[tonywalk]

I think the brake lights of the 2nd gen MINI are waaaaaaaayyyyyy too bright.

As a current ist gen Cooper S driver, I was horrified to pull up behind a 2nd gen Cooper this evening on my way into work to find that the driver didn't seem to know where the handbrake was.

All the time whilst waiting at the traffic lights he kept his foot on the brake pedal. I swear I arrived at work with a suntan. Not having perfect eyesight, such overkill in illumination has an extreme dazzling effect due to the scattering of light through my myopic eyes, even with specs on.

I wish that the current "arms race" in light levels would stop.

</soapbox>

Cheers,
Tony.

[Mistercurly]

Funny you should mention that Tony, a couple of weels after i got my R56 Cooper i was at the traffic lights riding the brake pedal as usual and a car pulled up behind me and put his main beam and fogs on. I got of the bakes, he turned his lights down i got on the brakes and did a bit of a light show for him (in the name of fun of course) he did the same.

Point is i am now a reformed Pedal rider, i realised the brakes are pretty bright and dont do it at night now.

[Lolance]

This is one of the things that p!sses me off!
Use the handbrake!! And don't use foglights IF IT ISN'T FOGGY!

[adam_Randell]

Yea i noticed the lights are too bright - i was following my mum in her S, me in my cooper and my dad lagging behind - me and my dad didnt know where we were going hence following my mum, and when she indicated and put her brakes on you couldnt see her indicator - AT ALL!

[ScoobyDoo]

I must admit I am guilty of this, mainly when its just a quick stop to see if anything is coming.
But now I know that the brakes are quite bright, I will reform!!

[airbusA346]

I don't know why but all brake lights in the dark seem to bright to me certainly when sitting at traffic lights.

It wrecks my eyes, and I can't afford for them to be wreck anymore.

Tom.

[Stiggy]

As an automatic driver, I'm probably most guilty of this. I'll try to use the handbrake next time - honest!

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by Stiggy (original)

As an automatic driver, I'm probably most guilty of this. I'll try to use the handbrake next time - honest!

You should put an auto in neutral (or park) when stopped.

I usually go into neutral and use the handbrake when stopped in my manual car.

[zyo]

I noticed how bright they were when I was heading down a motorway with nothing behind and I was slowing going up the exit road and begining to brake and in my rear view mirror I could see them reflected off a sign about half a mile away.The indicators are bloomin' bright as well. I wonder if different peoples eyes are affected differently (presumably so) cos people being on their brakes in front of me at junctions never bothers me.

[REDHOT CHILLI COOPER]

To all the people I've inadvertently given burnt retinas ...... Sorry.

My name is Colin, and I'm a reformed Brake-Light-aholic.

[Nath316]

To be honest people who ride the foot brake get on my nerves anyway never mind if they are in a Mini or not

The handbrake is there for a reason

I do alot of motorway mileage so stuck in a line of traffic with hundreds of brake lights in your face does not do you any good

[Stiggy]

Quote: Originally Posted by KenL (original)

You should put an auto in neutral (or park) when stopped.

Sorry Mum!

Just a reminder that in an automatic you have to put your foot on the brake to change from P or N to D. Apologies to anyone behind me!

Doesn't the Clubman have even more LED brake lights? That must be even more blinding!

[rellik666]

I agree that it is very difficult to see the indicators if you are braking at the same time!

I have followed my mates R56 a lot and those brake lights are way to bright!

I also hate it when people sit on their brakes at lights and junctions! So no need!

[Michael]

They are mighty bright. My biggest concern is not being able to see me indicate with the brakelights on.
Hmmm, perhaps i could get them subtley tinted!!!

[Derek J]

I think the use of the footbrake is a technique encouraged into new leaners and the handbrake is for oldies.......

............... i was taught to use the handbrake, and even though the new mini engine cutoff works well without the handbrake, i'll probably take note of whats been said even if its just to save the battery

[KillerByte]

Quote: Originally Posted by Derek J (original)

I think the use of the footbrake is a technique encouraged into new leaners and the handbrake is for oldies.......

I was taught not to ride the footbrake at traffic lights for the reasons given in this thread, but that was seven years ago.

It is one of my biggest pet hates - sitting in someone else's bright red glow.

[Bacnka]

Quote: Originally Posted by Derek J (original)

I think the use of the footbrake is a technique encouraged into new leaners and the handbrake is for oldies.......

............... i was taught to use the handbrake, and even though the new mini engine cutoff works well without the handbrake, i'll probably take note of whats been said even if its just to save the battery

I'm a new driver and was taught to use the handbrake. My instructor taught me the '3 second rule' (might have been 5), whereby I only use my footbrake if I'm going to move before this time.

They are very bright though! Noticed as i queued for diesel today.

[Bhozar]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bacnka (original)

I'm a new driver and was taught to use the handbrake. My instructor taught me the '3 second rule' (might have been 5), whereby I only use my footbrake if I'm going to move before this time.

I was also taught this, and I'm not a new driver. That was almost 14 years ago...

Also, if you have been driving quickly and doing a lot of braking you are likely to warp your disks as the area under the pad can not cool down. Remember that next time someone tells you their disks have warped.

I used to drive with my fog lights on my VW Polo, as they were useless, except when down a country lane so you could see the sides a bit better. They couldnt dazle anyone. Every other car since then has had bright fog lights, so I dont use them.

You wouldnt like my rear brake lights. I wired in the fog lights to come on too, so I have five rear brake lights. At least no one has rear-ended me.

I have ot stop at some road work traffic lights on the way to work. They take so long to change I actually turn the engine off. Yet the car in front will have their brake lights on the entire time. By turning the engine off at these lights I managed another 20+ miles out of my tank before the light came on. Thats not bad when I only get 220 miles before the light comes on anyway.

If the light is fragmenting due to your bad eyesight I can highly recomend laser eye surgery. If you go for the decent surgery then they can smooth off the surface so it no longer refracts causing halo's etc. Worked for me.

[msh441]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bhozar (original)

Also, if you have been driving quickly and doing a lot of braking you are likely to warp your disks as the area under the pad can not cool down. Remember that next time someone tells you their disks have warped.

I have to disagree.

Day-to-day commuting is one thing... but If you're rotors are hot, like after some spireted driving or a track session, the LAST thing you want to do is use the handbrake.

Calipers and pads on the OUTSIDE of the rotor will cool much quicker and easier than the hand brake shoes, which are located INSIDE THE ROTOR HAT!!! I've seen parking brake shoes thermal-bonded (almost welded) to the rear rotor just due to heat build-up. Now, ideally park the car in gear on a leval surface when unattended. If you're briefly at a light. Brake pedal. You can do a lot more damage to the rotor hat with the parking brake than the bisc brake calipers.

Also, as far as the lights being too bright... I would rather occasionally anoy some driver with sensative eyes rather than go un-noticed and get hit from behind by the (even slowly) approaching car.

But then again, I don't find any issue with using fogs whenever the heck I want (so what do I know)... it's not like I've got my main beams and driving lights on 24/7.

[Bacnka]

Quote: Originally Posted by msh441 (original)

But then again, I don't find any issue with using fogs whenever the heck I want

You might not, but I'm sure others do!