DRL Daylight Running Lights activation

[John_H]

Software-enabled features that cost the customer to "have" even though the hardware is already there can make sense for the customer in an overall reduced cost.

If it would cost $200 extra to have the additional hardware installed on a car and maintain the overhead of having two different hardware configurations yet the cost to have the hardware installed on all cars with no additional configuration overhead averaged $100 for each of the cars that gets the feature, it's a savings both for the smart manufacturer and the smart owners. The price can be kept lower for owners who didn't want the hardware in the first place and those who do want it get it for a lower cost.

Just because the hardware is there doesn't mean that there aren't added development costs or even liability issues that need to be accounted for somehow.

[jamesce]

As the feature is already implemented in software, the marginal cost to smart is ZERO. I do embedded software for a living and I can tell you that the development cost for this feature is insignificant - on the order of pennies per car. Since DRL's are required by law in some countries, the development cost already absorbed anyhow.

There are arguments against DRL's. Some are poorly implemented, some very well. The inconvenience is hard to put a value on, but the safety value has been quantified: Questions & Answers: Daytime Running Lights

I don't know how smart implements DRL's so there may or may not be a marginal hardware cost, but even if there is, we have already paid for it - the hardware and software were in the car as delivered.

So it's still a matter of charging $100 to push a few buttons to save a life.

[John_H]

Originally Posted by jamesce

I don't know how smart implements DRL's so there may or may not be a marginal hardware cost, but even if there is, we have already paid for it - the hardware and software were in the car as delivered.

You missed my point. For those of us who haven't purchased the functionality, WE have not paid for the hardware and software we received, the people who purchased the option have paid for not only their hardware and software but for the inactive versions in my car as well and they've done so for a lower overall cost.

You may be an embedded software developer, but do you have direct involvement with operations and marketing? There's so much more to a successful return on investment than is visible to the typical developer. It took me years to become comfortable with the costs and benefits associated with the "software enabled" kind of feature.

[peterbra]

I have the 09 convertible with leather seats. The dealer told me that the cars with "leather seats" can not get DRL converted.?? It makes no sense. But I heard once that someone put tape over the windshield in front of the detector and it kept the lights on all the time. Id prefer a commercial conversion and don'e know if it can be dine; I wonder, If I moved to Canada where DRL is required, what would they do? Id love some info my email is qtimes4@gmail.com

[fpage77]

Originally Posted by peterbra

I have the 09 convertible with leather seats. The dealer told me that the cars with "leather seats" can not get DRL converted.?? It makes no sense. But I heard once that someone put tape over the windshield in front of the detector and it kept the lights on all the time. Id prefer a commercial conversion and don'e know if it can be dine; I wonder, If I moved to Canada where DRL is required, what would they do? Id love some info my email is qtimes4@gmail.com

Your dealer has his head up his proverbially rear end. Some very early 09 that got the old comfort package (comes with leather seats) came with autolight feature what is not compatible with DRL. The majority of 09 models have the new comfort package (comes with the leather seats) where they substituted fog lights for autolight and can get DRL added. The hockey puck on the windshield is how you know if you have autolight with your comfort package but for your dealer to say no 09 with leather can get DRL is wrong wrong wrong.

... I looked at the pictures in your gallery and unless I missed it I didn't see the "hockey puck" sensor ... this sensor is located below the rear view mirror on the windshield.

[smartRRparts]

Originally Posted by peterbra

I have the 09 convertible with leather seats. The dealer told me that the cars with "leather seats" can not get DRL converted.?? It makes no sense. But I heard once that someone put tape over the windshield in front of the detector and it kept the lights on all the time. Id prefer a commercial conversion and don'e know if it can be dine; I wonder, If I moved to Canada where DRL is required, what would they do? Id love some info my email is qtimes4@gmail.com

Please refer your smart center to smart Tech Tip #11 Retrofitting Daytime Running Lights. This will clear up all confusion for this add on. Under the Vehicles Affected Heading it reads:
All vehicles not equipped with option code K06 (Daytime Running Lights) AND do not have the rain/light sensor (V54 or 2008 comfort package P52).

If your smart fits this description you can add the smart DRL upgrade/download. I hope this helps.

[jwight]

Originally Posted by smartRRparts

Please refer your smart center to smart Tech Tip #11 Retrofitting Daytime Running Lights. This will clear up all confusion for this add on. Under the Vehicles Affected Heading it reads:
All vehicles not equipped with option code K06 (Daytime Running Lights) AND do not have the rain/light sensor (V54 or 2008 comfort package P52).

If your smart fits this description you can add the smart DRL upgrade/download. I hope this helps.

Thanks Paul; this needs to be a sticky and/or added to Dunerunner's technical library thread.

[pagja]

...thanks Paul for the info. I just got a '09 brabus which the DLR are "standard", however when I picked up the car, the dealer did not "activate" them. My question is before I activate them per your instructions, I'm not sure that I want to now. Is the light "output" when in the DLR mode a REDUCED light output, or is it just the regular low beam headlights going on? Also, once you activate the DLR, is there any way to de-activate them if you want to? Thanks for all of your help on the forum.

[Carlarm]

With DRL installed the headlights and taillights come on once the engine is started. All exterior lights come on at the same brightness as if you had turned the headlights on with the control stalk. The interior console lights remain off unless you twist the control stalk to "Headlights On" position at which point the behavior is the same as without DRL. I paid to have DRL installed after delivery and when I "temporarily" turned them off with the secret handshake with high beams and remote key I was unable to turn them back on again. I had to take my car back to the dealer to get them back on again (at no additional cost). Moral of story: once you get yours enabled leave them on.

[smartRRparts]

Originally Posted by pagja

...thanks Paul for the info. I just got a '09 brabus which the DLR are "standard", however when I picked up the car, the dealer did not "activate" them. My question is before I activate them per your instructions, I'm not sure that I want to now. Is the light "output" when in the DLR mode a REDUCED light output, or is it just the regular low beam headlights going on? Also, once you activate the DLR, is there any way to de-activate them if you want to? Thanks for all of your help on the forum.

I was waiting for a response from smart USA technical and to their knowledge there isn't a procedure to deactivate DRLs like there is one to activate a smart that has the option, but just hasn't been turned on yet. It looks like reading further on this thread Carlarm found a way though. I wouldn't recommend it though since he/she doesn't either! Also as far as I know the DRLs turn everything on at the same brightness as one would find with a smart without DRL but headlights on. Hope this helps.