Okay, well apparently I've been "bah"ed...
CDN, you are completey correct in your theories of a parallel circuit right up until you start speaking of the "realatively low resistance of the LED"... in THIS case anyway.
Barnes was asking about installing a set of "Lazerbolts", not a bare-bones LED from Radio Shack...
The Lazerbolts will have a built-in current limiting resistor, as most LEDs operate around 20 milliamps. So, if it's DESIGNED to work at 12 volts at the standard 20 milliamps it would have an added resistance value of approximately 430 ohms... Otherwise, yes it would vapourize. LEDs 101: (
http://members.misty.com/don/ledd.html)
Now the headlamps... 60 watts, 12 volts = 5 amps. Therefore 12 volts & 5 amps = 2.4 ohms.
So what was that you were saying about path of least resistance... 430 ohm accessory LEDs or 2.4 ohm headlamps?
In other words, there should be NO problem tapping into the headlight circuit... (Especially considering IF the wire Barnes spoke of from the harness IS in fact the factory lead for the corner lights on the European models.)
[8D]