Stop/Start and Brake Lights

[Ramona]

When I am stopped in traffic (e.g. at traffic lights), I will normally use the parking brake rather than the foot brake, so that I don't dazzle the driver of the car which is stopped behind me. This is especially the case at night, and with the high visibility rear brake lights fitted to modern cars. I believe that this is the approach that the IAM would recommend (as well as removing the risk that your foot might slip off the brake pedal).

One of my recent acquisitions has a Stop/Start facility, such that when the car is stopped and the foot brake is applied (and if the battery has sufficient charge, etc), the engine switches off. As soon as you remove your foot from the brake pedal, the engine restarts. Even if the parking brake is applied, you have to keep your foot on the brake pedal for the engine to remain off.

Now I'm fully aware of the discussion around potential increased wear and tear on the car by using Stop/Start (and, to be honest, I normally leave it switched off), but purely from a not-dazzling-the-driver-behind perspective, what's the "advanced" view on using Stop/Start?

[Ramona]

pim said:

Don't all cars or the majority wok like this with stop start?

No. My car has neither a clutch pedal nor an electronic handbrake, and it works as I described in my original post.

[Ramona]

rainmakerraw said:

Without sounding condescending, have you made sure to RTFM?

On more than one occasion. The car is a 2012 E93 M3 with DCT and it works exactly as I described in my original post.

[Ramona]

Six Fiend said:

Unfortunately being on auto hold does activate the brake lights but nobody behind me seems to have melted yet.

They may not have been melted, but they will have been at times irritated, dazzled, prevented from doing an all-round observation check or had their night vision impaired.

Sitting with one's foot on the brake pedal while there's a car behind you (especially at night/in the rain) doesn't feel - to me, at least - to be showing the appropriate consideration for other road users that would be expected of an advanced motorist.

[Ramona]

Speary8 said:

R E S T E C P said:

Have you read any of this thread? Even just the first post?

Modern car + start/stop functionality + automatic gearbox = brake lights stuck on

Not if you put the handbrake on and take your foot off the brake pedal

In my M3 the engine will restart if you put the handbrake on and then take your foot off the brake pedal. Which is what I had said in my initial post - and what R E S T E C P was suggesting that you read!

[Ramona]

watchnut said:

why buy a car with stop/start and not use it?
[...]
Those of you who say your not blinded at lights when a knob sits with a foot on a brake.....great and bully for you....but many many are blinded

But the point that I was making is that the way that BMW have implemented Stop/Start on my M3 means that it only works if you do sit with your foot on the brake.

So I can EITHER use Stop/Start and risk dazzling other drivers OR switch off Stop/Start and be considerate. In my case, I have chosen not to use Stop/Start.

[Ramona]

cmaguire said:

My observations over many years and many miles lead me to believe that most drivers of performance cars have insufficient talent to do much with them at all, so the M3 will likely be behind rather than in-front.

My observations over many years and many miles lead me to believe that most drivers of performance cars have no need to try to prove anything (especially on public roads), and are quite happy to be behind those who take a less responsible attitude to their driving.