Interior/Exterior Driving lights worth it?
#27
I live in the Ottos area as well - drive past it on the backroads every day.
I have the Hella FF 1000 Driving lights on my MCS - I could not be happier. They are much larger than the factory ones, but put out a LOT of light. Enough light that when driving my wife's 05 MCSa it's almost as if the high beams are broken. She mentioned that they seemed weak....and her new Hella 500's are on the workbench for an install this weekend. Picked the 500 for her car as they are MUCH easier to install - no additional "bracket extension" has to be made. Pics of mine are in my gallery.
FWIW - I use my lights almost every time it is dark out - and I am in a much more populated area that Perkasie. Just the fact that we are adding them to the other MINI should give away how much we both like them.
Also, I can not speak to the factory lights (other than they are silly expensive...) but at this point in the game, I am a Hella-Only kind of guy. I have had too many PIAA relays smolder into a steaming pile to **** around with that crap anymore. Hellas are heavy duty...(well, can't talk about the optilux - i think they are PIAA/CATZ category....)
For the Install, I respect the electric thing. I love Ottos, but they are NOT cheap for anything. There is a shop very close to them in West Chester, Bimmer Works, that may do a aftermarket install for you. Owner was a top Ottos tech for years - knows his stuff as far as I can tell. I have the number at work if you would like it.
Also - if you are around the west chester area around 5:00 PM - i would be glad to show you my Hellas...
I have the Hella FF 1000 Driving lights on my MCS - I could not be happier. They are much larger than the factory ones, but put out a LOT of light. Enough light that when driving my wife's 05 MCSa it's almost as if the high beams are broken. She mentioned that they seemed weak....and her new Hella 500's are on the workbench for an install this weekend. Picked the 500 for her car as they are MUCH easier to install - no additional "bracket extension" has to be made. Pics of mine are in my gallery.
FWIW - I use my lights almost every time it is dark out - and I am in a much more populated area that Perkasie. Just the fact that we are adding them to the other MINI should give away how much we both like them.
Also, I can not speak to the factory lights (other than they are silly expensive...) but at this point in the game, I am a Hella-Only kind of guy. I have had too many PIAA relays smolder into a steaming pile to **** around with that crap anymore. Hellas are heavy duty...(well, can't talk about the optilux - i think they are PIAA/CATZ category....)
For the Install, I respect the electric thing. I love Ottos, but they are NOT cheap for anything. There is a shop very close to them in West Chester, Bimmer Works, that may do a aftermarket install for you. Owner was a top Ottos tech for years - knows his stuff as far as I can tell. I have the number at work if you would like it.
Also - if you are around the west chester area around 5:00 PM - i would be glad to show you my Hellas...
#28
Thanks for the heads up but I loathe electrical work. I'm willing to put in a battery and maybe swap an alternator on a car, but thats it. I hate splicing, running wires, blah blah blah. I know it can't be bad but electricity is not something I can just reach out and grab. Well, without getting jolted. I'll leave any wiring up to someone who is getting paid to do it.
-/flea
Matt's outstanding Howto.
My install results.
#29
#30
Driving lights
Like alot of people, I liked the LOOK of the lights but not the price. And, since I don't do alot of night driving, especially out of the city, I bought a pair without the wiring. I think I paid $50 on Ebay. They had the brackets so even an idiot like me could mount them.. They even came with OEM black covers that I'll probably use in the winter. What do you think?
#31
#32
It depends on your commute.
I have a commute through deer country, where I have the opportunity to use my driving lamps about half the ride home. They have proved to be very useful in spotting deer. I have avoided 3 deer collisions so far, which I attribute to being able to see them well before they were in danger of running in front of my car.
I have "half" of the ALTA kit, and love it. I cannot use the full 4 lights in New York state, because I have to have a front license plate. But the two outer spots nicely book-end my license plate, so I don't mind. Even with just two of the lamps, the light thrown is very helpful. Installation wasn't too hard, with a buddy and plenty of charged-up cordless drill batteries on hand.
I have the clear plastic snap-on lens covers that IPF makes, which click onto the glass lens of the lamp. That's double protection, and I don't have to worry about taking covers off every time I want to use the lamps. That is great! ALTA sells these covers on their web site now, and I highly recommend them as an accessory to these lamps.
I have a commute through deer country, where I have the opportunity to use my driving lamps about half the ride home. They have proved to be very useful in spotting deer. I have avoided 3 deer collisions so far, which I attribute to being able to see them well before they were in danger of running in front of my car.
I have "half" of the ALTA kit, and love it. I cannot use the full 4 lights in New York state, because I have to have a front license plate. But the two outer spots nicely book-end my license plate, so I don't mind. Even with just two of the lamps, the light thrown is very helpful. Installation wasn't too hard, with a buddy and plenty of charged-up cordless drill batteries on hand.
I have the clear plastic snap-on lens covers that IPF makes, which click onto the glass lens of the lamp. That's double protection, and I don't have to worry about taking covers off every time I want to use the lamps. That is great! ALTA sells these covers on their web site now, and I highly recommend them as an accessory to these lamps.
#33
The factory driving lights DO come on with the high beams, and shut back off when you go to the low beams. The driving lights and the high beams are on at the same time. That all assumes that you have pressed the arming button. The button defaults to "off" when you start the car. Having the driving lights on but not the high beams would be pointless, at least from a functionality standpoint.
While some aftermarket driving lights are probably superior, the factory lights DO make an obvious difference. It's easy to tell, just by turning on the high beams and then arming and disarming the driving lights.
I spend much of the winter months driving back and forth to work on rural highways with litle traffic, and the driving lights and xenons were worth it for me. I'd do it again.
Scott
90SM
While some aftermarket driving lights are probably superior, the factory lights DO make an obvious difference. It's easy to tell, just by turning on the high beams and then arming and disarming the driving lights.
I spend much of the winter months driving back and forth to work on rural highways with litle traffic, and the driving lights and xenons were worth it for me. I'd do it again.
Scott
90SM
#34
The 'arming button' is to the left of the steering wheel, either in the knee bolster or (if you have it) the cutout on the left of the euro parcel shelf.
With the ignition on, you can 'arm' them by pressing the button. The button has a small green light that will illuminate. When armed, the driving lights will come on with your high beams.
With the ignition on, you can 'arm' them by pressing the button. The button has a small green light that will illuminate. When armed, the driving lights will come on with your high beams.
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