second 'click' thingy on the indicator stalk... wassat then?

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gareth
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Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:24 pm

as above. the indicator stalk seems to have a second stage beyond the normal latching setting. any ideas what it's for?

yes, i am bored! :o: :P
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kieron
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Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:35 pm

it turns on the side lights for the side that you press down. i think its for when you park somewhere funny at night and want people to be able to see where your car is i.e. if it sticks into the road a little. I imagine it only puts a small current through so your battery doesnt get flat.
d6dph
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Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:36 pm

Yup it's parking lights mate. I remember when I first read about it, had to go and try it :D
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gareth
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Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:57 pm

just been out to try it..... i have parking lights!!!! yey! cheers fellas!

now what to do, i'm bored again, and cold as it's nippy outside and i've been playing with parking lights for the last few minutes! :P :D
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elliott
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Thu Oct 16, 2008 7:06 pm

i just had to try that to!!! you learn sommat new everyday,
wonder how many of u has just gotta try that now!!!!! :?
aceraf
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Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:15 pm

Yep, just tried it :o:

How many other cars this age have this feature?

I know alot of modern cars that don't have it!!!
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Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:16 pm

very early vw polo's had it
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zaust
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Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:25 pm

I tought this was standered on all uk car's !!!..
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Rosc0PColtrane
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Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:28 pm

My 2007 golf has it.

Usually, if you leave the indicators on and switch off the ignition, the side that was flashing, the parking light illuminates. Vauxhalls do it to IIRC.
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Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:20 pm

always wondered about the stalk!
and yep ive just tried it :o:
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Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:22 pm

gareth wrote:just been out to try it..... i have parking lights!!!! yey! cheers fellas!

now what to do, i'm bored again, and cold as it's nippy outside and i've been playing with parking lights for the last few minutes! :P :D
Go out and turn them off gareth.
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Grrrmachine
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Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:48 am

Standard VW/Audi feature since 1977 at least ;) But my 1978 Merc didn't have it, so it wasn't a completely German thing.
Nay
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Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:37 pm

Wow, never new that. Discovered the second stage, but thought it was just the type lever/switched they used did that.

This is like the time when i discovered you can change the brightness of the dashboard by twisting the light pullout/lever/switch thing (whatever you would call it). Amazing...

Well not amazing but i love discovering things about your own car you never knew.
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Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:40 pm

NayC wrote:Wow, never new that. Discovered the second stage, but thought it was just the type lever/switched they used did that.

This is like the time when i discovered you can change the brightness of the dashboard by twisting the light pullout/lever/switch thing (whatever you would call it). Amazing...

Well not amazing but i love discovering things about your own car you never knew.
I can entertain myself for SECONDS with the electric window cut - out switch. Who'd have thought cars could provide such static entertainment!
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Nay
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Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:47 pm

I dont have that.... may invest lol.

My favourite discovery is the ability to use the electric windows when the doors open and the keys are in your pocket. "Windows dont work, open door, windows work, close door, windows dont work." I wonder why???
Jon_Bmw
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Fri Oct 17, 2008 1:18 pm

So that when you inevitably turn the engine off and go to leave your car you realise the window is still open. Rather than reinserting the key, you just open the door and put the window up. Well thats my take on it. :)
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Fri Oct 17, 2008 1:25 pm

That is my take on it also..
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Fri Oct 17, 2008 1:26 pm

Just went out and tried the sidelight thing also :mad:
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magpie
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Fri Oct 17, 2008 1:31 pm

didn't know this but it works on both mine 8)
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Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:29 pm

The parking light feature is a result of now redundant regulations. You could always park without lights in a 'built up area',ie one with streetlighting,but only if the speed limit was 30mph,in a 40 zone you were required to show lights.At one time you could buy a light to hang from the top of the window,these had a single 5 watt bulb and a red lens at one side and a clear one at 'ther,you plugged it into the lighter socket.Or in the case of my A35,you fitted your own plug and socket.Bet Brian Mooooore can remember these!! Anyone else?
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rikster
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Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:06 pm

cool dint know this ill check it tomoz bit pissed at mo too far to walk and too cold i know you can control your obc by pushing the stalk in is there any other things people can post that have ben passed down by the generations before...
GrindCulture
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Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:33 pm

beemerbird wrote:
NayC wrote:Wow, never new that. Discovered the second stage, but thought it was just the type lever/switched they used did that.

This is like the time when i discovered you can change the brightness of the dashboard by twisting the light pullout/lever/switch thing (whatever you would call it). Amazing...

Well not amazing but i love discovering things about your own car you never knew.
I can entertain myself for SECONDS with the electric window cut - out switch. Who'd have thought cars could provide such static entertainment!
You know that's actually a circuit breaker to stop people using the window as a guillotine or something, not a switch?
Not in E30s any more :(
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rikster
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Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:37 pm

its like the time i found out i had adjustable seats when i took the dog for a walk with the missus
GrindCulture
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Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:40 pm

Oh and I just tried it :D
Not in E30s any more :(
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Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:54 pm

daimlerman wrote:The parking light feature is a result of now redundant regulations. You could always park without lights in a 'built up area',ie one with streetlighting,but only if the speed limit was 30mph,in a 40 zone you were required to show lights.At one time you could buy a light to hang from the top of the window,these had a single 5 watt bulb and a red lens at one side and a clear one at 'ther,you plugged it into the lighter socket.Or in the case of my A35,you fitted your own plug and socket.Bet Brian Mooooore can remember these!! Anyone else?

Have to admit Afraid I can :)
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rikster
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Fri Oct 17, 2008 10:01 pm

got another one does your brake warning light stay on on your check control until you press the brake. shoot me down if needs be geeks
mrLEE30
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Sat Oct 18, 2008 6:51 am

got another one does your brake warning light stay on on your check control until you press the brake. shoot me down if needs be geeks
all cars with the diagnostic panel do this

my sidelights turn on my angeleyes as all wired to the sidelight circuit (Chavtastic i know!!)

but took me almost two years to reliase that you stop the checklight flashing by pushing the check button :o:

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aceraf
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Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:33 am

I presumed when people saw 'Check' on their dash, they'd automatically look at the 'CHECK PANEL' to see what's wrong, and press the button to acknowledge that :mad:

Come on then, what other tricks does the e30 have???
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gareth
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Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:52 am

intensive wash / wipe is quite cool. if you have a twin washer bottle, press the button on the end of the r/h stalk in and watch the wipers go! it's like the car has come alive!!!!!..... nearly :o: :P

i've always like the glove box torch, cool feature...


oh, here's one for you. at night, sit in the car with all of the lights off then open the door. it turns the backlights on the electric window switches on :D
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Brianmoooore
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Sat Oct 18, 2008 11:56 am

daimlerman wrote:.Bet Brian Mooooore can remember these!! Anyone else?
I've still got one! Been sitting on a shelf high up behind my heavy operations work bench for a few decades. Grey plastic body, with a conical red lens one side, and a clear one the other.
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