Did you know...

Richardo · 10-24-2007, 12:41 AM

In my 335i, the daytime running lights brighten when brakes are applied (just like the brake lights do)? I was reviewing some video of my last autocross and it shows up clearly (even in bright sunlight)-- it was actually pretty useful in helping determine how well I drove the course. However, it worries me that the next time I brake hard to slow down at a speed trap, it will be extra obvious that I'm braking hard to slow down.

AndrewAZ · 10-24-2007, 02:31 AM

Simple turn off DRL.

gloster · 10-24-2007, 07:36 AM

chance of officer noticing your car has lights which brighten when you slow down .03%

cool funky headlights.....priceless

HyperM3 · 10-24-2007, 08:38 AM

Or is it the adjustable headlights making a correction for the momentary dive the front end makes when the brakes are applied? When they flick up for that split second they look brighter because they are aimed more at you...

canucklion · 10-24-2007, 08:42 AM

I doubt they do that, I think HyperM3's hypothesis makes more sense. What would be the reason for brightening up the DRL when braking? to warn the car in front of you that you're braking?

Now, adaptive brake light makes sense in that it warns the car behind you that you're braking hard, so they won't ram you from behind.

purplewidow · 10-24-2007, 09:07 AM

oh yeah i can hear a copper now...."your DRL's were brightening i know you were going 80 not 55." yeah f'n right.....get real i would like to see a cop use that line in court...might be one of the only times a judge laughs at a cop

Richardo · 10-25-2007, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyperM3

Or is it the adjustable headlights making a correction for the momentary dive the front end makes when the brakes are applied? When they flick up for that split second they look brighter because they are aimed more at you...

I bet you're right; I didn't think of that

-- that's probably the reason for it. It does actually look pretty cool.

Thanks for the comments.

Richardo · 10-26-2007, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewAZ

Simple turn off DRL.

This function is "grayed out" on my I-Drive. I can see it but can't actually choose it. Is that unique to the new i-drive version?

gloster · 10-26-2007, 10:25 AM

Hmmm, aren't DRL's required by regulation in Canada. Richardo -- you don't have a Canadian spec car do you?

Kylekuu · 10-26-2007, 10:30 AM

I thought DRL's just make insurance cheaper

STE92VE · 10-26-2007, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Railgun

No...the main function is for improved visibility for others. I don't know of any insurance company that does anything one way or another with DRLs.

Geico discounts for DRL's

LKNDC · 10-26-2007, 12:49 PM

I know over here in Italy if you brake real hard in one of teh cars they have here the flashers will automatically come on.

kiki · 10-26-2007, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyperM3

Or is it the adjustable headlights making a correction for the momentary dive the front end makes when the brakes are applied? When they flick up for that split second they look brighter because they are aimed more at you...

Plausible, but I was under the impression that only the service headlamps were adaptive , and the DRL were fixed-- it doesnt make sense (in USA and Canada) that the DRL would swivel

HyperM3 · 10-26-2007, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiki

Plausible, but I was under the impression that only the service headlamps were adaptive , and the DRL were fixed-- it doesnt make sense (in USA and Canada) that the DRL would swivel

Easiest thing to do is have someone take a pic of their headlights with just the DRL's and then a pic of just their low beams. If they use the same projector then you know they both move the same. If the DRL's use the high beam projector then its a different story as that one does not adjust.

Grumpa72 · 10-26-2007, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canucklion

I doubt they do that

Why not test this out? Take two minutes and sit in the car with the engine running and apply the brakes. Have an able bodied assistant tell you whether or not your DRL change?

gloster · 10-26-2007, 01:35 PM

From Transport Canada (the Canadian government agency in charge of their transportation system):

"On December 1, 1989, Canada became the second country after Norway to require daytime running lights (DRLs) on all new passenger cars, multi-purpose vehicles, buses and trucks manufactured for sale in Canada, in order to increase visibility and reduce collisions."

So....I don't know this, but it would not surprise me if Canadian's BMWs come without the ability to turn 'em off. Any Canadian BMW's care to confirm or refute?

Jaws · 10-26-2007, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gloster

From Transport Canada (the Canadian government agency in charge of their transportation system):

"On December 1, 1989, Canada became the second country after Norway to require daytime running lights (DRLs) on all new passenger cars, multi-purpose vehicles, buses and trucks manufactured for sale in Canada, in order to increase visibility and reduce collisions."

So....I don't know this, but it would not surprise me if Canadian's BMWs come without the ability to turn 'em off. Any Canadian BMW's care to confirm or refute?

Can't turn them off.

Richardo · 10-30-2007, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gloster

Hmmm, aren't DRL's required by regulation in Canada. Richardo -- you don't have a Canadian spec car do you?

No, I'm in Dallas, and it's a US spec car.

Richardo · 10-30-2007, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpa72

Why not test this out? Take two minutes and sit in the car with the engine running and apply the brakes. Have an able bodied assistant tell you whether or not your DRL change?

Okay, I tried this in my garage, and they don't seem to change significantly.

. The best explanation seems to be HyperM3's -- that the viewing angle changes slightly once the brakes are applied (i.e. the momentary 'diving down' from applying the brakes hard at relatively high speeds).

tturedraider · 10-30-2007, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Railgun

No...the main function is for improved visibility for others. I don't know of any insurance company that does anything one way or another with DRLs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by STE92VE

Geico discounts for DRL's

USAA discounts for DRLs, too.

Black Sapphire · 10-30-2007, 04:20 AM

I know with British spec cars they have a function where if you brake heavily the rear lights brighten as well as the brake lights to warn the car behind that you've whacked the anchors on and they need to stop sharpish!!

Maestro · 10-30-2007, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canucklion

Now, adaptive brake light makes sense in that it warns the car behind you that you're braking hard, so they won't ram you from behind.

Now this assumes the car behind you has the same stopping power as you. I think this is good idea, however 99% of the drivers behind you will have no clue that that your braking hard until they slam into you.

10-24-2007, 12:41 AM	#1
Richardo Private First Class 14 Rep 153 Posts Drives: 335i AT sport Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Did you know... In my 335i, the daytime running lights brighten when brakes are applied (just like the brake lights do)? I was reviewing some video of my last autocross and it shows up clearly (even in bright sunlight)-- it was actually pretty useful in helping determine how well I drove the course. However, it worries me that the next time I brake hard to slow down at a speed trap, it will be extra obvious that I'm braking hard to slow down.
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10-24-2007, 02:31 AM	#2
AndrewAZ Major 137 Rep 1,243 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Simple turn off DRL.
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10-24-2007, 07:36 AM	#3
gloster Captain 15 Rep 649 Posts Drives: 335i MT, sport Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cleveland, OH iTrader: (0)	chance of officer noticing your car has lights which brighten when you slow down .03% cool funky headlights.....priceless
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10-24-2007, 08:38 AM	#4
HyperM3 Too many Alex's, from now on, call me Beaufort 342 Rep 6,188 Posts Drives: See Sig Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lawrenceville, NJ iTrader: (8)	Or is it the adjustable headlights making a correction for the momentary dive the front end makes when the brakes are applied? When they flick up for that split second they look brighter because they are aimed more at you... __________________ 13 HD FatBob 17 A4 Glacier/Black 1st Edition/Pre+/Sport/EurocodeTMD/Racechip 16 S6 (gone),14 S6 (gone),14 S6 (gone),13 S6 (gone),10 S4 (gone) 07 335i(gone)
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10-24-2007, 08:42 AM	#5
canucklion pull my finger to get your kinder® surprise 148 Rep 10,455 Posts Drives: circles around you Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (9)	I doubt they do that, I think HyperM3's hypothesis makes more sense. What would be the reason for brightening up the DRL when braking? to warn the car in front of you that you're braking? Now, adaptive brake light makes sense in that it warns the car behind you that you're braking hard, so they won't ram you from behind. __________________
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10-24-2007, 09:07 AM	#6
purplewidow Lieutenant Colonel 51 Rep 1,928 Posts Drives: e92 335 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chicago iTrader: (2)	oh yeah i can hear a copper now...."your DRL's were brightening i know you were going 80 not 55." yeah f'n right.....get real i would like to see a cop use that line in court...might be one of the only times a judge laughs at a cop
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10-26-2007, 10:25 AM	#9
gloster Captain 15 Rep 649 Posts Drives: 335i MT, sport Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cleveland, OH iTrader: (0)	Hmmm, aren't DRL's required by regulation in Canada. Richardo -- you don't have a Canadian spec car do you?
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10-26-2007, 10:30 AM	#10
Kylekuu Captain 30 Rep 679 Posts Drives: 08 328xi, 84 318i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kenosha, WI iTrader: (0)	I thought DRL's just make insurance cheaper
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10-26-2007, 12:49 PM	#12
LKNDC Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 260 Posts Drives: F06 640i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (1)	I know over here in Italy if you brake real hard in one of teh cars they have here the flashers will automatically come on.
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10-26-2007, 01:35 PM	#16
gloster Captain 15 Rep 649 Posts Drives: 335i MT, sport Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cleveland, OH iTrader: (0)	From Transport Canada (the Canadian government agency in charge of their transportation system): "On December 1, 1989, Canada became the second country after Norway to require daytime running lights (DRLs) on all new passenger cars, multi-purpose vehicles, buses and trucks manufactured for sale in Canada, in order to increase visibility and reduce collisions." So....I don't know this, but it would not surprise me if Canadian's BMWs come without the ability to turn 'em off. Any Canadian BMW's care to confirm or refute?
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10-30-2007, 04:20 AM	#21
Black Sapphire Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 227 Posts Drives: Impreza WRX STI Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: London, England iTrader: (0)	I know with British spec cars they have a function where if you brake heavily the rear lights brighten as well as the brake lights to warn the car behind that you've whacked the anchors on and they need to stop sharpish!!
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