Hello there, was looking at fitting Daytime running lights to my 2006 Croma, was wondering if anyone else had done this, I have the round fog lights on mine so was thinking the DRL's would go above/below these. Anyway any ideas or if you have fitted these please let me know, or upload photo's Thanks.
Styling DRL (Daytime running lights
- Thread starter U2ME
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Styling DRL (Daytime running lights
A set of Ring BRL0397's should fit easily if you can find a location and wiring is a 5 min job 
I've never found fog lights to be useful, so have fitted round DRLs in place of the foglights on my 06 Panda. These are Ring BRL0402. Very few people will realise they are not original.
They are about 75mm diameter, so fit with a tiny gap around them in the Panda fogholes. The Panda mountings in the bumper have a flat surface below the lamp. I cut a piece of 12mm thick plywood to fit onto this and the DRLs mounted onto this.
These cost about £70, but an be found a bit cheaper if you search the web. I think I got mine from Amazon. Beware non E marked lamps.
They are about 75mm diameter, so fit with a tiny gap around them in the Panda fogholes. The Panda mountings in the bumper have a flat surface below the lamp. I cut a piece of 12mm thick plywood to fit onto this and the DRLs mounted onto this.
These cost about £70, but an be found a bit cheaper if you search the web. I think I got mine from Amazon. Beware non E marked lamps.
Got any pics of the setup of out interest portland_bill
Good to hear of someone else using proper DRLs and not crappy none 'E' marked styling lights
Good to hear of someone else using proper DRLs and not crappy none 'E' marked styling lights
Got a rock through one foglight. Never found foglights much use, but didn't wish to run around with a broken one.
As I was planning and fitting them, I intended to take pics and write it up to load on here. Then time pressed and weather deteriorated so I just fitted them. I do feel guilty, so may one day remove one to write the guide as I should have done.
The wiring is fairly simple, one earth, one permanent live direct from battery and a signal from the sidelight. They appear to have some electronics inside that measures battery voltage, so they know when the engine is running. Then when sidelights are illuminated, they dim. I wanted to be able to have them on with side and tail lights, so attached the signal wire to the dipped beam. As the Panda has a single bulb, they dim on dipped beam and go bright again on main beam, Quite comical, but should not be an issue.
Some pics attached. Camera on phone, attached to rubbish photographer!
Gap around lamp sealed with clear building sealant, keeps the muck out from inside the bumper.
As I was planning and fitting them, I intended to take pics and write it up to load on here. Then time pressed and weather deteriorated so I just fitted them. I do feel guilty, so may one day remove one to write the guide as I should have done.
The wiring is fairly simple, one earth, one permanent live direct from battery and a signal from the sidelight. They appear to have some electronics inside that measures battery voltage, so they know when the engine is running. Then when sidelights are illuminated, they dim. I wanted to be able to have them on with side and tail lights, so attached the signal wire to the dipped beam. As the Panda has a single bulb, they dim on dipped beam and go bright again on main beam, Quite comical, but should not be an issue.
Some pics attached. Camera on phone, attached to rubbish photographer!
Gap around lamp sealed with clear building sealant, keeps the muck out from inside the bumper.
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Yes the BRL0397's on dads Eleganza do the whole on off thing when main beam is turned on and off etc
Adds a tad little more lighting Sighly lower down. I have to admit I'm impressed with those. Look really well done
Thanks Brian. They are fully automatic (and 'E' approved MEP)
They came with a relay that turns them on with the ignition and switches them off when the side lights are turned on. I've been running them for about a year now and I am very happy with them. I have also replaced my fog lights with LED ones when one of mine cracked and started to go rusty.
Thanks, sounds like quite a good solution. Like everyone else I've found the fogs (for the short while that I've had them connected) to be not much use so I might try doing something with them. Sounds like we might be heading towards a "pimp my Croma" thread
I've been interested in what could be done re lights since my Mum bought a Mazda Bongo which has pretty poor headlamps and after fitting auxillary driving lights to it it's much better now on full beam. Doesn't help the Bongo's dipped beam though. Can DRL's be used to supplement dipped beams or do they have to extinguish?
To comply with the current law, the lights must be E marked and comply to ECE 87. They must be mounted within specific tolerances and must switch off or dim when the normal lights are turned on.
As long as they are used and mounted correctly, you can get away with non 'E' marked items, but from my experience, they don't emit enough light to be effective in daylight.
As long as they are used and mounted correctly, you can get away with non 'E' marked items, but from my experience, they don't emit enough light to be effective in daylight.
Have you tried Osram Nightbeaker Plus bulbs? They are about the best standard fitment bulb you can buy.
The other option to try (ready for the outcry) is an HID conversion. If you go for a 35w 6000k kit and have the alignment set up properly, the Bongo should be ok because it has a relatively small reflector, so they shouldn't dazzle oncoming cars. A kit is about £20 on eBay.
Size of the reflector has little to do with it.
Also need to consider the legal and insurance implications.
Best to stick to the nightbreakers etc
Lighting legislation is complex in some areas, but little detail is known by police officers or even MOT testers. This means owners can and do get away with misdemeanours, but if you really attract attention someone will do their homework. All exterior lighting used in Europe must be E marked.
HID legislation requires automatic beam adjustment, which aftermarket systems won't have, so should not be E marked, so therefore not legal. However, the Bongos original headlamps may not be E marked if the vehicle was never intended for sale anywhere in Europe, but will meet the Japanese home market regulations. It is already in a grey area for use in the UK, but it may be ok as a single import. Attracting attention with HIDs may open a can of worms.
Some manufacturers, Cibie especially, used to make aftermarket dipped beam lamps, but legislation only allows more than one pair if the vehicle is first registered prior to sometime around 1970-72 IIRC. Foglamps give a flat (dipped) beam and can be used instead of headlamps, as long as they are fitted within headlamp dimensions, but again, a misinformed copper will cause a lot of headaches. If you can find a pair of dipped beam lamps, (or dip/main) and mount them in front of the existing headlamp, disconnecting the original headlamp, that would comply with the law and give good light. It will probably look really naff.
Replacing the headlamps is difficult because of the integrated indicators. A long time ago, I actually fitted a 7" round headlamp inside a classic Panda headlamp, but never got around to making a pair and fitting them. This is an option, but requires a lot of work dismantling the existing headlamp and making mounting plates to fit where the current reflector is.
You've already got the main beam lamps. You could source a pair of similar foglamps and mount them outside the main beams. Around town, use the original headlamps only, then out of town, use the fogs as well.
Unless anyone else has any "bright" ideas. (sorry)
HID legislation requires automatic beam adjustment, which aftermarket systems won't have, so should not be E marked, so therefore not legal. However, the Bongos original headlamps may not be E marked if the vehicle was never intended for sale anywhere in Europe, but will meet the Japanese home market regulations. It is already in a grey area for use in the UK, but it may be ok as a single import. Attracting attention with HIDs may open a can of worms.
Some manufacturers, Cibie especially, used to make aftermarket dipped beam lamps, but legislation only allows more than one pair if the vehicle is first registered prior to sometime around 1970-72 IIRC. Foglamps give a flat (dipped) beam and can be used instead of headlamps, as long as they are fitted within headlamp dimensions, but again, a misinformed copper will cause a lot of headaches. If you can find a pair of dipped beam lamps, (or dip/main) and mount them in front of the existing headlamp, disconnecting the original headlamp, that would comply with the law and give good light. It will probably look really naff.
Replacing the headlamps is difficult because of the integrated indicators. A long time ago, I actually fitted a 7" round headlamp inside a classic Panda headlamp, but never got around to making a pair and fitting them. This is an option, but requires a lot of work dismantling the existing headlamp and making mounting plates to fit where the current reflector is.
You've already got the main beam lamps. You could source a pair of similar foglamps and mount them outside the main beams. Around town, use the original headlamps only, then out of town, use the fogs as well.
Unless anyone else has any "bright" ideas. (sorry)
Wow - great ideas and advice all round again. Thanks!
I have wondered about the nightbreakers or some of the other high spec bulbs that eurocarparts have on sale fairly frequently.
Trying a set might be the easiest option, esp. If I can get them for c. £15 or thereabouts. I was always sceptical about whether higher spec bulbs actually made a difference but if they do they've got to be worth a go.
The headlights were really rubbish to begin with but one tip I got on a Bongo forum was to rub them down with T Cut as Japanese drivers often put a coating on their headlights to reduce dazzle for other drivers (!) It improved them a lot but it would be good if they were better.
I have wondered about the nightbreakers or some of the other high spec bulbs that eurocarparts have on sale fairly frequently.
Trying a set might be the easiest option, esp. If I can get them for c. £15 or thereabouts. I was always sceptical about whether higher spec bulbs actually made a difference but if they do they've got to be worth a go.
The headlights were really rubbish to begin with but one tip I got on a Bongo forum was to rub them down with T Cut as Japanese drivers often put a coating on their headlights to reduce dazzle for other drivers (!) It improved them a lot but it would be good if they were better.
Brighter bulbs will give a better whiter light, but can have a shorter life. If the reflector and lens together do not put the light in the right place, brighter bulbs will not fix this as they'll just put more light in the wasted areas, as well as some more in the useful places. You may just annoy oncoming traffic and then they may be likely to flash more often, blinding the Bongo driver. Overall you may see less. (Memories of a classic Panda)
Beam pattern is fine in mine :nerner:
