Brake and back red lights are not LEDs
#1
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 530d (Jan 2005) premium pack, pro nav, steptronic
Just wondering why my E60 brake and back (tail) red lights are still normal bulbs technology and not LEDs. I was used to have LEDs on my E39 in 2001. Any reason ? Do you know if BMW have any plan on future models ?
#2
Members
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2006 525i Jet Black (Base + PDC)
I was wondering about that too. It seems like they only put the LED in the 3-series coupe/6/7 series only. Really don't know why .... maybe its gonna be a face-lift enhancement?
#3
Contributors
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Posts: 7,790
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: My ex-ride: EU '08 LCI 520dA. Space Grey, Sport Seats in Black Leather/Fabric Anthracite, Sport Steering Wheel, A/C with Extended Features, Hi-Fi Speakers, Cup Holders, Cruise with Braking function, Folding Rear Seats, Xenons, Park Distance Control.
Originally Posted by vffun' date='Sep 9 2005, 04:38 PM
I was wondering about that too. It seems like they only put the LED in the 3-series coupe/6/7 series only. Really don't know why? .... maybe its gonna be a face-lift enhancement?
[snapback]168710[/snapback]
#5
Senior Members
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Posts: 684
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: MY05 545i Jet Black with Auburn interior. SMG, Logic7, Sport Package, Comfort Seats, Navigation.
Whats wrong with having regular bulbs? Your 3rd brake light is LED so there is no delay in notifying your intension to stop.
#6
Members
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2006 525i Jet Black (Base + PDC)
Originally Posted by speedracerF4i' date='Sep 9 2005, 03:18 PM
Whats wrong with having regular bulbs?? Your 3rd brake light is LED so there is no delay in notifying your intension to stop.
[snapback]168850[/snapback]
#8
Contributors
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: NYC & LI
Posts: 2,460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
...in the case of Xenons, they are by far superior to halogens in terms of night vision, not just cool, a real safety feature, imho... As well with rear LED's, they shine a little brighter, but more importantly, they will activate faster and that time can save you in a real emergency braking situation, ....there is absolutely NO reason that the E60 was not designed with them, other than to piss off all current and soon to be owners, to keep it for a refresh, when in all honesty, the E60 doesnt need one, it was/is a perfect design .
...BMW better just do what they did with the E39 and make them retrofittable, just something else we'll need to mod :thumbsdown:
...BMW better just do what they did with the E39 and make them retrofittable, just something else we'll need to mod :thumbsdown:
#9
Contributors
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,573
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2006 530i Sport
Silver Gray - Black Leather - Anthracite Maple
Manual Transmission
Premium Audio
Cold Weather Package
Rear sunshade
Sirius Radio
Autobahnd Roadblock (3M) film kit
LEDs fire faster than normal bulbs. I saw exact figures once, but the fraction of a second advantage LEDs have over normal bulbs should provide earlier signaling to the driver in the car behind you. Since a vehicle traveling 80mph covers nearly 120ft per second, a fraction of a second earlier reaction can translate into quite a few feet - the difference between the guy behind you stopping short of an accident or slamming into the back of your car.
LEDs are brighter too - perhaps BMW's research indicates that the brightness is what drivers can key in on - perhaps average reaction times aren't enough to make the faster firing meaningful in practice. I'm thinking perhaps this is the case - so the adaptive brake lights are probably adequate. I can't imagine BMW skimping on safety if it's actually an effective feature.
LEDs are brighter too - perhaps BMW's research indicates that the brightness is what drivers can key in on - perhaps average reaction times aren't enough to make the faster firing meaningful in practice. I'm thinking perhaps this is the case - so the adaptive brake lights are probably adequate. I can't imagine BMW skimping on safety if it's actually an effective feature.