LED Uprgrade for DRL's

[Nickshu]

I don't like the look of the factory DRL's, I think they are too yellow next to the stock projectors.

Anyone install LED bulbs on these? I am talking about the lights below that illuminate when shifting out of park with the headlights off.

If so what brand/type/model did you install and how are the working???

[EXMLowner]

Nickshu, we have the same car color and model :-) yeah that was the first I change when I got my OB. I've used this and I think its an over kill but its looks nice.
10x T10 Car High Power 168 194 W5W White 28 SMD LED Wedge RV Light Bulb Lamp 12V | eBay

[smwwkayaker]

I like the looks of these. I read somewhere else though that the DRLs are the high beams, but on low power. Not sure if that's true or not - didn't dig into that thread further. The availability of these makes me assume that the DRLs are actually separate from the high beams. Can someone confirm which?

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by smwwkayaker

I like the looks of these. I read somewhere else though that the DRLs are the high beams, but on low power. Not sure if that's true or not - didn't dig into that thread further. The availability of these makes me assume that the DRLs are actually separate from the high beams. Can someone confirm which?

Not true in the US market. The DRL's are a small bulb that is inside the high beam housing. See the photo I posted above, there's a red arrow pointing to the DRL light bulbs. The highbeam bulb (H7) is clearly visible in the middle of the DRL housing, but is not used for the DRLs.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by EXMLowner

Nickshu, we have the same car color and model :-) yeah that was the first I change when I got my OB. I've used this and I think its an over kill but its looks nice.
10x T10 Car High Power 168 194 W5W White 28 SMD LED Wedge RV Light Bulb Lamp 12V | eBay

Very Cool! Are they obnoxiously bright? Not looking to make this look like a high beam, just want a whiter color temperature.

Thanks!

[rockthebeef]

The bulbs that the arrow points to are not the DRLs. They are simply there to provide some sort of light in case a headlight goes out (that's the most logical explanation I've read).

The 9005/HB3 high beams do double duty as DRLs. I measured the voltage and if I remember correctly they measure roughly 8V as DRLs and the full 12V (13.xx) in high beam mode.

I have LEDs in the small spot (168 type bulb).
5K WHITE 3 CHIP 5 LED LIGHT BULBS 194 168 158 2821 | 1 PAIR

I have tried some cheap 9005/HB3 LEDs before. They were the 120 LED kind from eBay. They had a nice color and were fairly bright for DRLs, but over a couple months, some of the little LEDs started to literally fall off! There was some discoloration too on their circuit board too that looks like it's from overheating. I would trust V-leds over the cheap stuff. For now, I'm back to the stock bulbs as DRLs.

If you switch to LEDs for the 9005/HB3 bulbs the high beams will basically suck at putting out any light. So you have to pick your poison - pretty DRLs or functional high beams.

I'm waiting for Triton V3 bulbs in the 9005/HB3 size. I think those would be killer. I have the V3s for my brake lights and they are bright! They are pricey too.
V3 TRITON RED MULTI-APPLICATION HIGH POWER LED BRAKE LIGHT SYSTEM 7440 7443 1156 1157 3156 3157 | 1 PAIR - V3 Triton

I have these as turn signals (amber up front and red in the rear). I got them when they used to be $80. Fortunatley they are $30 now as they have brighter ones available now:
AMBER PLATINUM 7W HIGH POWER 20 LED PARKING/TURN SIGNAL BULBS 7443 7440 | 1 PAIR


Other things to note:
I have changed my flasher relay (in the dashboard) to accomodate LED turn signals. This is much better than using resistors.

There is a product that v-leds sells that will up your DRL voltage to 12V in case you want the most from your LEDs (should you choose to go that route).

I'm not affiliated with V-leds in any way. They just have the best retrofit LEDs available that I know of. They rest of the places are a step down as far as I can see.

At this stage of the game as far as technology goes, you can't go cheap on LEDs and expect great results. You have to be somewhat of a guinea pig and pay high prices for the good stuff. They do get cheaper as time goes on though...

[EXMLowner]

Nickshu, rockthebeef is correct the one you pointed out is not a DRL's they are parking lights, and yes they are on when your headlights are on.

[Nickshu]

Huh, I could have sworn it was that little bulb, but still it looks yellow when lit up with the headlights so I'd like to swap for LEDs.

I guess HIDs would not work on the high beams with the low/high functions...would probably need a shutter to produce that.

[rockthebeef]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

Huh, I could have sworn it was that little bulb, but still it looks yellow when lit up with the headlights so I'd like to swap for LEDs.

I guess HIDs would not work on the high beams with the low/high functions...would probably need a shutter to produce that.

Yup, it's best to match those little bulbs with your headlights since they're on when the headlights are on. FWIW the 5K LEDs I use look accurate as far as color temperature is concerned. I have a DDM 4500K HID kit that is more blue than their ratings suggest. To remedy that I have a set of new 4300K bulbs sitting in the garage, but you know how much of a pain it is to install headlights in these cars... I have to wait for a good chunk of time to do the swap. Hopefully they match the LEDs better.

It is not recommended to use HIDs as DRLs for the reason you stated. I've also tried some of those blue tinted 9005/HB3 bulbs for DRLs/high beam. They made the DRLs a little whiter, but they're less bright overall since the blue tint filters out yellow light. Additionally the blue tint reflects inside the housing when they're off and I don't care for the aesthetics of that. It makes the front end look too "law enforcement vehicle". I've sort of given up for the time being. Back to stock DRLs...

[JCBERB]

I have these installed and they work well, not over powering at all, http://www.autolumination.com/images...smt2_6k_wm.jpg