Do you use your parking lights? How long do you leave them on?

andy · 02-23-2006, 06:07 AM

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

MrIvory · 02-23-2006, 06:35 AM

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

manilae90 · 02-23-2006, 06:58 AM

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.

Broken1 · 02-23-2006, 07:35 AM

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.

Paul330d · 02-23-2006, 07:36 AM

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.

petesamprs · 02-23-2006, 08:15 AM

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.

vladinecko · 02-23-2006, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrIvory

if a person doesnt see your car in the dark, with their lights on, what difference is one indicator going to make?

seriously, if someone drives without their lights on at night and can't see the reflection in your car's tail/headlights, you can build a brick wall around your car with a sign "a parked car here" and there is still a very good chance you'd get hit.

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.

bimmer4me · 02-23-2006, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vladinecko

anyways, i never turn it on just because...

FYI, "anyways" is not a real word. It is correct to say "Anyway, I never turn it on just becauuse...".

MBChariot · 02-23-2006, 08:54 AM

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.

vladinecko · 02-23-2006, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer4me

FYI, "anyways" is not a real word. It is correct to say "Anyway, I never turn it on just becauuse...".

ok, mr. spelling nazi...

and FYI, "becauuse" is not a real word either, it is a typo!

bimmer4me · 02-23-2006, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vladinecko

ok, mr. spelling nazi...

and FYI, "becauuse" is not a real word either, it is a typo!

poldim · 02-23-2006, 09:50 AM

Have never used it

corpsedub · 02-23-2006, 10:07 AM

cool feature but not really needed here in the US where the roads are wide enough.

gdnyc · 02-23-2006, 11:39 AM

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.

govtec · 02-23-2006, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdnyc

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.

exactly, i think it's useless in the states.

330m · 02-23-2006, 12:13 PM

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.

billgti · 02-23-2006, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdnyc

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.

exactly. no one knows what they are in the US. they will just think you either left your lights on by mistake or your car has electrical problems. that said, it's not really needed in the US since we don't have many narrow streets.

shragon · 02-23-2006, 12:43 PM

never use it.

first saw this feature on my parents '84 s-class.

KUweatherman · 02-23-2006, 12:51 PM

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.

BeemMeUp · 02-23-2006, 01:59 PM

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.

karbosshack · 02-23-2006, 03:52 PM

what's the diff?

330m · 02-23-2006, 03:59 PM

3 light selections:

Headlights or sidelights when driving.

....and parking lights when the ignition's off with an indicator on one way or the other.

Easy.

02-23-2006, 06:07 AM	#1
andy Sabaku SouSou 5 Rep 171 Posts Drives: Arctic E90 320i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Manila iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 320i [0.00] 2006 Toyota Hi Lux [0.00] 2006 Ford Focus Mk2 ... [0.00]	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 __________________ andy Arctic 320i: Black Dakota Leather, Silver Trim MODS: OEM rear deck spoiler, chrome exhaust tip, window trim and grille, 8.5 x 19 CSL reps all around, Dunlop Le Mans 245/35/R19s, 10mm H&R spacers rear, OEM style front splitters, Bi-Xenons
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02-23-2006, 06:35 AM	#2
MrIvory New Member 0 Rep 20 Posts Drives: 325 Black Sapphire 2005 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Melbourne (Aust) iTrader: (0)	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 __________________ 325i, Black Sapphire, 6sp Man, 18” Ellipsoid, Black Dakota Leather/Aluminium, Sunroof, PDC Front/Rear, Electric Seats, Professional Navigation/iDrive/TV, 6 CD Stacker, Oct 2005
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02-23-2006, 06:58 AM	#3
manilae90 First Lieutenant 26 Rep 305 Posts Drives: 2017 520d G30 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Philippines iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 320i [0.00]	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
Broken1 Addict 203 Rep 2,074 Posts Drives: 2024 X5 40i M-Sport Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	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
Paul330d Torque junky 115 Rep 1,688 Posts Drives: Remapped e90 330d Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: France (UK expat) iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 330d [0.00] 2005 Fiat Panda 4x4 [0.00]	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. __________________ www.greenkeepers.fr - spécialiste des tondeuses à gazon hélicoïdales atco qualcast ransomes lawnflite
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02-23-2006, 08:15 AM	#6
petesamprs Lieutenant 34 Rep 519 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: northeast iTrader: (0)	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. __________________ '14 535i (ED) Retired: '08 M5, '08 550i (ED), '06 330i
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02-23-2006, 08:54 AM	#9
MBChariot HESSEN///M3 10 Rep 225 Posts Drives: TIag E46 ///M3 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Belton, Texas iTrader: (0)	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. __________________ MB 330i ZSP Sport PKG TIAG/Imola E46 M3/OEM ZCP wheels "A6 direction Saarbrücken"
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02-23-2006, 09:50 AM	#12
poldim Vroom Vrrooooom 300 Rep 3,146 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 330i Sedan [0.00] 2003 GSX-R 600 [0.00]	Have never used it __________________ -Dmitriy 06' BMW 330i & 03' Suzuki GSX-R600 SG \| Beige Dakota \| Poplar \|\| iDrive w/MP3 \| PP \| SP \| CWP \| PDC \| Comfort \| Shades \|\| 40% Tint \| Black Line Tail Lights \| Hardwired V1
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02-23-2006, 10:07 AM	#13
corpsedub New Member 1 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 06 e90 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: sf bay area iTrader: (0)	cool feature but not really needed here in the US where the roads are wide enough. __________________ 06 330i 04 cobra 01 Eurovan 00 GTi VR6 92 f-150 300 inliner
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02-23-2006, 11:39 AM	#14
gdnyc Lieutenant 24 Rep 472 Posts Drives: 2006 330xi Jet Black Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	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. __________________ 2006 330xi BMW, please get rid of the RFT's and give us a spare tire!
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02-23-2006, 12:13 PM	#16
330m First Lieutenant 6 Rep 364 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Manchester iTrader: (0)	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, 12:43 PM	#18
shragon Moderator 497 Rep 27,441 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (7)	never use it. first saw this feature on my parents '84 s-class. __________________ www.cardomain.com/id/shragon
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02-23-2006, 12:51 PM	#19
KUweatherman Second Lieutenant 5 Rep 232 Posts Drives: Civic Si Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Birmingham iTrader: (0)	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
BeemMeUp Private First Class 1 Rep 178 Posts Drives: BMW 330i Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kansas iTrader: (0)	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. __________________ E90 330i / SG / Biege / Burl / ZPP / Heated Seats / Steptronic / CA / PDC / ACC / iDrive / Sirius-prep
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02-23-2006, 03:52 PM	#21
karbosshack First Lieutenant 16 Rep 350 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 328i Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: AZ iTrader: (3)	what's the diff?
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02-23-2006, 03:59 PM	#22
330m First Lieutenant 6 Rep 364 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Manchester iTrader: (0)	3 light selections: Headlights or sidelights when driving. ....and parking lights when the ignition's off with an indicator on one way or the other. Easy.
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