How do you switch off DRL on cars that come from Canada

[mrindiafromuk]

Hi Friends

As you all know I have my German imported 1991 500E. The car did spend some time in Canada before I brought it home to California.

The car has DRL, meaning my headlights are on all the time from the moment the car is started. I believe it is a Canada requirement to have DRL. Does anyone know how to disable DRL on a W124?

Thanks

Mickey

 

[TimL]

I had this switched off when I bought my car in 2018. I want to say the controller for the DRL was under the carpet in the front passenger footwell. Although I don't recall what had to be done to it to turn the DRL off.

 

[Funny Bunny]

I have the same question. Someone once told me the mercedes benz star system program can deactivate it. There might also be a fuse for it but not sure.

 

[gsxr]

I have the same question. Someone once told me the mercedes benz star system program can deactivate it.

On newer cars (probably mid-2000's up) this would very likely be a software setting that can be adjusted with Star Diagnostics, via the "developer" menus in DAS or Xentry.

On older cars it's a fully manual system with a separate relay somewhere. Gotta be a schematic available to figure out how to bypass this.

 

[doolar]

And at least here in Europe there are/were aftermarket solutions to enable the lights without use of the switch, not only the OE Mercedes solution, so if you can't find the relay etc in it's factory location, it is somewhere else, or wired in differently. The one's I've used in the past is just one relay box that is possible to hide in the fuse box for instance.

Since this car's been originally delivered in Germany, there is a substantial possibility that it's an aftermarket solution. Just so you don't go chasing ghosts Mickey!

 

[mrindiafromuk]

And at least here in Europe there are/were aftermarket solutions to enable the lights without use of the switch, not only the OE Mercedes solution, so if you can't find the relay etc in it's factory location, it is somewhere else, or wired in differently. The one's I've used in the past is just one relay box that is possible to hide in the fuse box for instance.

Since this car's been originally delivered in Germany, there is a substantial possibility that it's an aftermarket solution. Just so you don't go chasing ghosts Mickey!

Yep I have been all over factory relays and fuses and no luck so far . I am not sure if DRL was switched on in Germany or Canada. If I cant get it off then its not a great issue. Most cars have DRL these days, so it is sort of modernized.

 

[doolar]

Yep I have been all over factory relays and fuses and no luck so far . I am not sure if DRL was switched on in Germany or Canada. If I cant get it off then its not a great issue. Most cars have DRL these days, so it is sort of modernized.

In Germany at the time of delivery of your car it would have been with a fully manual light switch.

Unless you already haven't, look underneath the fuse box fuse tray that you carefully can lift up out of the box. Follow the leads to the low beams or tail lights and look for any split or cables that does not belong or look stock. Do not forget to disconnect the battery negative terminal though, this is one of the jobs where it's really a good idea since you can short out the fuse holder tabs onto the bonnet hinges for instance. Don't ask why I know of such a specific case...

 

[mrindiafromuk]

In Germany at the time of delivery of your car it would have been with a fully manual light switch.

Unless you already haven't, look underneath the fuse box fuse tray that you carefully can lift up out of the box. Follow the leads to the low beams or tail lights and look for any split or cables that does not belong or look stock. Do not forget to disconnect the battery negative terminal though, this is one of the jobs where it's really a good idea since you can short out the fuse holder tabs onto the bonnet hinges for instance. Don't ask why I know of such a specific case...

Great Idea, I will see if I can do that easily

 

[doolar]

Great Idea, I will see if I can do that easily

It’s very easy and straightforward, I bet there’s info here somewhere. Most aftermarket relays will be wired in there since it’s way easier than to mess around with the light switch.

 

[mrindiafromuk]

It’s very easy and straightforward, I bet there’s info here somewhere. Most aftermarket relays will be wired in there since it’s way easier than to mess around with the light switch.

Makes sense

 

[TimL]

Telling you, check under the passenger footwell carpet. That's where these modules are located

 

[mrindiafromuk]

Telling you, check under the passenger footwell carpet. That's where these modules are located

I will for sure

 

[DLL]

The DRL relay isn’t under the carpet, rather, behind the passenger side ‘kick panel’

 

[mrindiafromuk]

The DRL relay isn’t under the carpet, rather, behind the passenger side ‘kick panel’

Ok I will check that out