Off Topic Folow me home feature

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Off Topic Folow me home feature

My understanding of the DRL legislation was that they were to be fitted to all new designs from a certain date, and then to everything from a later date. Cars with them fitted early often had the ability to turn them off in a menu somewhere, after the later date, no way to turn off.

Yes and the 500 falls into this scenario, the later date being the face lift.

However, I'm now thinking that this may be EU rules, but not yet fully adopted in the UK. Base model Focus now does not have them. I think the base model Fiesta has also deleted them.
Looking at the Fiat website at new Tipo, seems to list them only on the upper models, so there seems to be a loophole at the moment, allowing manufacturers to save a few pennies.
Shame the legislation didn't include the rear lamps.

Afraid not, it's front fog lights that are missing on the base models, not DRL's. Ditto with the Fords. The only loophole just now is that the MOT test doesn't seem to require DRL's to work even though they are mandated for cars of a certain age.
 
But hey now all cars can be festooned with front leds perfect for use in fog..
ALL cars?

Maybe new cars with new legislation, but existing cars cannot/must not.

.............. or have I missed something?

LED DRLs and lighting in general are a reliable thing to fit, but as far as I'm aware, they are illegal for existing cars.

Cheers,
Mick.
 
ALL cars?

Maybe new cars with new legislation, but existing cars cannot/must not.

.............. or have I missed something?

LED DRLs and lighting in general are a reliable thing to fit, but as far as I'm aware, they are illegal for existing cars.

Cheers,
Mick.

Technically yes but construction and use regs are a mess and it appears judging by the state of some of the things you see on the roads that the police are too busy catching proper criminals and the mot man doesn't care particularly either.

Also there are cars out there that come factory fitted with led but are available without so er surely it's er type approved both ways in those cases...although then yes you may not be using e marked bulbs etc.
 
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I agree with what you say, but I think it's not as simple as that.
Not sure at all.

I'd like to think you are correct, but maybe the law is the law, and any contravention leaves you wide open.

If a car comes brand new in a certain formulation, you cannot backdate this formulation for earlier models, even if the cars are identical in all other respects.

I'm open to advice here,
Mick.
 
Afraid not, it's front fog lights that are missing on the base models, not DRL's. Ditto with the Fords. The only loophole just now is that the MOT test doesn't seem to require DRL's to work even though they are mandated for cars of a certain age.

I have driven several new Focus recently, all without DRLs. These are late 2016 models. So presumably Ford have found a loophole in the legislation, never one to miss an opportunity to save a few pence. Their website listings don't mention DRLs until midway up the range.

ALL cars?

Maybe new cars with new legislation, but existing cars cannot/must not.

.............. or have I missed something?

LED DRLs and lighting in general are a reliable thing to fit, but as far as I'm aware, they are illegal for existing cars.

Cheers,
Mick.

There are quite a few aftermarket DRLs available. Ring market several styles, all 'E' marked and the fitting instructions describe how/where to fit to comply with the legislation. I've had some on the Panda for about 3 years now. A broken foglamp triggered it, never used front fogs, didn't want a broken one, so for similar money have DRLs that look as if they belong. Tiny, but my avatar is with them fitted.
 
I have driven several new Focus recently, all without DRLs. These are late 2016 models. So presumably Ford have found a loophole in the legislation, never one to miss an opportunity to save a few pence. Their website listings don't mention DRLs until midway up the range.

Ford's website is a bit in flux just now. Their brochure shows models that don't exist in the configurator which is what I used for my answer. Anyway, you are correct that the now defunct "studio" trim level didn't have DRL's as standard. Having read through one of the Ford forums, it's a similar scenario to the 500 in that the current Focus was type approved in 2010, before the EU mandate so was exempt.

FWIW, there is no menu option to turn the DRL's off in my 2016 face-lift 500. Similarly, my f20 BMW 1 Series (2011+ model) has the menu option greyed out.
 
On my 66 plate 500 lounge there is an option in the Uconnect radio to turn off the DRL,s
 
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