[alcook]

Does the brake light come on every time the brake is applied to keep the speed constant on down hill sections???

I have 'concerns' that the light is coming on and off at all sorts of intervals making me look like a right 'Reginald Molehusband'.....

[dxb335d]

nah mate. I dont think it does. Its engine braking that does it.

[AlanQS]

Yes, it does apply the brakelights going downhill and you possibly do look a bit like Reginald Molehusband but even the standard cruise which uses only engine braking is quite effective except in a really long really steep hill so your Reg sessions probably are quite rare.

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by alcook

Does the brake light come on every time the brake is applied to keep the speed constant on down hill sections???

I have 'concerns' that the light is coming on and off at all sorts of intervals making me look like a right 'Reginald Molehusband'.....

I wondered this also! And one night whilst bored and driving down the empty M6 toll road I put it to the test!

When looking in my mirrors, applying the brake pedal illuminated the wet road and signs behind me. Using this as a guide I popped on the cruise control. Gentle deceleration of the cruise did not make the lights come on. Such as knocking it down from 85mph to 80mph, BUT if you pulled the lever hard and started to knock the speed down a lot so the car physically braked then yes, the brake lights did come on.

The car does not use engine braking, it actually applied the brakes to slow the car. Older cruise systems did not use this method and were a lot crude and more difficult to stop the car accelerating when going down steep hills.

Hope this helps!

[beemerbird]

Yes, brake light does come on - confirmed by a friend following me once in the 335d. They didn't say it was annoying though.

[dxb335d]

so if i drive normally down a hill touching nar pedallions, the lights will come on. How gay.

[beemerbird]

Carlos is that the traditional meaning of gay or the meaning used by young kids today?

Only if you've got crusie on, travelling down a hill steep enough to warrant the brakes being applied to maintain the set speed. Or as Paul just said.

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

so if i drive normally down a hill touching nar pedallions, the lights will come on. How gay.

I am pretty sure they dont, not unless the car has to brake quite hard or you knock the cruise 'set speed; down quickly.

Otherwise your brake lights would be on and off all the time! - how gay would you look

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

Carlos is that the traditional meaning of gay or the meaning used by young kids today?

Only if you've got crusie on, travelling down a hill steep enough to warrant the brakes being applied to maintain the set speed. Or as Paul just said.

oh right, furry muff. ive never used cruise control once yet.

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

oh right, furry muff. ive never used cruise control once yet.

EH! why not?? It's great! Drove to Kent on Wed (passed thru Esswah territory!) and had it set to 95 bananas all the way down and barely touched the pedals! Manages to save my leg muscles for the dreaded M6 B'ham section on the way home

[tisme]

I'd like the option of it brake assisting or not brake assisting. Seems a waste of energy to slow the car down, when it could be used for going up the next hill.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by redE93cab

EH! why not?? It's great! Drove to Kent on Wed (passed thru Esswah territory!) and had it set to 95 bananas all the way down and barely touched the pedals! Manages to save my leg muscles for the dreaded M6 B'ham section on the way home

LOL. Ill have to try it mate. Where is it located?

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by tisme

I'd like the option of it brake assisting or not brake assisting. Seems a waste of energy to slow the car down, when it could be used for going up the next hill.

But the whole point of cruise is to maintain the 'set speed'? If it did not brake, you would catch the car in front which would turn off the cruise, and then you might as well had not switched it on in the first place!

It is actually very fuel efficient, the car can actually do better mpg driving itself then with me pressing the pedals!

Managed to get a record 37mpg out of mine on wed on a run - usually does 23 around town

The system is very clever and far better than the one fitted in my missus E46 compact that she had until this year. You will see when you get it! I am sure you will be impressed. You can actually drive the car on the m'way just by using the control lever knocking a few mph up or down as the traffic slows and speeds a little. Even use it to know 15mph off (3 clicks forward) as you catch a van in the fast lane, and then give it 3 clicks forward to get back to your original speed.

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

LOL. Ill have to try it mate. Where is it located?

The lever under your indicators!! - surely you must have spotted it???

[tisme]

red93, my e46 had cruise control and I used the clicks to accelerate decelerate and it was an amusing exercise to drive by the cruise control +/- controls.

But, when I went downhill, it picked up too much speed and I would have manually braked if necessary.

I guess what I am saying is I like the cruise control, but I'd prefer to control the braking park manually with the pedals.

Maybe the new ones are better because engine braking may be better since the alternator charges the battery.

Hey, I'm getting impatient. I still have 4 weeks to go.

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by tisme

red93, my e46 had cruise control and I used the clicks to accelerate decelerate and it was an amusing exercise to drive by the cruise control +/- controls.

But, when I went downhill, it picked up too much speed and I would have manually braked if necessary.

I guess what I am saying is I like the cruise control, but I'd prefer to control the braking park manually with the pedals.

Maybe the new ones are better because engine braking may be better since the alternator charges the battery.

Hey, I'm getting impatient. I still have 4 weeks to go.

When you get your car you will see the difference I am talking about! If you are doing motorway speeds and then set the cruise to say 40mph, it is amazing how hard the car brakes. With the old cruise, it would simply not accelerate again until the car had reached the set speed. The new system really is very good!

[alcook]

Originally Posted by redE93cab

When you get your car you will see the difference I am talking about! If you are doing motorway speeds and then set the cruise to say 40mph, it is amazing how hard the car brakes. With the old cruise, it would simply not accelerate again until the car had reached the set speed. The new system really is very good!

I agree.....

[tisme]

Originally Posted by redE93cab

When you get your car you will see the difference I am talking about! If you are doing motorway speeds and then set the cruise to say 40mph, it is amazing how hard the car brakes. With the old cruise, it would simply not accelerate again until the car had reached the set speed. The new system really is very good!

You believe the new approach is better? I'm not so sure, but I'll keep an open mind on this subject until I've tried the new approach. I'm getting so many new toys, you can't believe how excited I am . I suppose a full report will be due....a few days after I get it.

[hmi1750]

i mainly drive using the cruise.. the brake assist feature is for the 6cyl versions only.. or was in 2006.

It is very good at slowing the car too and regulate the speed.. i do often just flick it off when coasting down to speed rather than have the brakes coming on and off unless I want to really hold the speed or actively brake down to a speed. Then I push the botton on the end and resume cruise.

[CD]

Originally Posted by redE93cab

The lever under your indicators!! - surely you must have spotted it???

indicators ... was that a cost option ?

[hmi1750]

that is a prob at time.. the placing of the lever.

Sometimes I end up flashing people as I pull back on the wrong lever! Worse is when you put high beams on by accident!

Or indicate when you want to cancel the cruise.

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by hmi1750

Sometimes I end up flashing people as I pull back on the wrong lever! Worse is when you put high beams on by accident!

Done that myself!!! Quite a few times!! It is amazing how mahy flashes of the headlights it takes before you realise you are not slowing down, ha ha

(Altho the flashing of the lights on the motorway often makes the car in front move over and hence removes the need to slow down anyway )