Daytime Running Lights
Discussion
Following on from Araantonak's thread in the Ferrari Classics section, we now have to have daytime running lights (or headlights) on during the day. Exceptions are cars registered before 1970. Seems ridiculous to me- so many cars with lovely streamlined looks and pop up headlights (mmm! lovely) will potentially be adorned with chavvy, blinding LEDs. Doesn't seem to be too many "elegant" solutions for older cars; I also wonder if modified sidelights, foglights etc. would fall foul of the MFK.
Oh, and good luck to the Police handing out 40 CHF fines everywhere. Very easy to forget to switch your lights on in the daytime if you aren't driving a thoroughly modern car. t
ts.
Oh, and good luck to the Police handing out 40 CHF fines everywhere. Very easy to forget to switch your lights on in the daytime if you aren't driving a thoroughly modern car. t
ts.I suspect that towards the end of this month, motorway slip roads will become a shooting gallery as the police tradionally camp to catch those who have forgotton to put their 2014 Vignette (Autobahngebühren) on and they will find rich pickings this year even if most of us passing at commuter times will have our lights on by default (be they automatic or manual).
Whitean3 said:
I also wonder if modified sidelights, foglights etc. would fall foul of the MFK.
yes and no.. foglights wired as such would not fail the MFK, but are illegal as running lights. If your foglamps are on and visibility is more than 50m, you can get a fine (never seen this enforced however)Modified sidelights probably fail as they are not compliant with ECE-R 87.
Now I doubt that police will stop people to check lights in detail but be aware that your car insurance can refuse/reduce payout if non-conforming lights are found after an accident
summary: Switzerland sucks monkey balls (sometimes)
Worth remembering that there is no obligation to have DRL's fitted. The default solution is to run with dipped headlights on.
This is clearly not ideal for 308 drivers who would prefer to run with a clean nose and have an understandable aversion to making any cosmetic changes but I found this image of a 308 with fog/driving lights fitted behind the lower grille panel and it doesn't look too bad and may present a solution of sorts if DRLS could be fitted in that location (possibly even more professionally integrated into a suitably modified grille itself as opposed to simply behind it...
The MFK/Visite checks do appear to be a grey area though and I have found that they can be variable/random/bordeline illogical. For example front fogs are not mandatory but if you have them fitted, the tester may tell you that they are incorrectly adjusted and give you an advisory/fail. If your DRL kit was fitted behind a grille panel, they might issue similar feedback (but you could of course remove the kit before each test and they would have nothing to say about it).
The Police are most likely to stop cars that have no lights on as opposed to picking on those whose lights might be fitted in a somewhat unconventional fashion but I suppose it would be worth ensuring that they were fitted within the spirit of the regs. (i.e. min 25cm above the ground and min 60cm apart). However, there's always the risk that following a serious accident, someone could takes issue with any apparent non-compliance.
308 drivers might be able to rig up a semi-permanent solution that did not involve modifying anything on the car per se if a pair of DRLs could be mounted on a discrete bracket incorporated into the front licence plate holder?
P.S. Philips DRL4 kit https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.47176610...
This is clearly not ideal for 308 drivers who would prefer to run with a clean nose and have an understandable aversion to making any cosmetic changes but I found this image of a 308 with fog/driving lights fitted behind the lower grille panel and it doesn't look too bad and may present a solution of sorts if DRLS could be fitted in that location (possibly even more professionally integrated into a suitably modified grille itself as opposed to simply behind it...
The MFK/Visite checks do appear to be a grey area though and I have found that they can be variable/random/bordeline illogical. For example front fogs are not mandatory but if you have them fitted, the tester may tell you that they are incorrectly adjusted and give you an advisory/fail. If your DRL kit was fitted behind a grille panel, they might issue similar feedback (but you could of course remove the kit before each test and they would have nothing to say about it).
The Police are most likely to stop cars that have no lights on as opposed to picking on those whose lights might be fitted in a somewhat unconventional fashion but I suppose it would be worth ensuring that they were fitted within the spirit of the regs. (i.e. min 25cm above the ground and min 60cm apart). However, there's always the risk that following a serious accident, someone could takes issue with any apparent non-compliance.
308 drivers might be able to rig up a semi-permanent solution that did not involve modifying anything on the car per se if a pair of DRLs could be mounted on a discrete bracket incorporated into the front licence plate holder?
P.S. Philips DRL4 kit https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.47176610...
Edited by MogulBoy on Thursday 16th January 09:19
I think weäre all thinking along similar lines here! I have been thinking about this on my journeies to work in the morning, being blinded by the Frenchies with their ill fitting, retina burning DRLs.
^My favourite solution at this point in time would be to fit brighter bulbs to replace the side lights. I donät think you notice how bright or not they are in the daytime, I don't believe there is much legislation around sidelights either (I may be wrong). Come the MFK, I^d be replacing the sidelight bulbs to be sure.
One issue you have would be remembering to switch off your lights- no warning buzzers in the classics!
As MogulBoz sazs, zou would be far more likely to be fined for having no lights on, versus some visible light. How would they test the brightness accurately in the daytime?
^My favourite solution at this point in time would be to fit brighter bulbs to replace the side lights. I donät think you notice how bright or not they are in the daytime, I don't believe there is much legislation around sidelights either (I may be wrong). Come the MFK, I^d be replacing the sidelight bulbs to be sure.
One issue you have would be remembering to switch off your lights- no warning buzzers in the classics!
As MogulBoz sazs, zou would be far more likely to be fined for having no lights on, versus some visible light. How would they test the brightness accurately in the daytime?
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