Hey guys, I've been pondering whether to update my Z with some nice subtle daytime running lights which I think will give the Z a nice updated modern look I want to make for my Z.

 

I have been looking at all the universal brands and stuff out on the net and I kinda know what I would prefer in turns of look and styling but I am not 100% which location would look better.

 

Currently the 2 locations I'm thinking of is 1 would be at the upper section of the front mouth opening on the 2kspec front bar, beside the the sides of the standard front licence plate location.

 

The other location I'm thinking of is on the upper section of each intercooler side mouth openings.

 

The front opening is currently the easier option as most of the DRL's are all horizontal in design, The side openings would need to have a curve in its shape to flow with the lines of the opening which I haven't seen any brands as of yet that make this style of DRL.

 

Just wanting some opinions on what people think about DRL's and what do you think about my proposed plan for the lights locations?

 

I understand this is a somewhat bizarre kind of cosmetic upgrade for a 90's sports car to have, but I have noticed more and more modern day sports car with these DRL's either in their headlights or located on the front bar. I think with the right styling a DRL could work on a Z32 but I have only done a few hours of researching into DRL's and was hoping to get opinions on what the rest of the Z community thought of the idea.

If you like them, fit them. But why not just switch your lights on when you're driving- voila! DRLs

I find DRLs on older cars look a little cheesy.

A few members have a similar idea and set up, dicky96 and the lightning guru phutumsch, I work at hertz car rental and I see all models of cars with drl and keep looking and thinking shapes and contours. The new Kia optima 2015 model has cracking set a bank of 4 and would look hood in some bumpers where as the Mercedes ml has a nice flat surface for other bumpers along with the Citroen Picasso grand has a nice set.i will be doing something with mine at some point.

Edited April 7, 201510 yr by toolboxtrev

Whilst I don't have DRL in the same effect that you're talking about, I do have an LED board inside my fog light cluster which replaces my sidelights. I always drive with them on so use them as DRL. The light definitely isn't as bright as the modern DRL systems but they're bright enough to do the job I think and being in the cluster, they don't look "too" out of place! Personally, I'm still undecided whether to keep them or not:

 

 

The intensity of the light is hard to photograph but for reference, this pic is with my 55w HID kit switched on, the sunlight in the background is robbing the light from the lens!:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I tend to agree that the bolt on kits you can get will possibly look a bit out of place on the Z32, however, if you do choose to fit them, I think they would look best further apart so your best option is the intercoolers vents for my vote (use a flexible strip?).

I have just put some 80w cree bulbs in the indicator position and they're bright and of course wide apart, no pics as yet as i've only just done this weekend but shall asap.

 

I used to have switchback white(sidelight)/amber(indicator) bulbs fitted but one failed so i had to work something else out, i now have the cree projector bulb and a 3 smd strip wrapped around it's base, the smd yellow matches perfectly colour wise all the others on the car when i winker.

 

The switchback still works as i have a module fitted in line and if you buy cheap strip tube light you get them in the kit, just sever this off and use on any two lights/bulbs/strips you want to switch between.

yeah i'm still very much 50 / 50 on the idea as I don't know if any of the current market of DRL's are going to not look at of place. The intercooler ducts are my more prefered location if I every did this pipe dream of mine but the problem there is the opening is curve making 99% of aftermarket universal DRL's unusable without looking bad.

 

These are a design that might fit the application but its hard to visualise it without further research

 

 

Other options are these osram DRL's which I think might work for the front mouth opening

 

 

All the flexible stuff just looks abit tacky to me and I would have to go a full sealed unit design like the ones I've just posted above.

 

Still need to do more research.

I'm still undecided whether to keep them or not

 

 

reminded me of...

 

I find DRLs on older cars look a little cheesy.

 

So do I, most of the time.....

 

.....But if you are going to do it, then just find a way to incorporate them into the existing light fittings - something like Joel has done for instance. That looks a great modification. Otherwise fit LED sidelight bulbs and do what Guinnal suggests above; by driving with your lights on!

 

Richard:cool:

Don't put me in the good light then!

I must admit, i dont like these daylight running lights. They are way too bright and being low down in the ZX makes it worse, I seem to be blinded every time someone drives towards me. I bought HIDs for my car because i couldnt see the road ahead every time a car drove towards me. DLR lights seems a silly rule to me in this country (i can see it working in countries with longer nights/winters/bad conditions) but not now that its summer. If its grey/wet/dark/night i turn my lights on, if its sunny I leave them off...Part of being a driver is knowing when lights are needed!!

 

Sidenote: Stagecoach makes us drive the buses with dipped beams on all the time, apparently it makes the buses easier to see.... As if a 42 foot long white, blue and red box that stops and starts constantly is hard to miss! :whistling:

I have a wicked set of built in switchback drls and they look the dogs bullriocks. Im home tomorow from the rig so ill take some pics. And i also have a nice, suprise as well. Though mine are a one of at the minute. Mark derby has some nice ones two. And.Phutamsch made mine to order.draw an idea and hell make it happen. His a light guro

All down to personal taste I think. The zed's a top car as standard and it sort of harks back to the days when people fitted high intensity rear fog lights and wired them into the brake lights on capris and escorts. All a bit razzle-dazzle and max power. I saw a mint 240Z yesterday without drls, it looked fab!

Don't put me in the good light then!

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Nah, they don't work for me at all!! :(

I have a wicked set of built in switchback drls and they look the dogs bullriocks. Im home tomorow from the rig so ill take some pics. And i also have a nice, suprise as well. Though mine are a one of at the minute. Mark derby has some nice ones two. And.Phutamsch made mine to order.draw an idea and hell make it happen. His a light guro

 

Get some pics please