Design Rationale for DRL Behavior
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,485
Likes: 3,996
From: Maryland
Originally Posted by mmarshall
My new Lacrosse will probably be like that. Unlike my past cars, it has HID/Xenon full-headlights and a vertical LED light-bar.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,332
Likes: 236
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Good question.
It's possible it had HIDs (some of the older IS forums suggest that)....but I don't specifically remember them on my 2001 IS300, given that it was essentially a superficially-redone Toyota Altezza, and, in several ways, not a true Lexus in the usual sense of the word. I bought it mainly because, at the time, I liked the smooth I-6 engine, chronograph-style gauges, genuine metal chrome-ball shifter, bright-yellow paint job, and sound-insulation (And I was probably twice the age of most of the people buying that car LOL) 
Speaking of lights, that was the only true repair I had on it in five years of ownership...a fog light replaced under warranty, which was interesting, given that I rarely use fog lights.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,485
Likes: 3,996
From: Maryland
Yeah I don't think I've ever seen an IS300 without HIDs...
In any event, huge improvement. I will never buy another car with halogens again. I did once after being used to HIDs, the 2011 Jeep, and I was very happy to have the HIDs back when we got the 2014.
In any event, huge improvement. I will never buy another car with halogens again. I did once after being used to HIDs, the 2011 Jeep, and I was very happy to have the HIDs back when we got the 2014.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,332
Likes: 236
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
The funny thing about halogens is that, at one time, I thought they themselves were a big improvement over the earlier round or rectangle-shaped sealed-beam headlights. If my memory is correct, my (new) 1984 Mazda GLC was the first car I had with halogens, and, at the time, I was well-pleased with their night performance....they had a nice, more powerful white beam instead of the old, weak, yellowish beam of the 60s/70s sealed-beam stuff. In those days, though, the halogen bulbs simply didn't last, perhaps because of the stress on the bulbs....I replaced them on my GLC several times in the 100,000 miles I owned the car, though it was simple enough (even having to take the grille-cover off to access the mounting-screws) that I could easily do the work myself. And the GE/Sylvania halogen bulbs/light-assemblies were relatively cheap....$9.95, at the time, at Trak Auto. Later, of course, the manufacturers changed the design, for aerodynamic reasons, to the flush-surface covers and the twist-off/on bulbs that were accessed from under the hood, and you had to wear hand/eye protection because the bulbs could burst if you squeezed them too hard.
Last edited by mmarshall; Jul 16, 2017 at 07:27 PM.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,383
Likes: 357
From: ON/NY
New lighting technology comes and long as the times roll on. LED is by far the greatest improvement I have ever witnessed. But Xenon lamps were pretty good as well.
I do wonder what is next. I think some sort of laser projection technology will pehraps supplant LED
As of now, I probably would never buy another car without LEDs.
I do wonder what is next. I think some sort of laser projection technology will pehraps supplant LED
As of now, I probably would never buy another car without LEDs.
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CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,524
Likes: 216
From: San Francisco, CA
New lighting technology comes and long as the times roll on. LED is by far the greatest improvement I have ever witnessed. But Xenon lamps were pretty good as well.
I do wonder what is next. I think some sort of laser projection technology will pehraps supplant LED
As of now, I probably would never buy another car without LEDs.
I do wonder what is next. I think some sort of laser projection technology will pehraps supplant LED
As of now, I probably would never buy another car without LEDs.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,574
Likes: 390
From: PA
be interesting to know when the reg took effect, because as mentioned, my BMW does the opposite from the factory. Upon signaling or turning, it actually gets even brighter with the corner lamp turning on, and the corner lamp is the inside lamp on the grille. This is the complete opposite of a DRL turning off when signals go on.
all headlight and tailight designs have to be DOT certified, maybe some turn signals are closer to DRL than others and dont require the DRL turning off. We cant even have sequential turn signals here because it requires even the individual the turn signal elements (not the whole turn signal design) to be 2200 square millimeters.
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,944
Likes: 182
From: Los Angeles, CA
Unfortunately the refresh rate caused my iPhone to not do a good job, but here it is anyways.
https://youtu.be/ocd6tGcpzSw
https://youtu.be/ocd6tGcpzSw
Racer
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,387
Likes: 349
From: ON
In Canada DRL are standard. I see Dodge vehicles have the light out when the turn signal is going. Try this on a dark country road making a left/right turn and the left/right light goes out. Stupid! Turn blind into a corner at night, great idea.
Don't get me going about DRL in Canada. Now there are so many people driving at night with their lights out, cause the dash is lit up....my lights must be on! No the rear is still not on. There has been some proposed legislation here talking about removing the light switch altogether as there are so many people driving at night with their lights out. Car on, lights on.
Don't get me going about DRL in Canada. Now there are so many people driving at night with their lights out, cause the dash is lit up....my lights must be on! No the rear is still not on. There has been some proposed legislation here talking about removing the light switch altogether as there are so many people driving at night with their lights out. Car on, lights on.