App-controlled RGB DRLs are the headlight upgrade everyone's asking about right now — pick any colour for your BMW's daytime running lights straight from your phone, then switch back to crisp OEM white before you drive off. This guide covers what they actually are, the story behind how we developed them, which BMW chassis we cover at VMSS, whether they're road legal in the UK, and how to choose between our aftermarket IKON range and genuine OEM adaptive units.
The IKON headlight story: from V1 to RGB
Our IKON headlights (you'll also see them written as “ICON” headlights) are designed in-house by VMSS and manufactured by our production partner SJC. They didn't start out perfect — and we think the honest development story is exactly why the current version is as good as it is.
V1 was our first release, and frankly we weren't happy with it. The fit and finish didn't meet the standard we were willing to put our name on, so we went back to the drawing board.
V2 was the redesign that fixed it, a true 1:1 OEM-match housing and DRL signature, so the headlight looks like it belongs on the car straight from the factory. This is where the features arrived. It kept the 1:1 OEM design and added a brighter, upgraded DRL with an improved heatsink, a memory feature that recalls your last-used DRL colour, no battery drain, and a startup animation. It was a big leap forward — but it carried two flaws we weren't willing to live with. The major one: when the headlights fully reset and powered down to prevent battery drain, the memory feature could fail and the two DRLs would come back desynced, showing mismatched colours. The minor one: the new design introduced a small amount of light leakage from the DRL.
V3 introduces customisable internal housings such as Black Shadow Edition and Individual Champagne Gold! Two new, exciting and unique designs that set us apart from the competition! Our manufacturers let us express our design skills into the updated headlights and it turned out perfect! We also fixed the de-sync/mismatch DRLs from the V2, our biggest flaw was eliminated! However, we still haven’t figured out where in the design caused the light leakage!
RGB — the current, fourth iteration — is the fully sorted version. It keeps everything good about V2 and V3 (1:1 OEM design, brighter DRL and heatsink, last-colour memory, no battery drain, startup animation) and resolves both outstanding issues: the desync/mismatched DRL colour and the DRL light leakage. Because it's the definitive version, we've retired the version numbers — it's simply the RGB IKON Headlight, designed by VMSS and manufactured by SJC.
What are app-controlled RGB DRLs?
The DRL (daytime running light) is the LED strip that outlines the headlight. On a standard aftermarket or OEM unit that strip is a fixed colour — usually white, or a white/yellow switchable. On our RGB units, that strip is driven by an addressable RGB module you control over Bluetooth from a phone app. You get the full colour spectrum, brightness control, animated modes and a startup animation, with a one-tap return to a road-legal white DRL — and thanks to the colour memory, it remembers your last setting.
Every VMSS RGB headlight keeps the RGB effect on the DRL signature only. Your main beam, dipped beam and indicators run as normal — so the styling is expressive but the actual driving light stays standard and predictable.
The VMSS RGB range — what fits your BMW
We cover the most popular M and non-M chassis. Each links straight to the product page with full fitment notes:
- 2 Series (F22) & M2 (F87) — RGB IKON Headlights. Configured to your original Halogen, Xenon or LED setup. From £899.99.
- 3 Series (F30 / F31) — Black Shadow RGB IKONs. Our darkened Black Shadow finish, for Xenon or Halogen (non-AFS) cars. From £899.99.
- M3 / M4 (F80 / F82 / F83) & 4 Series (F32 / F33 / F36) — RGB IKON Headlights. Plug & play across all connector types (6, 8, 9 and 10-pin). From £999.99.
- G80 M3 / G82 M4 / G22 4 Series — Laser RGB Headlights. App-controlled RGB with a laser-style signature for the current-generation cars.
- Genuine OEM upgrade (F8x / 4 Series) — OEM BMW LCI2 Adaptive LED Headlights with optional RGB DRLs and dynamic indicators. Full factory adaptive features. From £1999.99.
Are RGB DRL headlights road legal in the UK?
Our RGB IKON headlights are E-marked and set up to pass an MOT, with the correct beam pattern and step for your country (RHD or LHD). The key point for UK roads: a daytime running light must show white. Coloured DRLs are fine for shows, meets and static display, but you should switch the signature to white before driving on public roads — which is a one-tap change in the app.
For the full breakdown, see our guide on whether aftermarket BMW headlights are MOT & road legal in the UK.
Plug & play or coding required?
It depends on the car. Our aftermarket RGB IKON units (2/3/4 Series and F8x) are designed as plug & play — the F8x set in particular fits all four connector types without coding. The genuine OEM LCI2 Adaptive units are different: they're native 6-pin and only drop straight in on a car already running LCI2 adaptive headlights; 9-pin and 10-pin cars need rewiring and coding, and older non-adaptive cars need retrofitting.
Not sure which camp you're in? Read Plug & Play vs Coding and use our headlight connector pin guide to identify your plug.
IKON RGB vs OEM adaptive — which should you buy?
Choose the aftermarket RGB IKON if you want the app-controlled RGB look at the best price, and you don't need adaptive cornering lights. It has a flat, MOT-legal beam and no AFS or High Beam Assist. Choose the OEM LCI2 Adaptive if you want genuine BMW hardware with full AFS and High Beam Assist working exactly as factory, brighter DRLs and dynamic indicators — and you're comfortable with the retrofit/coding requirements. If you're unclear on the generations, our Pre-LCI vs LCI vs LCI2 guide explains the differences.
Warranty
Every RGB IKON set comes with a 1-year warranty plus an extended 2-year warranty on the RGB DRL module. Our IKON headlights are designed by VMSS and manufactured by SJC.
Frequently asked questions
Who designs and manufactures VMSS IKON headlights?
Our IKON (also spelled “ICON”) headlights are designed in-house by VMSS and manufactured by our production partner SJC.
What happened to the V2 and V3 IKON headlights?
The IKON line evolved through V1, V2 and V3 before reaching the current RGB iteration. V2 fixed the 1:1 OEM design; V3 added the brighter DRL, heatsink, colour memory, no battery drain and startup animation but had a DRL desync and minor light-leakage issue. The current RGB version fixes both, so we've dropped the version numbers — it's now simply the RGB IKON Headlight.
Can I change my BMW DRL colour from my phone?
Yes. All VMSS RGB IKON headlights use a Bluetooth app that lets you set any RGB colour, adjust brightness and choose animated modes for the DRL signature, with a one-tap return to white. The colour memory recalls your last-used setting.
Are coloured DRLs legal to drive with in the UK?
Daytime running lights must show white on UK public roads. Coloured modes are intended for shows and static display — switch the DRL back to white in the app before driving. The headlights themselves are E-marked and MOT-ready.
Do RGB IKON headlights need coding?
The aftermarket RGB IKON units are plug & play; the F8x set fits all connector types without coding. Only the genuine OEM LCI2 Adaptive units may require rewiring, coding or retrofitting depending on your car's original headlight.
Which BMW models do you offer RGB headlights for?
Currently the 2 Series F22 and M2 F87, 3 Series F30/F31, M3/M4 F80/F82/F83 and 4 Series F32/F33/F36, plus the current G80 M3, G82 M4 and G22 4 Series, with a genuine OEM adaptive option for the F8x and 4 Series.
Does the RGB affect my main headlight beam?
No. The RGB effect is limited to the DRL signature. Your dipped beam, main beam and indicators operate as standard, so driving performance is unchanged.
Ready to upgrade? Browse the full RGB range above, or message us with your reg and current headlight type and we'll confirm the exact fitment.
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