I was thinking about changing the color of the daytime running lights or maybe putting a set of HID's in there but I wanted to know if anybody has done this and if so how does it look and what color are you using and if you got some pics that would be great.

 

I would do a search and to see if this has been addressed before. I think that people have switched bulbs to a different color, or done the opposite and installed a resistor or relay that killed the DRLs. The moderator says that you may have better luck searching with Google than the built in search function.

The DRLs are halogens, which have the capability of instant on for flash to pass and quick reaction while driving at night. But running in DRL mode, they get something like 50% reduced voltage so they will run very warm in color temperature (i.e. yellowish), and not be very bright, and more importantly not glare on coming traffic or the rearview mirrors of cars in front.

The issue with HIDs is that they are not instant on, but flicker and take a second or so to come up to full power. Not good for flash to pass, etc. The other issue is that unlike a filament, you cannot just turn down the voltage to get a reduced light output.

Instead, to achieve a high beam like characteristic, I believe you need a bi-xenon type set up, similar to the TL. This requires a shutter like mechanism that covers up the high beam reflector area until you demand a high beam with the high beam switch. The shutter moves out of the way, and you get a high beam pattern. The HID does not change in intensity. It is either on or off, and low and high beam patterns are controlled by the shutter movement.

Someone please chime in if I am wrong. This is all from memory.

 

I have changed mine to HID, and I had to use a relay harness to do that.
basically the relay harness doesnt activate at the 2V that the DRL runs at, but does at the 12V that you call for when you flash to pass or use HB.

 

thanks for the info chas2. And sotiri what color are you HID's and do they look official always on?....., got any pics?

 

mine are bright white, this way I dont throw off a flag when I run with the HB on at night that I have HID for HB.
They arent 'always on', the only go on with flash to pass, or at night with HB on.
One interesting thing, in the day time, when I flash to pass, they come on about 1/2 second later than the normal lights.
it kinds looks like a strobe effect from an unmarked car when you flash to pass.
I have noticed that people move over a little faster when I flash to pass with the HID than when I did when they were normal DRL bulbs.
I will try to post pics later on how they look and how they were put in.