Expensive DRL fail

[snaarman]

Hi folks. Here is a tale of woe and a warning.
My N/Side DRL went very dim, and the MoT is due so I need to fix it.
I really don't want to buy a new headlight so I get a DRL module off eBay. I get the local garage to fit it (my years of crawling under cars are over) and ... it is still too dim. Why is that?

The DRL module works fine and seemed to fit ok. But the burned out LEDs got so hot that they burned the perspex light pipe that sends the light forward. So the clear perspex had gone brown, the DRL is dim and it might still be a MoT fail.

So it's a new headlight (£1200) to fix what used to be a £1.50 side light. I'm not impressed. I

will recover the old headlight and try to refurbish it because they seem to go for decent money on eBay.

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

It's sometimes possible to sand/polish the burnt end of the light tubing

 

[snaarman]

It's sometimes possible to sand/polish the burnt end of the light tubing

Yes, I'm hoping that will improve it.
Those tiny LEDs run hot if they are bright. I think they need a bit of air round them and if the plastic is too close then they overheat.
I wonder...if I buy an OBD eleven, could I set the DRLs to half brightness ?

 

[serdar_18fr]

I wonder...if I buy an OBD eleven, could I set the DRLs to half brightness ?

Reading in some forum posts, that looks possible, like this one: https://forum.obdeleven.com/thread/22364/drl-modify-intensity-auto-mode

But before buying any device, you might want to know whether your car has SFD2. VAG started to use that protection scheme around 2024, to prevent unauthorized changes. With SFD2, most of the control units are untouchable by any third-party diagnostics device.

 

[snaarman]

Thanks for that info. It's a 2021 so should be ok..