Daytime running lights

I am about to get a Panther black 2.0tdci titanium next week and was was going to order and fit a set of DRL lghts from MS Designs have had a quote of £540 ish to supply was wondering if anyone had fitted a set if so were there any problems in fitting,  will post my pics and how it went,  once i get them

Daytime running lights for over £500 eh! I know we like fitting gadgets and our cars to look different .. You must have cash to burn! Actually i'm jealous ..can i marry you? I enclose photo, you notice i look like Ting Tong off Little Britain.

OK - Job done – 4.5 hours:

This is the package contents:


Instructions in German & English

Disconnect battery.

Remove blanks from car bumper (pull out with care – the locking tabs can snap, and you might want to keep them when you pull the DRLs out to sell when you sell the car!)




Fit lights to new blanks:




At this stage I suddenly realised I didn't want to lose a few ££hundred's worth of DRLs with a tug/blow, so I elected to construct a Heath Robinson lock, comprising a window lock and some cable ties. (Don't ask – but it works!) (The window lock because the bolt was the right size, and it gave me something to attach the cable ties to:)
 According to the instructions there is a bracket kit apparently, but it wasn't offered and I couldn't see how you would be able to use it without some major dismantling of the headlights/bumper.

Next I needed to decide on a location for the 12v drivers, (actually I made sure I could find somewhere before completing the previous stage.)
Firstly the plastic protector to remove:



Offside driver unit:




Nearside:

Now you need to locate your 12v ignition controlled feed – only one I could find originally is the one described by spitfire231:

http://www.kugaownersclub.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1523

However since first posting this, my thanks go to Phil-C who has since donated his photo of how to connect direct to the engine compartment fusebox instead. This is a blue and green cable, still ignition controlled, but which is also on the 10 second delay circuit which various bits and pieces on the Kuga are wired into - works a treat - just make sure the block connector doesn't interfere with the blue locking handle on the wiring loom plug:



Choice of earths - direct from the battery (there is a spare bolt shaft on the -'ve terminal - just needed a washer and nut) or go to where the battery goes on the chassis just above the fusebox.

Finally, the all important feed from the sidelight, (which switches off the DRLs once the car lights come on.) The sidelight bulb is deep in the headlight cluster, and is on like a plastic lolly stick, to allow you to pull it straight out. (Using a thin pair of pliers as well.) It's the black cable.
 You also need to pay attention to the instructions about how to connect the drivers' cables to the DRLs if you are not wanting them on at the same time as car lights.


It will all tuck away again out of sight once you put the bulb back in (covered by fascia/bonnet.):


There is a fuse supplied which is connected to the 12v feed and I placed it in the fusebox in the engine compartment – but you could locate it anywhere. Then I tested everything, and had the exciting moment when I switched the lights on:



Finally it's time to start tidying up – you get a lot of ducted cable which needs hiding – I packed mine next to the nearside DRL driver unit, and it is then hidden by the plastic fascia:


The fascia needed to be cut to accommodate offside driver unit (and avoids putting stress on the wires):


Finally time to stand-back and admire my work. (But not before I thought I'd fused everything - electrics died when I tried to start - turned out I hadn't tightened the +'ve battery terminal - coronary over!):



Edited by KugaTim - 19 Jun 2010 at 1:05pm

Thank you - no the LEDs are the standard bright white (almost blue?) same as Audi/& Merc - these are quality items - typical high-spec German gear -( camera was an iPhone)

A final word from me. I'm a great fan of DRLs (obviously.) I have owned a Volvo in my time, and since then have driven with lights on with my other cars during the day.

The number of times I see people pulling up to a junction and looking for traffic coming on the far side of the road first, then looking for oncoming traffic on their own side just as they start to pull out, leaves me thinking that we all need to be as visible to each other as much as possible.

As a biker as well, I ride with lights-on all the time and there is an argument that says we will become less visible - however if motorists get it into their heads that a light means an oncoming vehicle, then it can't be a bad thing. The Scandinavian countries have been doing it for years, mainly because of their long dark winter days - and Canada likes them too.

Like it or not, it becomes law in 2011 for newbuilds, so eventually we will all have them.

Finally cost. Yes these are expensive but they are genuinely high quality goods, purpose built to fit like a glove in the Kuga. The next best I have seen in the market place are those manufactured by Hella which are a couple of hundred ££.

The Ring lights sold in Halfords etc are low-tech, and you need the control box to switch them off when the main lights come on - only 1 set by Ring do this. The other cheaper Rings etc are not as high powered either.

I'm happy to pay the money - they look good, they feel good and by golly they do you good. (Old advert - ask your dad.)