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Post by michael on Nov 30, 2020 17:56:03 GMT
On a short drive into town, and back, I saw three cars driving without their lights on in the dark.
Is this because of DRLs, permanently backlit dashboards or automatic headlights? Also, what is there a recognised means of flagging this to those users as if there isn't their needs to be.
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Post by Martin on Nov 30, 2020 18:01:53 GMT
On a short drive into town, and back, I saw three cars driving without their lights on in the dark.
Is this because of DRLs, permanently backlit dashboards or automatic headlights? Also, what is there a recognised means of flagging this to those users as if there isn't their needs to be.
It does happen a lot and I'm convinced it's mainly due to lit dashboards. It's even more annoying when you know that car will have auto headlights, but they've been switched off. I try and help them with 3-4 quick flashes of the headlights and it occasionally works, but most of the time it has zero effect. |
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Post by Blarno on Nov 30, 2020 19:09:50 GMT
Definitely backlit dashboards are to blame. I will flash them remorselessly until they realise.
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Post by Big Blue on Nov 30, 2020 19:16:50 GMT
Idiocy is to blame.
I am forever annoyed that having had cars with auto lights whenever they return from any form of service the switch is resolutely returned to "off" as opposed to "auto". Motorcycles don't have a "lights-off" switch - modern cars should just have an "auto" lights function and no light switches. DRLs can be controlled via some dashboard function, either a switch or in the software options for the driver but the lights on in the dark should just be automatic with no switching. The service port can allow testing for MoTs in the daylight. Manufacturers haven't caught up with the fact that car drivers are not enthusiasts and like cars or even read the manual so assume the on-off switch is a required "thing".
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Post by Tim on Nov 30, 2020 19:30:56 GMT
I noticed a lot of this yesterday in thick fog.
I reckon at least 50% of cars had DRLs only - no rear lights on at all
Another 10% or so had no lights at all and the rest had headlights and rear lights on properly.
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Post by Boxer6 on Nov 30, 2020 19:54:50 GMT
Definitely backlit dashboards are to blame. I will flash them remorselessly until they realise. As I posted in another thread recently, I've given up doing that - I'd just end up breaking the light stalk I'm sure! I noticed a lot of this yesterday in thick fog. I reckon at least 50% of cars had DRLs only - no rear lights on at all Another 10% or so had no lights at all and the rest had headlights and rear lights on properly. This, in spades. |
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Nov 30, 2020 20:48:19 GMT
I just don’t understand why the DRLs only put the front lights on and not the rear ones as well.
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Post by humphreythepug on Nov 30, 2020 21:06:02 GMT
Idiocy is to blame. I am forever annoyed that having had cars with auto lights whenever they return from any form of service the switch is resolutely returned to "off" as opposed to "auto". Motorcycles don't have a "lights-off" switch - modern cars should just have an "auto" lights function and no light switches. DRLs can be controlled via some dashboard function, either a switch or in the software options for the driver but the lights on in the dark should just be automatic with no switching. The service port can allow testing for MoTs in the daylight. Manufacturers haven't caught up with the fact that car drivers are not enthusiasts and like cars or even read the manual so assume the on-off switch is a required "thing". Now auto lights is legislation, all Renault's and Dacia's with auto lights don't have a headlight off function, you have "auto", "side" and "main", I should imagine it's like that for all manufacturers now from a type approval point. Problem with auto lights, it's one more less thing for drivers to have to worry about, so with many, the headlights being on is something they don't think about it "the car will do it if needed", however when there is low light, fog, rain etc they should be on but aren't as the sensor doesn't pick up those conditions. |
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Post by PG on Dec 1, 2020 9:20:18 GMT
Problem with auto lights, it's one more less thing for drivers to have to worry about, so with many, the headlights being on is something they don't think about it "the car will do it if needed", however when there is low light, fog, rain etc they should be on but aren't as the sensor doesn't pick up those conditions. It is a combination of idiocy and relying too much on the features and functions. Which are not infallible. On Sunday in the mizzly rain and low light we had, the Mini auto headlights did not come on so I had to switch them on manually. Loads of other cars had no lights on, so probably had the same issue. |
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Post by racingteatray on Dec 1, 2020 9:45:24 GMT
Not much to add to the above.
I tend to drive with my lights on all the time. That's probably a result of living for three years in Russia, where by law you have to drive with your lights on, plus a lot of driving over many years in Italy which requires you to have your headlights on at all times if driving on a motorway (less of an issue now with DRLs but still I believe a legal requirement).
Now, all my BMWs back to the original 135i I bought when I got back from Moscow have had automatic xenons, so they do their own thing. But I also drive everywhere in the Fiat with the lights on (and I had uprated bulbs fitted) - it's small and white, so that just seems like a good idea. Luckily, in this respect the Fiat is like the Alfa I had - if the lights are left on when you turn the car off, sensibly enough they simply turn off with the car and there is no "lights left on" buzzer. So that when you get back in, they are either on or off depending on how you last set them.
Same story with the auto stop/start - in the Fiat, if you turn it off, it stays off until such time as you manually turn it on again, irrespective of how many times you switch the ignition on and off. Whereas the BMW irritatingly reverts to it every time the ignition is switched off, or if you put it in Eco Pro mode (which I tend to do if stuck in traffic as it makes the car a more relaxed companion).
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Post by johnc on Dec 1, 2020 9:47:16 GMT
I had a DRL lights on driver in front of me last week at 6am. Rear of the car in total darkness and only a couple of candle power up front. I pulled alongside her at some traffic lights and tried to get her attention but I was obviously some undesirable maniac and she just stared straight ahead. The van who pulled up behind her put his full beam on but she was oblivious to that too.
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Post by racingteatray on Dec 1, 2020 9:51:48 GMT
If the car is behind me, I'll sometimes flick my lights off for a second or two and then back on (and possibly repeat) as the sudden vanishing of the tail-lights on the car in front can cause the errant driver to wonder what has happened and then realise.
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Post by michael on Dec 1, 2020 9:59:02 GMT
Now, all my BMWs back to the original 135i I bought when I got back from Moscow have had automatic xenons, so they do their own thing. But I also drive everywhere in the Fiat with the lights on (and I had uprated bulbs fitted) - it's small and white, so that just seems like a good idea. Luckily, in this respect the Fiat is like the Alfa I had - if the lights are left on when you turn the car off, sensibly enough they simply turn off with the car and there is no "lights left on" buzzer. So that when you get back in, they are either on or off depending on how you last set them. Same story with the auto stop/start - in the Fiat, if you turn it off, it stays off until such time as you manually turn it on again, irrespective of how many times you switch the ignition on and off. Whereas the BMW irritatingly reverts to it every time the ignition is switched off, or if you put it in Eco Pro mode (which I tend to do if stuck in traffic as it makes the car a more relaxed companion). The Fiat light solution is brilliant, it was the same on my Puntos. There's a button on the key barrel that if pressed when you turn the car off keeps the lights on so they've got all bases covered.
Stop start reactivating is now EU law. All safety systems too have to default to on.
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Post by Tim on Dec 1, 2020 11:01:53 GMT
Same story with the auto stop/start - in the Fiat, if you turn it off, it stays off until such time as you manually turn it on again, irrespective of how many times you switch the ignition on and off. Whereas the BMW irritatingly reverts to it every time the ignition is switched off, or if you put it in Eco Pro mode (which I tend to do if stuck in traffic as it makes the car a more relaxed companion). Something the BMW doesn't do, which irritates me endlessly along with it always defaulting to 'Comfort' when you switch on rather than remembering you left it in Sport mode. |
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Post by Martin on Dec 1, 2020 11:30:15 GMT
Same story with the auto stop/start - in the Fiat, if you turn it off, it stays off until such time as you manually turn it on again, irrespective of how many times you switch the ignition on and off. Whereas the BMW irritatingly reverts to it every time the ignition is switched off, or if you put it in Eco Pro mode (which I tend to do if stuck in traffic as it makes the car a more relaxed companion). Something the BMW doesn't do, which irritates me endlessly along with it always defaulting to 'Comfort' when you switch on rather than remembering you left it in Sport mode. That was a bit annoying on the 750 as well, because Adaptive/Voodoo mode was where it spent most of its time but it defaulted to comfort. The Golf remembers the mode and even does it by key/profile. |
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Post by Big Blue on Dec 1, 2020 12:34:09 GMT
Don't mention the "Comfort" default on adaptive suspension.  |
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Post by Ben on Dec 1, 2020 13:22:14 GMT
Idiocy is to blame. I am forever annoyed that having had cars with auto lights whenever they return from any form of service the switch is resolutely returned to "off" as opposed to "auto". Motorcycles don't have a "lights-off" switch - modern cars should just have an "auto" lights function and no light switches. DRLs can be controlled via some dashboard function, either a switch or in the software options for the driver but the lights on in the dark should just be automatic with no switching. The service port can allow testing for MoTs in the daylight. Manufacturers haven't caught up with the fact that car drivers are not enthusiasts and like cars or even read the manual so assume the on-off switch is a required "thing". +1 to this. |
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Post by johnc on Dec 1, 2020 13:33:58 GMT
Come on guys this is a first world problem. Pressing a button that says Sport or the other one that switches off stop start can be done in less time than it takes to change radio station. Personally I like the way the car starts in comfort mode because it is kinder on a cold engine.
My lights stay on Auto all the time and when both the car and me are warmed up I don't find it too taxing to move my hand to press the Sport button: just be grateful you are allowed a Sport button - they will soon outlaw that too.
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Post by Big Blue on Dec 1, 2020 14:58:46 GMT
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Post by Tim on Dec 1, 2020 15:42:02 GMT
Come on guys this is a first world problem. Pressing a button that says Sport or the other one that switches off stop start can be done in less time than it takes to change radio station. Personally I like the way the car starts in comfort mode because it is kinder on a cold engine. My lights stay on Auto all the time and when both the car and me are warmed up I don't find it too taxing to move my hand to press the Sport button: just be grateful you are allowed a Sport button - they will soon outlaw that too. Comfort is alright if you've got 4.4 litres of twin turbo V8 petrol powered goodness but if you've got a puny 2 litre turbodiesel that feeling of 50% of the engine missing is deeply unpleasant. Anyway if I'm out of the car for 15 minutes why can it remember that I had the heated seats on but can't remember I also had it in comfort mode? Stupid BMW. As you say though it's an easy button press (in an F31 at least) and pressing Sport disables stop-start anyway. |
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Post by rodge on Dec 2, 2020 6:31:59 GMT
DRLs and lit dashboards are the problem.
Idiots are a bigger problem.
And comfort settings and seat warmers. I get that too, but I did discover last week when I got into the car after it had been parked for 9 hours on a cold day, that the car started and blew out hot air immediately.
I remember seeing Jeremy Clarkson talking about BMW doing th is in their cars years ago but was surprised to experience it, as I didn’t know my car had that feature.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2020 10:04:44 GMT
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Post by Martin on Dec 2, 2020 10:21:19 GMT
Why, when you take your car in for a service, do the technicians turn your light switch from auto to off but never return it afterwards? As if pissing around with your seat position wasn't bad enough! They switch them off so they're no on in the workshop, but no idea why they don't switch them back, but Porsche/BMW/VW/LR are all the same. No problem messing with the seat though, I just press the button with the 1 on and it's all back to normal. |
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Post by ChrisM on Dec 2, 2020 11:00:05 GMT
Why, when you take your car in for a service, do the technicians turn your light switch from auto to off but never return it afterwards? As if pissing around with your seat position wasn't bad enough! I've found the opposite with Renault and Ford - take the cars in for service with the light switch on "off" but on collection, it's been set to "auto" |
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Post by Tim on Dec 2, 2020 13:35:15 GMT
The 370 always used to come back from a service with the rev-matching function switched off but I imagine that was a result of them disconnecting the battery?
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