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I actually think the DRLs on our Tacoma are more effective in daylight. They use the parking lights which are a bright orange. When I pass other ones on the road, they are surprisingly noticeable from a distance. I think the color just stands out better in daylight than the typical half on headlights. The ones on the Tacoma can be turned off but I typically leave them on. Our 3rd gen 4runner had full time DRL'd but are not at half brightness. They are full brightness and just do not turn on the parking and tail lights.
I just think they should be 100% optional. Turning on your headlights during the day has always been available. It could just be an additional setting before parking/running lights.
You can disable DRL's by pulling the fuse or relay on the DRL circuit.
Since the DRL's run at 50% can you use LED's at 50% power ? or do you need incandescent bulbs.
Since my car came from the US I added some custom DRL's to the car, seen in the picture below in the lower grill, LED fixtures.
I would love to install LEDs similar to yours, I just hate the yellow of the DRLs on the S2000, perhaps I can use some 3M tape and place some LEDs similar to yours, I like the very discrete look on your car, can you tell me where you sourced them from? Is it really as simple as pulling out the fuse?
As you stated, how can an LED bulb function at a lower output in a car setup? I know they now have dimmable LED light bulbs now, I have yet to see them in a car application, that would be the least hassle for me personally since I intend to keep everything stock.
The S2000 DRLs are the High Beams at reduced voltage and you can replace those with any color temperature bulb that fits your sense of style. Auto parts store Halogens or special LEDs come in several color temperatures ranging from normal to Super Rice. Halogens are simply drop in. LEDs will take some research as their LEDs may not match the filament placement and you'll end up with a horrible light pattern.
Hi Chuck, I meant the LEDs just inside the front grill area. I do not have time to do the research on replacing the high beam bulb with LEDs because I would be too afraid to "F" something up.
You can put "whiter" Halogens in the highbeams. Easy peasy as the bulbs just snap in.
Many (most? some?) LEDs require some sort of heat sink as they get surprisingly hot at the amperage they need for lots of light. And the LED "filament" is critical in reflector headlight housings like the S2000 high beams. Correct LED filament placement seems to follow the price. I went with brighter Halogens a few years in the S2000 so I don't know what LED heatsinks will fit in that space or the light patterns. LED filament placement gets better every year in the better bulbs.
Bulb swap is seemingly engineered to be nearly impossible with normal size hands and, as I recall, is done by feel unless the housings are removed.
High beams are 55w (H1) halogens. Here are some samples. Those with higher wattage than 55w are deemed too bright for road use and others don't last very long one of the reasons for LEDs in bright light conditions. I recall some have a 100 hour bulb life (6000 miles at 60mph).
Auto parts store Halogens or special LEDs come in several color temperatures ranging from normal to Super Rice. Halogens are simply drop in. LEDs will take some research as their LEDs may not match the filament placement and you'll end up with a horrible light pattern.