Parking lights always on

[aboulfad]

Just noticed lately that the parking light icon, the two green things is always on when the light switch is on auto position.
Anyone else got that? Very Weird. I went outside and checked and the side lights were lit.

[CanAutM3]

The green icon in the dash simply signifies that the "lights" are on. The orange side marker are mandated by regulation.

[aboulfad]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

The green icon in the dash simply signifies that the "lights" are on. The orange side marker are mandated by regulation.

I have noticed other BMW's don't have the parking lights on during night driving. Not sure if we are talking about the same thing??? Or maybe they replaced the orange lights w Led or something that matches the bi-Xenon...

[STooK]

They probably had it coded out. I have my ambers coded out so they're never on.

[aboulfad]

Originally Posted by STooK

They probably had it coded out. I have my ambers coded out so they're never on.

Oh so this is similar tot the E90 corner delete mod? Hmmm I didn't come across any coding cheat sheet that mentions that. I'll ask in the coding sub forum. But maybe like canautm3 said it is regulation in either Canada or North America. I swear I don't recall they were ever on my E46 but don't have it to confirm anymore.

No info in coding sub forum, last update is that they couldn't code it out. STooK how did you get it coded out?

[997usa]

Originally Posted by STooK

They probably had it coded out. I have my ambers coded out so they're never on.

Same here.... Never on except for signaling

[AnujS2K]

I have never seen this. When the headlights are on, the tail lights and parking lights are on. take a look at all the cars around you the next time you drive at night.

[aboulfad]

Originally Posted by AnujS2K

I have never seen this. When the headlights are on, the tail lights and parking lights are on. take a look at all the cars around you the next time you drive at night.

I guess you are confirming what canautm3 is saying? That the parking lights (orange side lights) are always on when light switch is ON at night?

Maybe I haven't driven my car too much at night and I know for sure in the e46 that the green dash light never came on when the light switch was in auto.

But I did look yesterday night and few BMWs didn't have them on...

[aboulfad]

Originally Posted by 997usa

Same here.... Never on except for signaling

So far we have conflicting reports from USA members. If it's regulations, it can't be different in different states, could it???

Canautm3 indicates that it is regulation even in Canada. regardless I can't stand the lights, I think it makes the car at night look weird...

[schmidty]

For the LED Headlights the "turn signal" is off when the headlights are on but there are three small yellow LED on the side for DOT

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by aboulfad

Just noticed lately that the parking light icon, the two green things is always on when the light switch is on auto position.
Anyone else got that? Very Weird. I went outside and checked and the side lights were lit.

These are not "parking lights".
They are "side-marker" lights.

As others indicated, they can be coded out.
Personally, I don't mind providing maximum indication to others as to the presence and size of my car at night, so I kept them on.

YMMV,
a

P.S.: Parking light is something else. There is an option to keep one side of the side-market lights ON throughout the night, even with ignition off. Could be useful if you parallel park at night on a side of a super-narrow street. More of a European medieval downtown problem, than anything we are likely to need in the US.

[aboulfad]

Originally Posted by afadeev

...

Hmm not sure, but here's what the manual says... those annoying Amber/orange side marker/lights are used both when the switch in in auto and also turn on when you select the switch to "parking light". Check below the pics from the manual. Already coded them out to try it, I agree they must play some role during the night, not sure how much more visibility they create. I will have to research a bit more. For me I was curious about this moreso than anything.

BTW, the last sentence is wrong, it says "when parking, use roadside parking lights", but if you read on the next pic, it says the ignition must be off to use the roadside parking lights, something doesn't jive... How can you park w ignition off?

[aboulfad]

Second pic.

[aboulfad]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

The green icon in the dash simply signifies that the "lights" are on. The orange side marker are mandated by regulation.

Originally Posted by AnujS2K

I have never seen this. When the headlights are on, the tail lights and parking lights are on. take a look at all the cars around you the next time you drive at night.

Guys, you both knew what you said, it took me a while to come around and to educate myself! It is about regulations, visibility and safety.

Some interesting reads: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_lighting, there's a section on side marker lights that describes it
The regulation: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_20...cfr571.108.pdf
And the 1983 research, 170 pages: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/806430.pdf

Summary: Sidemarker lamps annually prevent 106,000 accidents, 93,000 nonfatal injuries and $347 million in property damage.
o The lamps have not been effective in reducing fatalities.
o They add $21 (in 1982 dollars) to the lifetime cost of owning and operating a motor vehicle.

I have recoded back to default mode, although it looks nice off, I believe IMHO that anything that might increase visibility and decrease risk for collision should not be modified. I know many people replace the reflectors and code the side marker light(also used for parking lights) off, but to each his own.

All in all. We revived another thread in the coding section and confirmed that it is possible to code them out for both LED and Xenon cars and we learned some things about Lighting. Thanks to all that contributed.

[biggripper]

I’ll have to decide if i like this feature when my car arrives. If not I’m coding them out.

[aboulfad]

Originally Posted by biggripper

I’ll have to decide if i like this feature when my car arrives. If not I’m coding them out.

IMHO, the LED 3 side lights look really cool. The ones I have non LED , see pics, look fugly but for above reasons I am keeping them ON. My bro took a vid of car at night and the sides are really dark with them OFF.