Driving/Rally lights

[weezer2282]

One of the more interesting things I saw this weekend in Shiner was how people have installed the factory driving lamps. They switched a relay with one from Ian Cull to make it possible to switch them on and off without high beams on. Then they installed the Euro parcel shelf which contains a spot for that switch! :bows Very nice. :thumbsup

[scuderia]

Hey Greg, are you going to put rally lights? I am seriously thinking of it :confused:

[weezer2282]

Hey Greg, are you going to put rally lights? I am seriously thinking of it :confused:

I have always wanted to but didn't want to have it hooked up to the high beams. I like the look of them. Everyone has said they are a pain to install the mounts for them though. That might be something I would have them do at the MINI Center and then switch the relay out on my own. I need to find out more about it. There are a lot of other rally light kits that are cheaper also. First, I think I will start out with the Euro shelf though.

[azuul]

I have always wanted to but didn't want to have it hooked up to the high beams. I like the look of them. Everyone has said they are a pain to install the mounts for them though. That might be something I would have them do at the MINI Center and then switch the relay out on my own. I need to find out more about it. There are a lot of other rally light kits that are cheaper also. First, I think I will start out with the Euro shelf though.Yep, I have the euro shelf and the rally lights. However, as you say, they are hooked up to the high beams. If anyone knows how to unhook that link and install a separate switch, I'd love to make that happen.

[weezer2282]

Steve,
A few of the people from Houston had them hooked up independently and I was talking to them about that a little bit. One said Ian Cull could modify a relay, so I was going to send an e-mail to see what he knows about that this week. I think it was Bobby? :confused: that had it...he was the guy with the long hair and the silver MINI.

[azuul]

Steve,
A few of the people from Houston had them hooked up independently and I was talking to them about that a little bit. One said Ian Cull could modify a relay, so I was going to send an e-mail to see what he knows about that this week. I think it was Bobby? :confused: that had it...he was the guy with the long hair and the silver MINI.Right that was Bob. If he has something, then I am interested too.

[scuderia]

I talked to Billy from Maxx on San Pedro and Jackson Keller, he said they can hook it either w/high beams or w/an extra switch that will work independently. BTW I am leaning towards to PIAA, there is a kit available from them with mounting brackets.FYI

[azuul]

I already have the Hella rally lights on. I'd have to get mine adjusted.

[weezer2282]

The extra switch seems like the way to go. I have seen the PIAA kit and I remember it being not too expensive. I personally don't like the Alta kit with the 4 lights down lower. Then there is the Hella and there is also a Xenon kit, but they are much smaller diameter(the Xenons). With the PIAA I believe you can hook up 4 of them, which would be neat but you would have to get 2 kits. Hmmm...

[weezer2282]

The factory driving lamps replacement relay:

"http://www.gbmini.net/MINIcircuit/RLR.shtml

However, I don't promote this module much because it is "painful" to build,
but I do have a couple in stock.

Also for one person in Florida it did not work properly - although the same
module worked in my car, and a replacement which had worked fine in my car
also did not work for him. It was like his wiring was non-standard.

NOTE: the module can only handle the current of the standard (55W) bulbs."

It works only with the factory driving lamps and bulbs, but it is a simple plug and play deal. The other kits all require a switch to be wired into the circuit somehow and are more complicated. Unless they use some sort of relay too? :confused: Then you might be able to use this relay replacement as long as the bulbs are 55W. The relay should be behind the knee bolster or parcel shelf.

I think I might get one sometime, so when I do get some driving lamps I will be ready to override them. :thumbsup

[scuderia]

Weezer,
Are you sure you want an extra switch for the rally lights? The correct and proper way to do it is to connect them w/high beams.

[weezer2282]

Weezer,
Are you sure you want an extra switch for the rally lights? The correct and proper way to do it is to connect them w/high beams.

I would like to have the option to switch them without the high beams. That modified relay lets you run them like stock or you can set it to run independently. That way if you have covers over them and you want to use the high beams then you can without worrying about melting or damaging the driving lamp covers. There are some people out there who wire a whole new fuse to hook up a switch to an aftermarket system just so they can switch them without high beams. I belive one aftermarket system even comes with a switch. I know they are supposed to be connected legally only to high beams, but I prefer the switch. I have no intentions of blinding other motorers. They would be great for driving backroads at night like coming home late at night last weekend from Shiner. To me a switch just makes more sense...they connect the fog lamps like that and it would be very similar.

[weezer2282]

The relay doesn't require an extra switch either. It uses the stock one, but makes it function differently if you want it to.