Anyone else noticed?

[the Nefyn cat]

Fiddling around with the Z the other day, and remembered how some German cars in the past had parking lights worked by the indicator stalk. Sure enough, ignition off, indicator switch to right-hand side, and side and tail lamps come on. Only on the O/S, don't know if it's meant to work on both sides. Any one else noticed?

 

[Bozzy]

Yes i've noticed that,after polishing the dash etc i must of moved the indicator stalk and didn't realise until night time and the near side lights were on,so you'r not on your own.

 

[andyglym]

Fiddling around with the Z the other day, and remembered how some German cars in the past had parking lights worked by the indicator stalk. Sure enough, ignition off, indicator switch to right-hand side, and side and tail lamps come on. Only on the O/S, don't know if it's meant to work on both sides. Any one else noticed?

Think it's supposed to work both sides if memory serves to enable the car to be identified as parked at night to other vehicles. Somebody else may have more info though.

 

[t-tony]

O/S only on mine too. 2000 model. However my Chelsea tractor operates on BOTH sides!

Tony.

 

[oldcarman]

Interesting! Will have to check and see. Does make sense though for European cars be interesting to see if cars produced for NA are the same. In a lot of Europe it is law that sidelights be on when parked as the streets are so narrow and cars are actually parked 1/2 on sidewalks to allow clearance for passing traffic. JIM

 

[Grumps]

Never use parking lights but I'll check out of interest when I get it out next.

 

[Rudyrov]

I just tried my US version 98 2.8L Roady and it does not seem to have that function.

 

[Low Rider]

I tried mine tonight and found that neither side worked so now do i have a problem or do i not have this function !

 

[oldcarman]

Do your park lights work properly off the headlight switch? If so you may not have the function or there may be a problem with your signal switch, but the manual doesn't mention this but it's a NA. If I hasn't been a problem I wouldn't lose any sleep over it unless you park where it's legally required. JIM

 

[Shelly]

Will have to check and see
As haven't noticed before
Perhaps Alan will no

 

[Antm72]

Doesn't feature on mine on either side.... at least i won't accidently leave the lights on !

 

[Rudyrov]

Do your park lights work properly off the headlight switch? If so you may not have the function or there may be a problem with your signal switch, but the manual doesn't mention this but it's a NA. If I hasn't been a problem I wouldn't lose any sleep over it unless you park where it's legally required. JIM

My Car has has separate headlight / parking light selection, so technically I wouldn't need this, would be redundant I suppose.
Rudy

 

[t-tony]

separate headlight / parking light selection

So do the UK spec cars @Rudyrov, what they're saying is that with the ignition key removed, if you select the right hand indicator, the right side parking lights (front and rear on the right side only) illuminate.

Tony.

 

[oldcarman]

Exactly Tony, I need to check after each time Trinity is in the car pretending to drive that she hasn't set the right side lights on and left them that way!! JIM

 

[Bozzy]

So do the UK spec cars @Rudyrov, what they're saying is that with the ignition key removed, if you select the right hand indicator, the right side parking lights (front and rear on the right side only) illuminate.

Tony.

Thats interesting Tony cus on mine its definately the near side lights that come on when the indicator stem in the left turn position,doesn't work on the right turn

 

[t-tony]

That is strange Steve, I wonder why that might be, unless there could be an ECU setting which was applied at the factory maybe. I wonder if anyone out there does know?

Tony.

 

[Mint]

My Z3 is slightly different, it's a 2002 version so don't know whether that makes a difference. You can set the parking light on either the off-side or the near-side by pushing the indicator stalk passed the normal indicating position against spring pressure. The stalk then returns to the left or right indicator position.
Looks like they are all a bit different, perhaps due to the parts bin nature of our cars, it's what is available in the stores at the time of build.

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Just tried mine (1999 2.0) and nothing.

 

[Rudyrov]

So do the UK spec cars @Rudyrov, what they're saying is that with the ignition key removed, if you select the right hand indicator, the right side parking lights (front and rear on the right side only) illuminate.

Tony.

The right hand indicator, is that "Queens English" "turn signal" as in if activated with the key on the lights flash repeatedly until turned off?
If that's it, then it doesn't work in my US Car.
As I said though, I have a 3 position light switch Off-Parking-Headlight so it would not need to be on the stalk.

 

[Mint]

The right hand indicator, is that "Queens English" "turn signal" as in if activated with the key on the lights flash repeatedly until turned off?

Yes, however I think we have a bit of a language issue here @Rudyrov. Parking lights to us Brits mean only lights on one side of the car not both. We all have the same headlight switch as you describe but in the 'Parking' position it will illuminate all 4 lights 2 front and 2 rear.