Opinion on DRL in a bumper

My current bumper has been slightly reshaped by the last owner and its starting to niggle me everytime I walk past it, so I'm thinking I might get a new bumper!
As daylight running lights are proven to improve safety (and look cool), I'm thinking of getting a new bumper with built-in daylight running lights. So the question is who think which is the better option :-

1) Bumper with 2 rectangle LED day light running lights
2) Bumper with 2 circular LED day light running lights
3) Bumper with 2 circular LED day light running lights and 2 circular LED Spot lights

I do not currently have any spots, just the standard Landrover lights. Also any recommend manufactures or suppliers?

They dont look cool especially on an old Defender.

They only improve safety if you have more than 8 brain cells and actually remember to turn your headlights on when it gets dark as many do not...

Sidelights wired to an ignition based live would be my preferred option over fitting DRL's. Not as bright but would look a million times better in my opinion.

Always thought aftermarket DRL kits look cheap and tacky whatever they are fitted to.

Mark13 said:

As daylight running lights are proven to improve safety (and look cool)

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'Proven' by whom?
Re 'safety', I find them a distraction and totally unnecessary in the daylight hours, and some are so bright they are as good as headlamps.
As for 'cool' to each his own I guess, but I think they look naff on an old Defender.
My opinion only of course.

Safety wise, there is loads on the internet, a good start is SWOV
https://www.swov.nl/sites/default/files/publicaties/gearchiveerde-factsheet/uk/fs_drl_archived.pdf

On the subject of ‘coolness’, this is very subject to each person. The reason I thought of DRL is that I saw a 90 in a dark blue metallic in fleet services on the M3 about 2 weeks ago, on a personal plate so no real idea if age, but subtle modification really made it looked very smart. No big mods, it had panoramic glass and the only extra lights was a colour coded moulded light bar above the windscreen which you could hardly see and 2 or 4 round spots in the bumper (can not remember which), 2 of which were DRL which I only noticed when I saw it drive off. By the look and quality of the defender I doubt it has ever seen mud!

I must admit I have not actually seen any other Defenders with DRL on the road.

DRL started in Sweden where it is dark a lot of the time and so every Volvo made had lights on, Many think this makes it safer but in fact Sweden has more road accidents per capita than us, or at least hey did. Some years ago there was a push to get motorcyclists to ride with their headlamp on during the day so that dozy car drivers could see them. However, a number of tests showed that it was more dangerous for bikes to have the headlight on during day time because drivers looking at them couldn't judge the bikes approach speed as well and when the bike rode over an uneven surface in the road, it looked like the rider was flashing a waiting driver to,pull out

Col

Ive seen a few cars with aftermarket drls and without excpetion they all looked pants
Best one was a reliant robin!

I have seen a few Defenders with DRL’s mainly the Bespoke/Urban Truck ones.
I don’t like the look of them on a Defender. In my opinion they just don’t seem in keeping with the rest of the vehicle even a blinged Up one.

Well since my Defender 'invisibility cloak' button is playing up I tend to drive on dipped headlights during daylight hours.

To be road legal a DRL must have light function code RL on the approval markings. The DRL must dim or switch off when headlights are on. Only allowed one DRL per side at front of vehicle.


Brendan

Sell your defender and buy a Freelander then you'll do everything possible not to be seen
Craddocks and similar do a range of front bumpers with drl's already fitted.

4) Just a new plain bumper.
I would go for 4.

+1 for the plain - but I'd choose a galvanised one. I find led bulbs in the sidelights are much brighter if you want to be more visible in traffic - they also draw very little current.

leeds said:

Well since my Defender 'invisibility cloak' button is playing up I tend to drive on dipped headlights during daylight hours.

To be road legal a DRL must have light function code RL on the approval markings. The DRL must dim or switch off when headlights are on. Only allowed one DRL per side at front of vehicle.


Brendan

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how does the one per side DRL work with the porsche SUV i see that have a small DRL in each corner of the hedlight, making it 4 per side.....

One cluster per side

zeaphod said:

+1 for the plain - but I'd choose a galvanised one. I find led bulbs in the sidelights are much brighter if you want to be more visible in traffic - they also draw very little current.

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I think this is where people are going to be caught out come the new mot regs
I run led sidelights and they do look smart yet subtle, but as the lamp is not designed for them come mot time its back to std bulbs!

I really doubt the MoT guys will be interested enough to spot the difference between my sides with LED bulds and my Wipac LED indicator and brake light units.

flat said:

how does the one per side DRL work with the porsche SUV i see that have a small DRL in each corner of the hedlight, making it 4 per side.....

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It is one DRL unit per side. Does not mean number of light sources. Some DRL are now guided light technology which has multiple light sources at the lens but a single DRL unit.



As for new MOT Draft regulations there is one line missing from the Draft Regulations and that is checking markings on things like headlights etc.


Brendan