DRLs on when light switch is off ...

[TwinsPoppa]

Need a confirmation please from people who have DRLs enabled.

When you have your light switch in the OFF position (straight up), are your DRLs still on or do you have no lights at all?

I wired my Angel Eyes to a SPST switch so I can run them as my DRLs. However, a few things are happening that need to be resolved.

1) DRLs are on all the time (Prior, I could have sworn they did NOT come on when the light switch was in the off position).

2) When in the Auto mode (all the way left) does your green light switch illuminate all the time (even in daylight)? Or does it only illuminate when it's dark and the xenons kick in and the DRLs are off?

3)The dash now displays "Check Side Light". I'm guessing that this is because of the wiring called for in the Angel Eye DRL article on the home page. I think this message will go away if I use the OEM Pos/Neg wiring (instead of using my own as called for in the article) but place the SPST switch before the car's light switch:

a) I'm gonna tap the power/positive wire going from the car into the light switch and hook that up to the POWER(#1) connection on the SPST switch.

b) I'm gonna tap the positive wire (inside the angel eye housing) and hook that up to the LOAD(#2) connection on the SPST switch.

c) I'm gonna tap the ground wire (inside the angel eye housing) and hook that up to the GROUND(#3) connection on the SPST switch. I don't think this is necessary as I think any ground will work - but just in case.

Has anybody else followed the DIY article and ran into the problem of "Check Side Light"? I will mention that I have changed the Angel Eye buld to a LED bulb from ebay. I don't think this is causing the problem as I've had them on for awhile and did not have this problem until I started wiring the SPST switch. Also, obviously, I have not had the dealer turn off my DRLs. I wonder if the "Check Side Light" message would go away once the DRLS are turned off? I kinda doubt it though.

[mtX5]

I can answer one question for you Jose, DRLs are on all the time, even when the light switch is on the off position, (hence why they are daytime running lights).

As for the auto mode question, which green light are you talking about?

And for the Check side light, it might have to do with the wiring. I doubt turning off the DRLs at the dealer would make it go away, but if your planning on turning them off anyway, it would be worth a shot?

Best of luck!

[TwinsPoppa]

Mohammad .. my 04 has a green light to the left of the light switch. Maybe pre-facelift doesn't have this light?

Anyways, Thanks! Your confirmation makes me feel better that there's nothing wrong with my DRLs.

I'm confident I can resolve the "Check Side Light" with proper wiring. Just have to find the right wires. I think there's a lighting wiring diagram on the home page.

[mtX5]

Originally Posted by TwinsPoppa

Mohammad .. my 04 has a green light to the left of the light switch. Maybe pre-facelift doesn't have this light?

Anyways, Thanks! Your confirmation makes me feel better that there's nothing wrong with my DRLs.

I'm confident I can resolve the "Check Side Light" with proper wiring. Just have to find the right wires. I think there's a lighting wiring diagram on the home page.

Yeah the pre-facelift doesn't have it. what does the green light represent?

And good luck with the wiring! I hate wiring haha. my friend had an issue with wiring on a different car, not a bmw, and it was resolved by adding resistors. Look into that, resistors may be a solution.

Good luck, and post pictures of the brighter bulbs when you got them up and running!

[TwinsPoppa]

Originally Posted by mtX5

Yeah the pre-facelift doesn't have it. what does the green light represent?

That's what I'm trying to confirm. I think the green light only comes on when the parking and/or headlights are activated. If not then there's something wrong with my DRLs or Light switch.

And good luck with the wiring! I hate wiring haha. my friend had an issue with wiring on a different car, not a bmw, and it was resolved by adding resistors. Look into that, resistors may be a solution.

I don't think this is a resistor problem as I did not get this when I first installed the LED bulbs. The only thing that changed is the wiring (the DIY article instructs you to bypass the original wiring harness). So, I think if I tap and use the original harness the computer won't give me the "Check Side Light" message. I can't be the only one that has run into this issue when doing this mod. At least I hope I'm not ....

Good luck, and post pictures of the brighter bulbs when you got them up and running!

Oh yeah, the brighter LEDs from HK for the Angel eyes was a no go. There were actually 9 tiny separate LEDs in one housing and they were too spread out. The LEDs I have on now are made with one large LED so it can focus the light into the hole where the angel eyes are lit. So, looks like the Angel Ibrights are the way to go. I already ordered them and waiting to put them in.

[RichiRich]

Originally Posted by TwinsPoppa

Need a confirmation please from people who have DRLs enabled.

When you have your light switch in the OFF position (straight up), are your DRLs still on or do you have no lights at all?

I wired my Angel Eyes to a SPST switch so I can run them as my DRLs. However, a few things are happening that need to be resolved.

1) DRLs are on all the time (Prior, I could have sworn they did NOT come on when the light switch was in the off position).

2) When in the Auto mode (all the way left) does your green light switch illuminate all the time (even in daylight)? Or does it only illuminate when it's dark and the xenons kick in and the DRLs are off?

3)The dash now displays "Check Side Light". I'm guessing that this is because of the wiring called for in the Angel Eye DRL article on the home page. I think this message will go away if I use the OEM Pos/Neg wiring (instead of using my own as called for in the article) but place the SPST switch before the car's light switch:

a) I'm gonna tap the power/positive wire going from the car into the light switch and hook that up to the POWER(#1) connection on the SPST switch.

b) I'm gonna tap the positive wire (inside the angel eye housing) and hook that up to the LOAD(#2) connection on the SPST switch.

c) I'm gonna tap the ground wire (inside the angel eye housing) and hook that up to the GROUND(#3) connection on the SPST switch. I don't think this is necessary as I think any ground will work - but just in case.

Has anybody else followed the DIY article and ran into the problem of "Check Side Light"? I will mention that I have changed the Angel Eye buld to a LED bulb from ebay. I don't think this is causing the problem as I've had them on for awhile and did not have this problem until I started wiring the SPST switch. Also, obviously, I have not had the dealer turn off my DRLs. I wonder if the "Check Side Light" message would go away once the DRLS are turned off? I kinda doubt it though.

TP - ok...

DRL's are on all the time that is a big YES.....they are either programmed on or off...

When in auto mode..yes the green light is on.....I have a prefacelift with the green light...

The check side light in pinging because your side light is either out or reading the different resistance because of your mod.....so with that said....I know that your light is not out...you have a wiring issue.... easy fix..

If you have any specific questions shoot me a pm..

Rich

[TwinsPoppa]

Originally Posted by richirich

TP - ok...

DRL's are on all the time that is a big YES.....they are either programmed on or off...

When in auto mode..yes the green light is on.....I have a prefacelift with the green light...

The check side light in pinging because your side light is either out or reading the different resistance because of your mod.....so with that said....I know that your light is not out...you have a wiring issue.... easy fix..

If you have any specific questions shoot me a pm..

Rich

Thanks Rich ... after more thought I think the solution SHOULD be simple.

First, I'll connect everything back to original and confirm that I don't get the "check side light" message anymore (prior to this mod I didn't get it). If I do then ... I'll be confused even more!

Then I will still connect the new switch but tap both the ground and positive right before it actually connects to angel eye bulb (inside the headlight). Basically I'm adding the new switch parallel to the other - it SHOULD work with either my regular light switch or the new switch. The reason is because the new switch is powered by a 12V source separate from the regular light switch but I'm piggy-backing onto the original wiring so the computer SHOULD not have a fit.

If I still get that message then the only other thing left is the 12V power source. Maybe it needs a resistor but I'd rather not put one in. I'll just keep looking for another 12V source if that happens.

Too bad it's so cold out .. might still brave it though!

[mtX5]

haha hell ya its cold Jose. After that day we installed the fogs i dont think working outside on the X in this weather should be done ever again!! lol

But ya guys im curious to know what this green light is? am i missing something? whats it for? i dont have my e53..still in the shop so i haven't gotten a chance to look again. But hey, i got a 4.8 e70 loaner and DAAAmn is that thing fast. Ima get pulled over soon if they dont take it back haha.

[RichiRich]

Originally Posted by mtX5

haha hell ya its cold Jose. After that day we installed the fogs i dont think working outside on the X in this weather should be done ever again!! lol

But ya guys im curious to know what this green light is? am i missing something? whats it for? i dont have my e53..still in the shop so i haven't gotten a chance to look again. But hey, i got a 4.8 e70 loaner and DAAAmn is that thing fast. Ima get pulled over soon if they dont take it back haha.

Mohammad,

This is what I was talking about......your light switch all the way to the far left..........this lights up green ......when switched to auto....

Automatic headlamp control

*

When the switch is set to this
position the system automatically
activates or deactivates the
low beams in response to changes in
ambient light (in tunnels, at dusk, etc.)

as well as rain and snow.

I'm not sure if this is what jose was referring to!?

Rich

[TwinsPoppa]

Originally Posted by richirich

Mohammad,

This is what I was talking about......your light switch all the way to the far left..........this lights up green ......when switched to auto....

Automatic headlamp control

*

When the switch is set to this
position the system automatically
activates or deactivates the
low beams in response to changes in
ambient light (in tunnels, at dusk, etc.)

as well as rain and snow.

I'm not sure if this is what jose was referring to!?

Rich

Yup that's what I'm talking about.

However, as of right now with the SPST switch wired per the DIY, my green light does NOT come on when I put it on Auto (at least in the daytime). However, I can get the green light to come on if I turn on the fog lamps.

I'm not sure if the green light is supposed to be on right away just by putting it in Auto mode. Or if the green light only comes on when the Xenons kick in (like when it gets dark outside).

Sounds like it should be on all the time, regardless, based on Rich's response. Can someone else please verify this?