Variable Brake Light Brightness

arcsynesis · 02-28-2009, 01:03 AM

I have searched but have found nothing in the forum.

What's up with the manual talking about the brake lights being variable brightness depending on how hard the brakes are applied? I have tried to see if it works and my brake lights seem to be the same brightness no matter how hard I apply them.

Thanks for any info. on this.

Big Windy · 02-28-2009, 04:08 AM

Under hard braking, the rear fog lights will illuminate to give additional warning to drivers behind you. The regular brake lights don't change brightness.

doba_s · 02-28-2009, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Windy

Under hard braking, the rear fog lights will illuminate to give additional warning to drivers behind you. The regular brake lights don't change brightness.

interesting ... i didn't know that

Patricius · 02-28-2009, 11:17 AM

Yep, only under real hard braking will they come on. I had my friend wire my e46 to run the brighter brake lights all the time, so to avoid any confusion on the behalf of drivers behind me who have lesser brakes...

I will probably also have him wire my new one for the same effect.

mPlasticDesign · 02-28-2009, 11:47 AM

It's called 'Two-Stage Brake Force Display.' Under normal braking, the outside of the lower third of the tail lights will come on. With sharp braking that brake line continues to the trunk lid portion.

arcsynesis · 02-28-2009, 02:26 PM

Thanks for the info. Sorry for the question, but my car is in the shop right now and I can't confirm. So does this mean when the car is parked and the brakes are applied only the regular brake lights come on? Can you get the other lights to come on when parked if the brakes are pushed hard enough? It seems like I tried this before and nothing happened. Does the car have to be moving to get the additional lights to come on?

Big Windy · 02-28-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///Metak

It's called 'Two-Stage Brake Force Display.' Under normal braking, the outside of the lower third of the tail lights will come on. With sharp braking that brake line continues to the trunk lid portion.

oh, okay. i thought it was the rear fog light...good to know.

niqui · 02-28-2009, 03:32 PM

theres a pic in the manual showing it pretty clearly

GregW / Oregon · 02-28-2009, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Windy

oh, okay. i thought it was the rear fog light...good to know.

I was thinking that too -- but, there is a diagram of it in the manual.

spyderco10 · 03-01-2009, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///Metak

It's called 'Two-Stage Brake Force Display.' Under normal braking, the outside of the lower third of the tail lights will come on. With sharp braking that brake line continues to the trunk lid portion.

i did not know this, thanks

02-28-2009, 01:03 AM	#1
arcsynesis Enlisted Member 0 Rep 32 Posts Drives: e92 m3 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: las vegas, nv iTrader: (0)	Variable Brake Light Brightness I have searched but have found nothing in the forum. What's up with the manual talking about the brake lights being variable brightness depending on how hard the brakes are applied? I have tried to see if it works and my brake lights seem to be the same brightness no matter how hard I apply them. Thanks for any info. on this.
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02-28-2009, 04:08 AM	#2
Big Windy Major General 84 Rep 5,116 Posts Drives: audi s4 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: seatac, wa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 E92 M3 [4.50] 2000 Saleen S281 Su ... [0.00]	Under hard braking, the rear fog lights will illuminate to give additional warning to drivers behind you. The regular brake lights don't change brightness. __________________
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02-28-2009, 11:17 AM	#4
Patricius Lieutenant 8 Rep 532 Posts Drives: 04 325xi, 05 M3 cpe, 08 M3 cpe Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Philadelphia, PA iTrader: (0)	Yep, only under real hard braking will they come on. I had my friend wire my e46 to run the brighter brake lights all the time, so to avoid any confusion on the behalf of drivers behind me who have lesser brakes... I will probably also have him wire my new one for the same effect.
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02-28-2009, 11:47 AM	#5
mPlasticDesign Brigadier General 289 Rep 4,973 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 Comp Pkg Only Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Astral Projecting: ∞ 23.516 -122 02.625 0242.101 ĕv'rē-hwâr' iTrader: (15) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 E90 [5.00] 2013 BMW M3 (Sold) [5.00] 2011 1M Coupe (Sold) [4.39] 2008 E90 M3 (Sold) [4.30] 2007 Z4 Mcpe (Sold) [5.00] 2005 BMW M3 (Sold) [5.00]	It's called 'Two-Stage Brake Force Display.' Under normal braking, the outside of the lower third of the tail lights will come on. With sharp braking that brake line continues to the trunk lid portion. __________________
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02-28-2009, 02:26 PM	#6
arcsynesis Enlisted Member 0 Rep 32 Posts Drives: e92 m3 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: las vegas, nv iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the info. Sorry for the question, but my car is in the shop right now and I can't confirm. So does this mean when the car is parked and the brakes are applied only the regular brake lights come on? Can you get the other lights to come on when parked if the brakes are pushed hard enough? It seems like I tried this before and nothing happened. Does the car have to be moving to get the additional lights to come on?
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02-28-2009, 03:32 PM	#8
niqui Brigadier General 63 Rep 3,109 Posts Drives: Jet Black E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Canada iTrader: (7)	theres a pic in the manual showing it pretty clearly
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