After my research, I found that the grill lights were best. No reflection and better adjustability. I started my install yesterday, lights mounted and wiring next weekend. I replaced the stock bulbs with LED, much brighter and less amps. Did the same for the DRLs.

 

I have the lower grille off road lights with SilverStar bulbs. They actually outshine my headlights on hi beam, and my fogs combined!

 

I just picked up a set of the OEM off road grill lights, the ones that come with the mini grill. These are complete with switch and wiring loom.

Will be fitting them soon, but before I do I really want to know how they operate once wired as per factory specification.

Do they come on with the high beams once the switch is activated like normal driving lights, or do they operate independently like the fog lights??

I want them to come on with my high beams when the switch is on, and stay off when the switch is off. PS these are legal for road use where I live, so I want them to supplement my high beams when required.

 

They come with their own switch that mounts in one of the dummy plugs in the center stack below the heater controls. Since they have their own switch, you can turn them on/off with any setting of other lights.

 

I see, I have the switch, so it looks like they operate independently. I was afraid of that.

That's not how things are done here in Australia, and driving lights/offload lights are generally activated by the high beam switch. So when an oncoming car comes at you at night you simply flick the one switch and all lights dim down, and you don't have to fumble with dash switches and the like to try and dim your driving lights. Looks like I am going to have to rewire the supplied wiring loom for them to operate correctly.

The way it should work to be legal is:
Offroad lights switched OFF at dash switch all vehicle lights operate normally as per factory, ie high and low beam.

Offroad lights switched ON at dash switch, now under normal driving offroad lights remain off even though the dash switch is switched on, they only come on when high beams are activated, and switch off as soon as high beams are switched back to normal beam. So the offroad lights operate along side the high beam when switched on at the dash switch, and stay off when switched off at the dash switch.

The way they are wired as per factory would be illegal for road use.

So the relay needs to be wired into the high beam circuit as well as the switch, ie the dash switch supplies power to the relay when activated, but the high beam circuit activates the relay. Nothing is ever simple is it

PS I noted you have them fitted to your H3, how good are they? Do they provide extra lighting over the standard factory head lights?? Just wondering as they look fairly small compared to some IPF lights.

Will see how these go, might still fit some IPF driving lights on an overhead light bar or make something up to fit them into the grill.

 

Read my comment 4 posts back.

 

Halo, did you ever find a replacement lens or did you have to order the whole assembly?

 

Had to get the whole assembly, but it worked out ok. I have zero deductible for comprehensive on my insurance, so since a rock cracked the lens, my insurance picked up the tab for the new lamp and the hour's labor to install. Since I replaced it myself, they gave me the $100 labor money.

 

Where did you guys get your lower grill w/ lights. I know that it is an official GM product but i don't want to pay the stealership 300+ if i can get them cheaper online. I am on a student pilot budget lol.

 

I found them on line (can't remember where) and my dealership matched the price of $275 out the door. It was the last set he had, so I think he just wanted to clear them out. I was surprised that he could still get me a replacement for the one that broke, so I'm guessing it's the 'complete kit' that's getting scarce, but apparently they can still get components.