why is there a left and right parking light switch?

[dallison]

I was messing with the lights the other night and i noticed this; There is a setting that allows you to turn on the parking lights and then you can turn on only the left parking lights or the right parking lights.

What is the purpose of this???

[Quickurt]

It's for parking along the side of the road for extended periods, so the battery will last twice as long. I think this worked on every German car I have ever owned.
Think about if you were to run over something and ruin two tires, so the car is not drivable, it's night and you have to leave the car, go get help and return, maybe a couple of hours later.
Turn on the parking lights and then turn the blinker switch to one side, with the ignition off, correct?
Does this also light the side marker light on that side of the car?

[RandallNeighbour]

Quickurt is right. On dark country roads in Europe where cars are parallel parked, you'll often see the road-side parking lamps lit with this feature. It allows passing cars to notice that your car is parked on the side of the road.

Those Germans think of everything.

[jim_hoyland]

Would leaving them on, for say 12 hours, discharge the battery significantly ? Anyone done this ?

[Quickurt]

Originally Posted by jim_hoyland

Would leaving them on, for say 12 hours, discharge the battery significantly ? Anyone done this ?

Try it and see what happens.
Make sure to let us know!!

[dallison]

good to know, i wouldn't have ever guessed it.

[Flavor 987S]

In some European cities, this is a local law/ordinance.

[70Sixter]

Narrow streets in Yurrup and people park wherever they can. Sometimes part way into street.

[landrovered]

If the roads in the UK were as wide as they are in the US then the entire island would be completely paved! It amazes me how accomodating folks are in the ROW are about sharing lanes and passing on narrow roads. It is no big deal, of course they don't have duallys over there either. In the states people act like they own the lane they are in and have no obligation to share it with you if you are trying to give someone on the side of the road a little room.

[70Sixter]

Originally Posted by landrovered

It amazes me how accomodating folks are in the ROW are about sharing lanes and passing on narrow roads.... In the states people act like they own the lane they are in and have no obligation to share it with you if you are trying to give someone on the side of the road a little room.

Yes, I was amazed by the "3d lane" on 2 lane roads in Italy. You just pull out to pass, the passee pulls to right and any oncoming traffic does the same.

No gestures, fingers or angry flashing of lights and horns.

[ChrisZang]

Hah this is nothing, wait until go to India.

On my last trip my driver was driving on a two lane road back to Mumbai (one lane for each direction) and eventually we had FOUR lanes of cars all going in the SAME direction on this road, and guess what? it worked, no accidents whatsoever.

[landrovered]

In the Dominican Republic whenever two cars are coming directly towards each other, the more expensive car has the right of way or so it seems in practice. What is funny is when you have two wealthy people who both feel too important to yield face off.