Vagcom / VCDS DRL coding

**ope126** · 23-02-2010, 09:22 PM

Hi All,

Just wanted to see if anyone has activated the DRL's on a VW Passat with OEM Bi-Xenon Headlights?

Vagcom / VCDS Byte 0 in 09 - Central Electonics;

- Byte 0 Bit 03 – Daytime Running Lights (Scandinavia) always active.
- Byte 0 Bit 04 - Daytime Running Lights (North America) only when handbrake off or car in gear.

All off the above work when the light switch is in the “0” position only.

As stated above, i have tried the (Scandinavia) and have found that my Low Beam (Xenons) are always on.
I have also tried the (North America) and have found that it works when the handbrake is released or the car is put in gear; which is exactley how I would like it to work, however it once again uses the Low Beam (Xenons) which I do not want to use!

Does anyone know how to activate the North American Style DRL, only using the "parking lights" instead of the Low Beam Xenon's?

Could it have anything to do with the Extra Function or Replacement Function as descibed in the following;

http://en.openobd.org/vw/passat_3c.htm#09

Jimmy has been helping me with this, however we have not explored futher than what is mentioned above.

Open to suggestions or advice!

**J-P** · 24-02-2010, 12:29 AM

Sorry if this is a silly question but why would you want parking lights on while driving? If it's for safety surely Low Beam is what you'd want.

**ope126** · 24-02-2010, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by J-P

Sorry if this is a silly question but why would you want parking lights on while driving? If it's for safety surely Low Beam is what you'd want.

J-P, thanks for your question.
I do not want to run my Xenon Bulbs 24/7, as simple as that!

As with the new MK6 that run DRL's, they use the parkers (forgive me if I am wrong). The headlight cluster in a Bi-Xenon Equipped Passat has a large plastic disc that projects the light of the parkers very nicely indeed! So long story short, during the day, the parkers almost look like low beams (if that makes sense).

**J-P** · 24-02-2010, 10:27 AM

I see. Is the low beam on at 100% or dimmed? I'm not an expert but I'd say Extra Function is for having a second light on at a certain percentage and does not replace the primary lights, and Replacement Function replaces the primary lights and looking at the list it doesn't bode well for what you are trying to achieve.

Scandinavia might have dedicated DRLs since there's an Extra Option to also use Low Beam. I wonder if these can be fitted. Found this which might help and also mentions a Byte 20 function. You might be able to have parking lights as an extra and disable low beam for DRLs which will leave parking lights in use.

**Rocket36** · 24-02-2010, 11:17 AM

Plus, change the parkers over to some LED globes (with built in resistor) and they'd look even better as DRLs.

Pretty sure you can manually set the lights to only have the parkers on can't you?

**ope126** · 24-02-2010, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by Rocket36

Plus, change the parkers over to some LED globes (with built in resistor) and they'd look even better as DRLs.

Pretty sure you can manually set the lights to only have the parkers on can't you?

Yes, by turning the switch to "parkers" the parkers only come on. (parkers / rear lights / instrument cluster)

However, if they were set up via VCDS as DRL's only the front parkers would come on, not the rear lights or the instrument cluster. That is how the OEM DRL's work.

**guthrie** · 02-10-2011, 11:38 PM

Has anyone with a Passat with xenons worked out how to activate the drl's?

**ope126** · 03-10-2011, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by guthrie

Has anyone with a Passat with xenons worked out how to activate the drl's?

Guthrie, best bet would be to get VW to do this for you. I see heaps of the new model Passats with Fogs as DRL's.

**clip** · 04-10-2011, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by ope126

Guthrie, best bet would be to get VW to do this for you. I see heaps of the new model Passats with Fogs as DRL's.

ope126, if you mean B7 passats then they actually have independant DRL's that are located beside the fog lights. The fog lights are on the outer sides of the DRL and also act as the cornering lights that come on when turning. In my DRLs I've just replaced the standard bulb with LEDs - look much better.