[BitStream]

http://fucy626.com/album/gruppem/P1020972.MOV

If your watching in Quicktime drag your slider to the point where the brake lights come on. There are about 2 or 3 frames there with the 3rd brake light lit up and nothing on the right or left tail lamps.

[E90Fleet]

3rd brakelight is LED, they light up slightly faster

[BitStream]

figured .. didn't think it would be noticeable, even in slow-mo

[tctic]

Yeah, it's pretty obvious that the 3rd brake light (LED) lights up much faster. If you park near a wall and depress the brakes, you can even see that from your rear view mirror that the LED lights up much faster.

I also realized that when you depress the brake very very slightly, the brake lights won't light up. (I am talking about 0.5cm depression on the brake pedal) anyone notice this? Is the brake actually being applied during this initial 0.5cm of depression? If not, wouldn't this increase the stopping distance especially when travelling at high speeds?

[visor]

Originally Posted by tctic

Yeah, it's pretty obvious that the 3rd brake light (LED) lights up much faster. If you park near a wall and depress the brakes, you can even see that from your rear view mirror that the LED lights up much faster.

I also realized that when you depress the brake very very slightly, the brake lights won't light up. (I am talking about 0.5cm depression on the brake pedal) anyone notice this? Is the brake actually being applied during this initial 0.5cm of depression? If not, wouldn't this increase the stopping distance especially when travelling at high speeds?

In all the cars I've driven, there is a slight "lag" in the brake pedal as you noticed before the lights and brakes are activated. I'd guess it's to prevent premature wear on the brake pads if someone were to drive with one foot resting on the brake pedal.

The Brake Standby feature compensates for this by pre-tensioning the brake pads in anticipation of emergency braking conditions when a sudden lift in the throttle pedal is detected.

[billgti]

Originally Posted by tctic

I also realized that when you depress the brake very very slightly, the brake lights won't light up. (I am talking about 0.5cm depression on the brake pedal) anyone notice this? Is the brake actually being applied during this initial 0.5cm of depression? If not, wouldn't this increase the stopping distance especially when travelling at high speeds?

i've noticed this too. u can actually engage the brakes very lightly without having your brake lights come on. in other cars i've driven, the slightest pressure on the brake pedal would light up your brake lights but there was no actual brake pressure applied.