Discussion
Some of these late cars with LED rear lamps do dazzle when sitting in a que even when keeping a sensible distance like I do, manafacturers need to realize that brighter lights are not the answer to safer cars but quality of the drivets behind the wheel, like those stupid daytime/running lights.
AB said:
It's clearly just me then, which is fine.
Me too. I love Auto Hold and use it 100% of the time but until this thread had no idea it left the brake lights on. Totally bizarre.When driving a manual, at the lights I put it in neutral and engage the handbrake. In my auto, I let auto hold put the handbrake on for me. In both cases I'm sat at the lights with the handbrake on so I've no idea why the brake lights have to come on when you use Auto Hold.
I wont lose sleep over it, mind.
I'll own up to keeping my foot on the brake at lights .... however.......I do so because the BMW SMG gearbox seems to react better when pulling away if I've had my foot on the brake, perhaps 'something' tells the gearbox to prep as the brake has just been released?
I can't say I've noticed others brake lights dazzling me, perhaps I'm not close enough to the car in front?!?!
I can't say I've noticed others brake lights dazzling me, perhaps I'm not close enough to the car in front?!?!
I think the experience in an auto and manual car is different. In an auto, I would never come up to a set of traffic lights, stop, put my handbrake on and leave it in drive while taking my foot off the brake. An auto handbrake/hold takes care of all this for me. It's been suggested that take the car out of drive and the lights go out so I see this as normal.
A manual car you might want to do something different but I'd gave thought the majority of cars with the feature were autos.
A manual car you might want to do something different but I'd gave thought the majority of cars with the feature were autos.
AB said:
Makes it even more stupid for the brake lights to be on then.
In a manual car, you take it out of gear and apply the handbrake, would make sense if the auto hold feature did the same.
Aye, but most people are using auto hold instead of the footbrake (in other words they would never bother applying handbrake for brief stops in queues etc). That's why the lights come on. In a manual car, you take it out of gear and apply the handbrake, would make sense if the auto hold feature did the same.
drmark said:
Aye, but most people are using auto hold instead of the footbrake (in other words they would never bother applying handbrake for brief stops in queues etc). That's why the lights come on.
I don't see why this is relevant - though - because in my manual car I was using the handbrake instead of the footbrake..If the main brakes are not on, the brake lights shouldn't be on. What possible reason is there to have the brake lights on when only the handbrake is engaged and if this reason is credible why is it not mandated on cars with conventional handbrakes?
Brake lights are there to indicate you are slowing down.
Fox- said:
I don't see why this is relevant - though - because in my manual car I was using the handbrake instead of the footbrake..
If the main brakes are not on, the brake lights shouldn't be on. What possible reason is there to have the brake lights on when only the handbrake is engaged and if this reason is credible why is it not mandated on cars with conventional handbrakes?
Brake lights are there to indicate you are slowing down.
I hope I never come around a bend and find you sitting in the middle of the lane with your handbrake on. The extra second or two realising you were stationary could make a big difference. If your brake lights were also on I'd have a lot more information to go onIf the main brakes are not on, the brake lights shouldn't be on. What possible reason is there to have the brake lights on when only the handbrake is engaged and if this reason is credible why is it not mandated on cars with conventional handbrakes?
Brake lights are there to indicate you are slowing down.
Jon1967x said:
I hope I never come around a bend and find you sitting in the middle of the lane with your handbrake on. The extra second or two realising you were stationary could make a big difference. If your brake lights were also on I'd have a lot more information to go on
How do you avoid colliding with pretty much every manual transmission car in the country then, which will sit at traffic lights with the handbrake on in neutral - and no brake lights showing.But it's ok, if you come round a bend and see me stationary my brake lights will be nice and brightly lit because, as this entire thread has demonstrated, they are illuminated when auto hold is on
Fox- said:
How do you avoid colliding with pretty much every manual transmission car in the country then, which will sit at traffic lights with the handbrake on in neutral - and no brake lights showing.
But it's ok, if you come round a bend and see me stationary my brake lights will be nice and brightly lit because, as this entire thread has demonstrated, they are illuminated when auto hold is on
I don't think most people with a manual do sit with the hand brake on, although as with everyone else I'm basing this on anecdotal evidence. The problem is if you live in a busy town/city with predominantly stop start traffic and quick filters at lights, you get accustomed to just holding the foot brake. While that means your brake lights are on, if you do get hit its quite easy for your foot to slip of the brake pedal, meaning you can end up pushed into crossing traffic But it's ok, if you come round a bend and see me stationary my brake lights will be nice and brightly lit because, as this entire thread has demonstrated, they are illuminated when auto hold is on
I have this habit and have to occasionally remind myself to engage auto hold (or handbrake on a manual).5to1 said:
I don't think most people with a manual do sit with the hand brake on, although as with everyone else I'm basing this on anecdotal evidence. The problem is if you live in a busy town/city with predominantly stop start traffic and quick filters at lights, you get accustomed to just holding the foot brake. While that means your brake lights are on, if you do get hit its quite easy for your foot to slip of the brake pedal, meaning you can end up pushed into crossing traffic I have this habit and have to occasionally remind myself to engage auto hold (or handbrake on a manual).
I try to base my decision on the type of approach I make to a set of lights. If I approach and they just turn red then I know it's favourable to put my car into neutral (manual M3) and apply the handbrake as I'll probably be there a minute or two. If I've been approaching a set of lights from a few hundred yards away and they have been on red for a while then I'd probably just sit on the brake as they would be about to change anyway. I just try to utilise some common sense per situation. I have this habit and have to occasionally remind myself to engage auto hold (or handbrake on a manual).Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff