Has anyone had the software upgrade which activates the progressive breaklights that get brighter the harder you brake? I think its standard everywhere apart from Europe!

Anyone know anything on this life threatening topic

 

I think many of us have it (search on "Brake Force Display" or "BFD") but I don't remember seeing anyone claim they've actually seen it actually work...

 

It's my understanding that european makes are wired for rear fog lights. Here, in america, we don't have rear fog lights, so those lights are used for progressive break lights. It's one or the other.

 

Thats what i have read

USA BFD

Rest of the World Rear Foglights

 

Nope...

In the US you don't have rear fogs. The bulbs in there are used for the BFD.
So when you brake, the whole light lights up, and when ABS kicks in the "rear fogs" light up, what is the BFD.

In Europe we have rear fogs, so our brake light is different. When we brake, just the outter half of the lights light up. When ABS kicks in the inner half of the rear lights light up. So, we have BFD and we have rear fog lights. Our rear lights are split up for the use of BFD.

The US can use the whole rear light for brakes, we can only use half of it.

 

I think that is what E60Speed was inferring, Ice. As far as BFD light display, that may be what we are seeing in realtyman's varooooooom and my varoom signature files. IIRC, I did not activate the ABS during the movie, but had to get on the brakes pretty hard after the second shift to keep from going into the pile of concrete blocking the end of the road -- realtyman appears to have been doing something similar. At any rate, when I put the brakes on, there was no opportunity for the two stages of the BFD so if activated, it was just one stage.

This is an opportunity for somebody to make us a movie to demonstrate the two phases intentionally. Notoriety awaits.

 

I've wanted to do this for some time but since I'm never going to get around to it -- I'll cross my fingers that someone will take JDN's challenge. Here's a hint: You should be able to get the BFD to come on pretty easily if you're on a snowy road or parking lot...

 

In Europe our brake lights are not going harder on depent on the force to brake.

The X5 and 3 coup? and cabriolet have LED. I don't understand why its not on the E60.

 

'Tis, but only the top brake light is LED.

 

We do have LED'S, in the third brake light, what is the one in the rear window. This is also the one what is seen better by following traffic.
Also we do have BFD. As explained before the second stage is activated when ABS kicks in.



Europe DOES HAVE BFD !