptor is quite correct......the spotlights do not have beam deflectors, to guide the light beam towards the nearside of the road. As such, they should be treated as additonal MAIN BEAM lights, and should therefore only be lit when main beam is on. You can wire them differently, but you should legally only use them as above. To do otherwise could leave to open to being pulled by the boys in blue. Robert

Jun 8th, 2004, 04:15 PM	#14 (permalink)
mad brummie I Just Can't Get Enough Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: end of the alphabet Local Time: 07:07 AM Posts: 48,315 Offline	i wouldn't want mine wired any other way than on main beam, they are too damn bright to be used safely for anything else.

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Jun 8th, 2004, 04:33 PM	#15 (permalink)
MukiMunki MINI2 Regular Join Date: May 2004 Local Time: 07:07 AM Posts: 337 Offline	If they were wired separately how would you dip them in a hurry if there was oncoming traffic? 54 Plate All Black Cooper S with Chilli, BoostCD, MFSW, Heated bits. http://www.evoposters.net/carsb/album43

Jun 8th, 2004, 04:52 PM	#16 (permalink)
Johnny225 Mr Buttons! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Local Time: 10:07 PM Posts: 845 Offline	I'm actually glad they can only be turned on with the high beams, as they are extremely bright. The only time I use them is on an open country road at night with no one else near me. The main thing is that they look great.

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