[Marty in NY]

There are a number of safety features that auto apply the brakes.. .

- ACC (active cruise control)
- ETJ (extended traffic jam assistant)
- Emergency Stop Assistant
- Front Collision Mitigation
- etc

When any are invoked by the car, do the brake lights automatically turn on?

[The J-Man]

Absolutely the brake lights turn on under those scenarios if the braking action is strong enough to necessitate it. Try using some of those features at night and you'll see the brake lights reflect off the car behind you.

I also have an i3 with strong engine braking, and the car turns the brake lights on when I lift off the accelerator pedal.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by The J-Man

Absolutely the brake lights turn on under those scenarios if the braking action is strong enough to necessitate it. Try using some of those features at night and you'll see the brake lights reflect off the car behind you.

I also have an i3 with strong engine braking, and the car turns the brake lights on when I lift off the accelerator pedal.

Thanks, I would have certainly hoped so but couldn't find it stated in the manual.

[dubsesd]

If the car is braking the lights turn on, period. Simple law and saftey

[VTENGR]

Originally Posted by dubsesd

If the car is braking the lights turn on, period. Simple law and saftey

I think the only exception would be during regular cruise control and the car is just trying to maintain speed. I don't think the break lights are triggered then.

[dubsesd]

Originally Posted by VTENGR

I think the only exception would be during regular cruise control and the car is just trying to maintain speed. I don't think the break lights are triggered then.

That would be considered coasting. Brakes don't apply when letting off the accelerator

[VTENGR]

Originally Posted by dubsesd

That would be considered coasting. Brakes don't apply when letting off the accelerator

I was thinking more of when you're on a downhill - trying to maintain speed, the cruise control is applying breaks, but I don't think your break lights will shine the whole way - maybe it's using engine breaking instead of the actual breaks, IDK.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by VTENGR

I was thinking more of when you're on a downhill - trying to maintain speed, the cruise control is applying breaks, but I don't think your break lights will shine the whole way - maybe it's using engine breaking instead of the actual breaks, IDK.

I've wondered that about my wife's GTi too. When I drive it I use cruise and it certainly does apply the brakes when trying to maintain the set speed down a decent hill, you can absolutely feel when the brakes are on vs off. No clue if the brake lights go on in this case though, have always wondered.

[VTENGR]

Originally Posted by Marty in Bgm

I've wondered that about my wife's GTi too. When I drive it I use cruise and it certainly does apply the brakes when trying to maintain the set speed down a decent hill, you can absolutely feel when the brakes are on vs off. No clue if the brake lights go on in this case though, have always wondered.

These are the types of questions that keep me up at night!

[dubsesd]

Originally Posted by Marty in Bgm

I've wondered that about my wife's GTi too. When I drive it I use cruise and it certainly does apply the brakes when trying to maintain the set speed down a decent hill, you can absolutely feel when the brakes are on vs off. No clue if the brake lights go on in this case though, have always wondered.

Like I mentioned, if cruise needs to apply brakes to slow down, your brake lights turn on

[X5_CC]

If any pressure is applied in the vehicle brake system — whether by the driver pressing the pedal or the vehicle ordering pressure itself through cruise control, emergency braking, etc. — the brake lights will come on.