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Do you use your parking lights? How long do you leave them on?
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02-23-2006, 06:07 AM | #1 |
Sabaku SouSou
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Do you use your parking lights? How long do you leave them on?
I was just wondering, do people really use this feature? By parking lights I mean when the vehichle is stopped, engine turned off and key fob out of its socket, you click the turn signal stalk either left or right and the park lights on the left side only (or right side, depending on which way you turn the stalk) lights up. I think its supposed to make the car easier to see and less prone to being hit by other cars when parked along a dark road (you turn on the parking light on the side that faces the road.) Of course, if you leave it on for too long the battery might go dead. Does anyone here use this feature regularly? How long can you safely keep it on? I've been driving japanese cars all my life and the E90 is the first car I've owned that has this feature. My friend tells me it is common in european cars. Sorry if this is a re-post, I tried searching for the topic but I didnt find anything
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02-23-2006, 06:35 AM | #2 |
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I knew it was a feature in some cars - but never really even thought it was avail in this bmer. Never occurred for me that I would want to use it.
I mean - if a person doesnt see your car in the dark, with their lights on, what difference is one indicator going to make? If you think it is a good feature, and you want to protect your 'baby', then use it! - do what feels good for you. Ivory
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02-23-2006, 06:58 AM | #3 |
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Hey Andy,
Your from Manila too. Well, I tried the park light thing a couple of times, one time I left it for 2 1/2 hours, no problems. On my Subaru (only japanese car that I know which has the feature), I have tried it up to 4 hours with no battery problems. |
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02-23-2006, 07:35 AM | #4 |
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If you've been driving for a decent amount of time (ie the battery is fully charged) I would think you good to go for at least 4-6 hours.
I've left mine on for about 5.5 hours before and it was fine. |
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02-23-2006, 07:36 AM | #5 |
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I believe using parking lights (i.e. just one side on) is illegal in some countries, including France, although for some reason they don't disable the function here.
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02-23-2006, 08:15 AM | #6 |
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i've never used that featuer in my car. I guess ppl in the US just don't like leaving any lights on when they leave their cars.
I do drive with the parking lights on during the day because I like the halos.
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02-23-2006, 08:36 AM | #7 | |
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anyways, i never turn it on just because i never know how long i'm going to be away from my car and now that is f-ing cold out, i don't want to drain my battery more than is necessary to start the engine without any problems.
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02-23-2006, 08:41 AM | #8 | |
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02-23-2006, 08:54 AM | #9 |
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I only use a side when I am parked on the side of the street when I am at a restaraunt or out in the night time. Whether it stops someone from hitting my car or not who knows but it has worked so far.
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02-23-2006, 09:39 AM | #10 | |
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and FYI, "becauuse" is not a real word either, it is a typo!
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02-23-2006, 09:41 AM | #11 | |
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02-23-2006, 09:50 AM | #12 |
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Have never used it
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02-23-2006, 11:39 AM | #14 |
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If you were to leave the parking lights on, you would have every body telling you that you left your lights on. Unless you feel like explaining to them, it would get annoying.
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02-23-2006, 12:01 PM | #15 | |
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02-23-2006, 12:13 PM | #16 |
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I use them a lot on unlit streets, when parked for a few hours outside a shop or restaurant.
I often leave them on all night if parked half on the footpath when staying at a friends house - the battery is always fine, they'd run for days. No one has ever told me i'd left my lights on. Useful with narrow european streets. All my past Audi's and VW's have had this too. |
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02-23-2006, 12:37 PM | #17 | |
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02-23-2006, 12:43 PM | #18 |
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never use it.
first saw this feature on my parents '84 s-class.
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02-23-2006, 12:51 PM | #19 |
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Definitely not the most useful option here in the US. It is used on occasion though when the car is parked for short periods of times in busy areas, kinda like using the emergency flashers but without the blinking.
In Germany, there are certain areas (marked by a sign) where if you park there your parking lights MUST be on or you can get a ticket. |
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02-23-2006, 01:59 PM | #20 |
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Thanks Andy...I was wondering how to turn those darn things on. Most people in the U.S. tend to refer the parking lights as the same thing as the day time running lights but they are 2 different lighting options.
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