BMW Brake Force Display coded on F80 M3

[USAM3]

BMW Brake Force Display coded on F80 M3. My favorite mod by far.

[mikex25]

Could you explain this mod a bit more?

[FLETCHER]

Is this a module or just coding?

[USAM3]

This is done with coding. US spec cars have this capability and just need it turned on via coding.

This mod makes the 3rd brake light and fog lamps flash during emergency braking.

[stranger]

Originally Posted by USAM3

This is done with coding. US spec cars have this capability and just need it turned on via coding.

This mod makes the 3rd brake light and fog lamps flash during emergency braking.

can this be done on euro spec cars?

[USAM3]

Originally Posted by stranger

can this be done on euro spec cars?

Isn't it already enabled for euro spec cars? In order to enable the feature on US spec cars you have to change some settings from US->EU.

[Bluex]

I have done this and it's a very effective mod/code. It absolutely keeps people awake driving behind you

Furthermore you can code the speed thresholds for this as well.....that part I didn't bother with.

[///bproden]

In everyday driving you wouldn't get them flashing, only when you really step on them hard right?

Thanks for sharing this I've been curious to what it looked like when active

[Bluex]

Originally Posted by ///bproden

In everyday driving you wouldn't get them flashing, only when you really step on them hard right?

That would be correct....under hard braking. There are parameters that define this....as to what the car defines as "hard", but they are in a coding cheat sheet that I just don't have handy at the moment. It's related to speed however.

If you try to test this just by pressing on the brakes, say in your driveway, you won't see it active.

[deplaya]

Can you get a ticket for this in the US?

[BMV///M3]

Looks neat, however I'd be concerned people would think you're flashing the hazard lights. But then again if you're braking hard its probably to avoid a hazard right? =).

[x.shell]

Could be the camera frame rate being out of sync with the brake light, but doesn't look nearly as "strobe-like" compared to what I've seen on other cars.

[USAM3]

Originally Posted by ex o

Could be the camera frame rate being out of sync with the brake light, but doesn't look nearly as "strobe-like" compared to what I've seen on other cars.

I'm not 100% positive but I think the strobe effect is relative to how fast you were traveling when you slammed the breaks. I wasn't going that fast in this example.

[USAM3]

Originally Posted by deplaya

Can you get a ticket for this in the US?

I would hope our men/women in blue have more important things to enforce than someone who can pump their brakes with superhuman speed.

[DBV]

Originally Posted by USAM3

I'm not 100% positive but I think the strobe effect is relative to how fast you were traveling when you slammed the breaks. I wasn't going that fast in this example.

Seems the E9X version actually flashed the brake lights, whereas the F8X does just the inner fogs...

Guess I'll have to wait for my car to see how the F8X LEDS react...

[Blindside_137]

Are there studies that show this helps?

My mom had a suburban that had the third brake light always flash, and she was rear ended by someone once. The other driver assumed she was tapping the brake and didn't know that the car would flash the brake.

It makes me hesitant on whether this truly is a good coding feature or not. I would love to read an article if this has been discussed or researched.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by Blindside_137

Are there studies that show this helps?

My mom had a suburban that had the third brake light always flash, and she was rear ended by someone once. The other driver assumed she was tapping the brake and didn't know that the car would flash the brake.

It makes me hesitant on whether this truly is a good coding feature or not. I would love to read an article if this has been discussed or researched.

It doesn't always flash, only in an "emergency" when ABS kicks in. It's enough to get one's attention in a panic stop.

[Blindside_137]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

It doesn't always flash, only when ABS kicks in.

Yes the analogy to the suburban isn't perfect, but the question remains. Would the driver behind you know this feature and react more quickly to flashing lights? Or would flashing make them hesitate?

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by Blindside_137

Yes the analogy to the suburban isn't perfect, but the question remains. Would the driver behind you know this feature and react more quickly to flashing lights? Or would flashing make them hesitate?

I'm sure there is a study in the UK somewhere, but the first time I saw it on the road, it definitely caught my attention. Granted, I've never seen it prior to that. If it ever becomes standard in the US, I'm sure a lot of people will get jaded by it.

[///F80M3]

I don't like this because i remember seeing a car tailgating other cars and his taillights were flashing nonstop. It was very annoying at night

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by ///F80M3

I don't like this because i remember seeing a car tailgating other cars and his taillights were flashing nonstop. It was very annoying at night

Devices that flash the 3rd brakelight every time the brake is applied is annoying as well as distracting. Coding only activates the inner lamps when ABS is activated.

Originally Posted by Blindside_137

Yes the analogy to the suburban isn't perfect, but the question remains. Would the driver behind you know this feature and react more quickly to flashing lights? Or would flashing make them hesitate?

I think so, as it's hard to dismiss flashing red lights in front of you.

This definitely stands out in a sea of taillights in traffic if a panic stop was to happen.

[Blindside_137]

Originally Posted by ex o

I'm sure there is a study in the UK somewhere, but the first time I saw it on the road, it definitely caught my attention. Granted, I've never seen it prior to that. If it ever becomes standard in the US, I'm sure a lot of people will get jaded by it.

Yea I'm not denying the fact that it gets attention.

But I want to know if lets say someone is paying attention then sees the flashing red lights and confuses them because they're flashing and they have never seen it before. This could cause a delay mentally as they interpret a new brake light display. Then end up rear ending you.

Just curious about whether it truly would help or not. I agree it gets attention. Might just depend on the case, distance between cars, and the people involved.