A Strange but helpful occurence

Alext · 01-23-2011, 06:45 AM

A friend of mine that was following me said that he could see my rear brake lights flashing repeatedly everytime I went hard on the brakes. He wondered if it was me doing that or a problem. I know about the brake force display BMW have but I never knew the rear lights flashed?? Maybe something new for safety they introduced or I got lucky? OR could it be the ABS kicking in?

Alext · 01-23-2011, 07:06 AM

Eh I just saw a vid of the new 2011 M5 going around the Nurburgring - it's lights were flashing under heavy braking too.

davidmbell · 01-23-2011, 07:08 AM

AFAIK it depends on what country you're in as to what this feature does.

In some countries slamming hard on illuminates the fog lights, AS WELL as the normal brake lights, some countries (like yours?) sounds like they flash, some countries (UK) we get the hazard warning lights come on.

Its something I'd like to disable to be honest as it irritates me. If I'm giving it some and want to brake hard and late I don't want the bl##dy indicators flashing! Doh.

Understand its use on the motorway to warn other traffic you've braked hard, but I'd like to be able to turn it off at my discretion.

David (UK)

Dr Stig 2 · 01-23-2011, 07:25 AM

My hazard lights come on when I brake hard. And I'm in the same country as alext. I wonder if it is an intermediate step before the hazard lights come on. Alex. Can you test by braking even harder? I'm 4000km away from my car this week.

cdeslandes · 01-23-2011, 08:25 AM

If it keeps me from being rear-ended, I like it!

richard in NC · 01-23-2011, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdeslandes

If it keeps me from being rear-ended, I like it!

I've seen that on many cars. Can't say I've seen it on a BMW, specifically an E89. I'd thought it's an aftermarket additon. Most don't seem to be braking that hard like it does that all the time and too me, I don't like it.

I do think many BMWs light extra segments or make them brighter on hard braking but I've never heard of them blinking.

cdeslandes · 01-23-2011, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard in NC

I've seen that on many cars. Can't say I've seen it on a BMW, specifically an E89. I'd thought it's an aftermarket additon. Most don't seem to be braking that hard like it does that all the time and too me, I don't like it.

I do think many BMWs light extra segments or make them brighter on hard braking but I've never heard of them blinking.

If I'm not mistaken, Mercedes adopted this first. People react better to a blinking light than one that just stays on.

The BMW system flashes the brake lights initially when braking hard, then once more when the car comes to a stop.

Alext · 01-24-2011, 06:05 AM

Havent had the chance to do the harder test Stig, I did one emergency brake to test a while ago, but dont think the indicators came on as per the brake BMW Force indicator (saw no indication on the dash).

The flashing lights look like this at 56 sec and 1.05sec:

zEdP · 01-24-2011, 11:49 AM

The Z4 E85 already had the flashing emergency brake lights when it was introduced in 2002.

KrisNL · 01-25-2011, 02:13 PM

Yes standard feature. It is mentioned in the manual too.

01-23-2011, 06:45 AM	#1
Alext Banned 138 Rep 2,042 Posts Drives: B M W Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Everest iTrader: (2)	A Strange but helpful occurence - rear brake/stop light flashing?? A friend of mine that was following me said that he could see my rear brake lights flashing repeatedly everytime I went hard on the brakes. He wondered if it was me doing that or a problem. I know about the brake force display BMW have but I never knew the rear lights flashed?? Maybe something new for safety they introduced or I got lucky? OR could it be the ABS kicking in?
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01-23-2011, 07:06 AM	#2
Alext Banned 138 Rep 2,042 Posts Drives: B M W Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Everest iTrader: (2)	Eh I just saw a vid of the new 2011 M5 going around the Nurburgring - it's lights were flashing under heavy braking too.
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01-23-2011, 07:08 AM	#3
davidmbell Private First Class 17 Rep 125 Posts Drives: 2012 E91 318d Exclusive Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Leeds/Bradford - UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 Z4 SDrive35i [9.00]	AFAIK it depends on what country you're in as to what this feature does. In some countries slamming hard on illuminates the fog lights, AS WELL as the normal brake lights, some countries (like yours?) sounds like they flash, some countries (UK) we get the hazard warning lights come on. Its something I'd like to disable to be honest as it irritates me. If I'm giving it some and want to brake hard and late I don't want the bl##dy indicators flashing! Doh. Understand its use on the motorway to warn other traffic you've braked hard, but I'd like to be able to turn it off at my discretion. David (UK) __________________ 2012 e91 318d Touring Executive Edition Vermilion Red Automatic Business Nav
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01-23-2011, 07:25 AM	#4
Dr Stig 2 Criminally Insane 53 Rep 1,464 Posts Drives: Like a Demon! Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Brisbane, Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 BMW Z4 35is [10.00] 2013 BMW X5 30d [0.00]	My hazard lights come on when I brake hard. And I'm in the same country as alext. I wonder if it is an intermediate step before the hazard lights come on. Alex. Can you test by braking even harder? I'm 4000km away from my car this week. __________________ Dr Stig 2010 Z4 35is 2011 X3 30d M Sport Australia
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01-23-2011, 08:25 AM	#5
cdeslandes Captain 27 Rep 676 Posts Drives: 2010 Z4 s35i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 Jeep Wrangler ... [0.00] 2013 Volvo XC90 [0.00] 2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35i [8.67]	If it keeps me from being rear-ended, I like it! __________________ 2010 BMW Z4 s35i 2014 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2013 Volvo XC90
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01-24-2011, 06:05 AM	#8
Alext Banned 138 Rep 2,042 Posts Drives: B M W Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Everest iTrader: (2)	Havent had the chance to do the harder test Stig, I did one emergency brake to test a while ago, but dont think the indicators came on as per the brake BMW Force indicator (saw no indication on the dash). The flashing lights look like this at 56 sec and 1.05sec:
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01-24-2011, 11:49 AM	#9
zEdP Ed 18 Rep 298 Posts Drives: Z4 sDrive30i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0)	The Z4 E85 already had the flashing emergency brake lights when it was introduced in 2002.
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01-25-2011, 02:13 PM	#10
KrisNL Hero of the Day 12 Rep 263 Posts Drives: Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Amsterdam iTrader: (0)	Yes standard feature. It is mentioned in the manual too. __________________ Ordered my X3 28i, High Executive, M Sport, Topview, Innovation Pack and a lot of extra's first week of June! - delivered September 13, 2014
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