When getting on the brakes hard from a high rate of speed does the hazard lights flash warning drivers behind. Reason why I ask is tonight on the freeway I was behind this E46 M3 traffic came to a major slow down and he had to hit the brakes hard. When he was on the brakes his hazards flashed. Then traffic started moving again then it came to another slow and he was on the brakes again and the hazards came on again. Is this normal on the E46 M3?

he probably hit his flashers on purpose. One reason I give so much distance in front of me is that my brakes are so good I know I'll outbreak the guy behind me. If I see a ratty van with junk all over the dashboard following to close, I assume it's a guy that doesn't give a rats ass about the appearance or the mechanical shape of what he's driving. I also don't let big ol boats like cadillacs with bashed in grills drive behind me, I'll just move over. I like my cars rear end almost as much as I like my own!

Hank

yea he probably just turned em on to caution you for sudden hard braking...

Not to get off topic here, but while we are talking about things like this I was wondering if any of you have tried starting your car with the oil cap off? Last night I was changing my oil and when I started the car back up to test for leaks etc it would barely idle and I thought I screwed something up. I immediatly turned off the engine and looked under the hood and saw I never put the oil cap back on. Needless to say there was no splatter of oil or anything and as soon as I put the cap on the car ran like normal. Is this a BMW thing? Cause all my prior cars would have idled normal if I had done that.

Originally posted by jcolem3
Is this a BMW thing? Cause all my prior cars would have idled normal if I had done that.

Yes... not just limited to BMWs tho.

Oh BTW... the new 7series was the first BMW is incorporate an emegency braking system.

When the car detects a panic braking situation... the car will automatically apply maximum braking force to help slow the car... and to help alert others an additional set of brake lights (on the trunk part that opens) will illuminate... bright red.

This is a popular practice that I observed when I was in Germany last year. At a courtesy to other drivers, one would turn on their 4-way flashers to alert those behind that you are in a panic-stop type situation.

VERY good courtesy and lane etiquette on the Autobahn that I noticed. They seem to tailgate a bit more, but I just looks as if they have a higher comfort level than us here in the US.

Patrick

I have yet to see a seven light up the extra lights. But, if I were ever behind one, its nice to know what that means.

The guy definitely did that to warn traffic behind him.

This is very good practice for when you are taking an off ramp that curves around, but you have to come to a stop because the cars up front are having a hard time merging into the next segment of highway, or if there's a traffic light. Most people would inherently start braking when they see the hazards (at least I do). So it's a good idea to be proactive and turn them on so that if the guy behind you is not paying attention, they will take notice.