126 side lights...is it a fault?

[General Ludd]

 Spent this weekend past doing final checks for MOT. Whilst checking out the lights I noticed that the new headlights I sourced from India of all places and newly fitted with halogen bulbs were displaying an odd feature.
Headlight beams fine , dipped beam fine and parking lights fine, except I noticed that on parking lights only  what appears to be the dipped filament of both headlight bulbs was glowing slightly. I reverted back to the standard filament bulbs but its still the same.. on parking lights there is a small current running through both headlights allowing them to glow slightly. This does improve the amount of parking light output..but cant be right surely? Anyone else had/ noticed this on their BIS?

[ChrisRLewis]

Sounds like a dim dip system?

[Pete126]

With the ignition off the sidelights should work as normal, once the ignition is switched on the headlight bulbs (dip beam) operating at half voltage, when you switch the headlights from park to dip beam they should operate as normal on dip and main beam..

[General Ludd]

Thanks Chris and Pete been back out to garage and yes extra beam intensity when ignition on. Also had a look at wiring diagram suspecting a possible earthing fault and noticed the DIM-DIP relay but wasn't too sure its purpose. All is revealed and mind at rest. Thanks again...these little cars are full of little quirks...which will be a perfect description of me when I finally get to drive it