This a quote from the 2011 LCI section of Motoringfile.

So have any of you 2011 owners had a chance to observe this feature. Any comments?

 

the lights pulsate??? ive checked out the cool looking LEDs but i didnt know any of that?

 

Dunno if actually do, but according to motoringfile they are supposed to.

 

If that's true, that's an awesome feature-I'll chalk it up to the many cool little things this car has. I have noticed the fact that the LED's to provide more of a distinct look-you can definitely see the difference between the '10's and '11's mostly when the lights are on. I've attached a picture of my '11 without the lights on, and if you look at the bottoms of the tail lights, even still, you can clearly see that the lighting would be different from the 2010's.

 

Google
"dynamic intensity lighting 2011 mini cooper"

and you get a bunch of hits seeming to confirm it. Anyone check it our yet ?


But seems a bit odd no one has noticed this feature ??????

 

Video

You can see the guy in the video is demonstrating how the intensity of the light output is variable based on pedal pressure. I'm not sure if I see anything that I would characterize as pulsating though.

 

I remember seeing a video of it but can't seem to find it, I'll keep looking for it and post any updates.

Cheers

 

thats pretty cool... is that blinking the "pulsing"

 

maybe when the term "Pulsating" is used, its in reference to what happens if the abs is triggered.

 

The "pulsing" was when he turned the turn signals on.

 

haha ok just making sure... i was going to say i thought that where the turn indicator is...

 

I can try this out tonight with my brother possibly.

 

some cars have been noted to pulse the rear brake lights in a panic stop situation to aid in alerting other drivers that you are slowing more rapidly than "normal"

from what I understand they typically they use a G sensor and pressure sensor at the master cylinder or brake peddle to acquire the data needed for the computer to determine if pulsing is necessary.
the smarter ones also sense the rate in witch the brakes are applied (how fast the peddle travels)
its becoming a more common feature in LED tail lights

I would also not be surprised to see auto hazard lights become more common that activate following an indicated collision.

 

From what I've heard, the MINI's not only activate the hazards once a significant accident has occured, but they also turn on the cabin lights and unlock all of the doors. Volkswagen has recently joined the bandwagon w/ this as they advertise it for the 2011 Jetta. Mini's have apparently been doing this for years.

 

From personal experience the recent VWs do this also. My 2008 GTI had the same features. Never had to use them thankfully.

 

VW has been doing the hazard light bit for quite a few years, I know the passat started doing it in 2005, maybe sooner.
but I believe that it was originally developed/introduced by Volvo (but what safety feature hasn't been?)
GM has also been unlocking doors and turning on interior lights after a crash for years.

I believe I have seen Cadillac LED taillights "flash" at times (it looks more like a brief flicker as they come on)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh0hc...layer_embedded

found this vid on the mini2 forum by googling "mini cooper dynamic intensity brake lighting". I guess it's hard to really see the effect unless you're actually tailing a mini. Still having trouble figuring out the whole "pulsating" thing too. Any thoughts?

 

I noticed at one point, only the bottom part of the lights turned on. I wonder if that's if you brake hard.

I think the "pulsing" was when the guy turned the hazard lights on.

 

the bottom part of the light turned on when he was signaled to activate the fog lights. I would think that the pulsating was the hazard part as well, but give then description in the beginning of this thread, I interpreted it as the pulsating occurring in correspondence with hard braking-separate from using the blinkers/hazard lights. Like, the harder you brake, the more intense the tail lights become, and at one point if you brake hard enough, the lights will pulsate. I've googled the term "dynamic intensity lighting" and all I keep coming up with is the same bland general description as the one originally posted on this thread. I guess they'll keep us guessing.

 

I thought the rear fog lamps on the 2011 was in the bumper? Really confused.

 

I think the guy in the video above retrofitted new tail lamps into an older MINI and did his own thing with the fogs. My '11 has two fog lights on what I call the rear diffuser.

 

Ah. Now that makes more sense. I knew our fogs are on the "rear diffuser".

 

Im not sure but I think it is against the law to have red or blue pulsating/strobing lights on any non emergency vehicle.

 

What we need is a video with somebody recording the differences in lighting patterns as they vary based on both speed and strength of pedal engagement.

 

+1!