Guys...I knew the brakes had some anti-wet smarts, but didn't realize the car would squeeze the brakes in the rain. And what about the fade resistance....how are these features sensed?
http://editorial.autos.msn.com/artic...umentid=435355
Keeping Brakes at the Ready
Today, electronics are starting to be used to "prime" car brakes, as it were, to keep them ready for optimal performance whenever they're needed.
For example, Mercedes began using electronic brakes a few years ago. They can automatically sense when the road is wet and imperceptibly apply the brakes just enough to keep the brake discs dry. This way, brake performance, which can be weakened by moist discs and pads, remains consistent no matter the kind of weather the car is in. BMW added this feature, which it calls Brake Drying, to its 2006 BMW 3-Series. It's standard equipment.
Fading Compensation is another advance that's standard in the 2006 BMW 3-Series. This system senses when a driver is using the brakes hard and frequently, causing the brakes to heat up. Hot brakes don't provide consistent braking power and tend to fade in their performance. So, as brake temperatures rise, BMW's Fade Compensation system automatically adjusts, increasing the hydraulic brake pressure relative to pedal force.
What's next? Time will tell. But certainly, auto engineers aren't done yet with brake improvements."