Headlight daytime running lights

[johnmaccow]

My headlights come on low when I start the car and it's running, I'm wanting to change it so the front indicators are on instead like the US models and was wondering if anyone else has done this?

[Brianmoooore]

My headlights come on low when I start the car and it's running,

You sure? Should only come on when the headlamp switch is in the parking light/tail light position and the ignition on.
No easy way of doing what you suggest (rears would light as well), and, although I'm not sure why, it sounds likely to be of dubious legality, and likely to attract the attention of any bored plod.
Are you sure it's the indicators on US cars? They have extra amber lights built into the bumpers.

[johnmaccow]

On all the time but dim when I start it mate, I dunno why and rears are off. I thought I read somewhere it was a feature.
Il try to get pics tomorrow

[Brianmoooore]

Somebody must have been playing with your wiring if the lights are coming on with the ignition! On cars with dim - dip, the foglight enable part of the main lighting switch is used to control relay K4, so that the relay switches on at the first position instead of the second. The dipped beam section of the switch (which controls K4 on 'ordinary' E30s) is used instead to switch on the two orange relays behind the glovebox, whose contacts are used to short out the dim - dip ballast resistors, bringing the dipped beams up to full brightness.

[johnmaccow]

I wonder if I have a relay in the wrong place Brian, it was literally a rolling shell when I got it and put the relays in place against google images.
When they come on they are dim and go off if I pull the switch out to side lights.
I'm ok with mechanical basic electrics but circuits etc I'm crap lol
Good news is it's ready for test once I wire the fan in

[Brianmoooore]

What happens if you remove relay K4? Do the dipped beams then not operate at all at any brightness?
The design of the lighting circuits by BMW is extremely clever, in that it allows changes to be made to the way the lights operate for different markets by only making minor changes to the way things are assembled, and it's possible that you have inadvertently done this.

[johnmaccow]

Il pull the relay tomorrow and report back mate, good news is it passed its test today.
Had it 9 years rebuilding and it passed with advisory on a wiper blade

[johnmaccow]

Headlights go off when h4 unplugged mate, it's a 5 pin relay. Side lights still come on when unplugged

[Brianmoooore]

Is it a black relay, identical to the one next to it?
If you unplug it and plug it back in with the ignition on, does it click as you do so? You should be able to hear and feel it, if it does.