Brake Lights in Recuperation
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2022 EQS 580 exclusive trim
Brake Lights in Recuperation
Does anybody know when the brake lights come on in the various recuperation modes for the 2022 EQS 580? I have tried looking at the rear window reflection at night and the camera view during the day, but I can't get a precise read on the system's characteristics.
Last edited by rebrown45; May 26, 2023 at 07:40 PM. Reason: clarity
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Use the driver assistance view on the instrument "cluster"/screen. It shows your brake lights, blinkers and blind spot mirrors activating/deactivating. I was a little worried people would think I was brake checking them when using strong recoup but looks like it emulates real braking fairly well. There's even a little delay like you're taking your foot off gas and moving it over to brake.
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2022 EQS 580 exclusive trim
Use the driver assistance view on the instrument "cluster"/screen. It shows your brake lights, blinkers and blind spot mirrors activating/deactivating. I was a little worried people would think I was brake checking them when using strong recoup but looks like it emulates real braking fairly well. There's even a little delay like you're taking your foot off gas and moving it over to brake.
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2010 E350 4Matic
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2022 EQS 580 exclusive trim
In city traffic, I normally drive my EQS in "intelligent recuperation" mode. Even though the car will slow itself to a stop behind s slowing or stopped car or when it approaches a turn, I monitor my rear traffic carefully and tap the brake pedal to give notice to following drivers if it seems necessary.
The car also slows when it comes to a turn and in traffic circles and expressway ramps. I'm still figuring out how much warning it gives to other drivers. As Crito points out, the car's driver assistance view is helpful to learning the EQS's signaling characteristics. The transition from my ICE S550's to the EQS is not just the substitution of electric power for gasoline power. The cars actually have modestly different driving behavior that relates to their distinct modes of propulsion.
It's a very interesting transition.
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But that doesn't happen with the EQS. The brake lights activate immediately in strong regen, when you back off. Had my wife follow me while on the phone to make sure, and I drive all the time in traffic in San Antonio in strong regen, using one pedal driving. Almost never hit my brakes. Have had no problems with someone knowing I'm stopping, even with tailgaters. EQS does it right. This is not a concern unless something malfunctions.....which could happen with anyone's brake lights.
Last edited by hlothery; May 28, 2023 at 07:52 PM.
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But that doesn't happen with the EQS. The brake lights activate immediately in strong regen, when you back off. Had my wife follow me while on the phone to make sure, and I drive all the time in traffic in San Antonio in strong regen, using one pedal driving. Almost never hit my brakes. Have had no problems with someone knowing I'm stopping, even with tailgaters. EQS does it right. This is not a concern unless something malfunctions.....which could happen with anyone's brake lights.
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I'd say interesting if the brake lights come on after being stationary 15 seconds. Is the car activating brake hold there or is it just activating brake lights?
I don't think it is clear how the car should behave. Cars approaching behind should be alerted about a stationary car in front but think about an older manual gearbox car, brake lights do not illuminate ever unless the driver presses the brake pedal, not even when applying strong engine braking (perhaps more of a European problem).
Activating brake lights automatically when the car is stationary even if brakes are not applied might be misleading as nothing really keeps the car entering traffic from red lights if someone gives a light push to the rear. A bit unlikely though that the driver would assume brakes being applied based on the brake lights, even if one can see the brake light status from the infotainment menus.
Shouldn't the car activate brake hold automatically every time it stops after slowing down with one pedal driving? No period of no brake lights and no period without physical brakes being applied? Any disadvantage if doing that?
I don't think it is clear how the car should behave. Cars approaching behind should be alerted about a stationary car in front but think about an older manual gearbox car, brake lights do not illuminate ever unless the driver presses the brake pedal, not even when applying strong engine braking (perhaps more of a European problem).
Activating brake lights automatically when the car is stationary even if brakes are not applied might be misleading as nothing really keeps the car entering traffic from red lights if someone gives a light push to the rear. A bit unlikely though that the driver would assume brakes being applied based on the brake lights, even if one can see the brake light status from the infotainment menus.
Shouldn't the car activate brake hold automatically every time it stops after slowing down with one pedal driving? No period of no brake lights and no period without physical brakes being applied? Any disadvantage if doing that?
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EQE350 SUV 4MATIC
A similar situation arises with Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, aka Adaptive Cruise Control. When do the brake lights come on and how long do they stay on?
I had been using one-pedal driving but due to this report will discontinue and switch to Intelligent Recuperation until this is fixed. It must be fixed for safety reasons.
For me, with either of the above, the brake light must come on when there is reasonable slowing, stay on while stopped, and only turn off with reasonable forward motion. They should stay on during creep in stop and go traffic.
The brake lights are there to warn traffic behind that I am slowing or have stopped. I do no want to be rear ended. The 3rd brake light was introduced to provide additional visibility to vehicles further back.
ps. I would also support brake light that increase in intensity with harder braking, but that is another discussion.
I had been using one-pedal driving but due to this report will discontinue and switch to Intelligent Recuperation until this is fixed. It must be fixed for safety reasons.
For me, with either of the above, the brake light must come on when there is reasonable slowing, stay on while stopped, and only turn off with reasonable forward motion. They should stay on during creep in stop and go traffic.
The brake lights are there to warn traffic behind that I am slowing or have stopped. I do no want to be rear ended. The 3rd brake light was introduced to provide additional visibility to vehicles further back.
ps. I would also support brake light that increase in intensity with harder braking, but that is another discussion.
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Some brake lights, like LED ones, can be a little blinding, especially at night. Personally I'd like it the other way around. Brake lights should go off after being stationary for 15 seconds, even if foot is still on brake pedal. Heck, speaking of down shifting in a manual, really would be a good idea if brake lights came on when do so. Brake light should just simply indicate deceleration IMHO. I guess technically it wouldn't be a "brake" light anymore tho, but anywho...
It really does feel like the start of a whole new generation of automobiles.
It really does feel like the start of a whole new generation of automobiles.
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A similar situation arises with Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, aka Adaptive Cruise Control. When do the brake lights come on and how long do they stay on?
I had been using one-pedal driving but due to this report will discontinue and switch to Intelligent Recuperation until this is fixed. It must be fixed for safety reasons.
For me, with either of the above, the brake light must come on when there is reasonable slowing, stay on while stopped, and only turn off with reasonable forward motion. They should stay on during creep in stop and go traffic.
The brake lights are there to warn traffic behind that I am slowing or have stopped. I do no want to be rear ended. The 3rd brake light was introduced to provide additional visibility to vehicles further back.
ps. I would also support brake light that increase in intensity with harder braking, but that is another discussion.
I had been using one-pedal driving but due to this report will discontinue and switch to Intelligent Recuperation until this is fixed. It must be fixed for safety reasons.
For me, with either of the above, the brake light must come on when there is reasonable slowing, stay on while stopped, and only turn off with reasonable forward motion. They should stay on during creep in stop and go traffic.
The brake lights are there to warn traffic behind that I am slowing or have stopped. I do no want to be rear ended. The 3rd brake light was introduced to provide additional visibility to vehicles further back.
ps. I would also support brake light that increase in intensity with harder braking, but that is another discussion.
Would be nice if someone posted more about the legal requirements (are brake lights allowed to be activated on a stationary car when brakes are not applied?). Other personal preferences with supporting arguments too. One view would be that brake lights activate when brakes are applied (the traditional way plus when the car decelerates on its own "just like the driver would be pressing the brake pedal"). I assume the EQS does this, just applies "brake hold", i.e. real brakes automatically but only after being stationary for a while (just an assumption of the behaviour).
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Looks like MB is focused on making it a seamless transition from ICE. And they've done a pretty good job of emulating the behavior of a car without regenerative breaking with the lights if you ask me. I guess that's also why the - paddle shifter increases regen and the + decreases it, because it emulates downshifting with paddles in an ICE vehicle. At some point things like one pedal driving will become the norm instead of the exception though and I expect the default behavior that people will expect will change over time too. To me plus means more though and minus means less so the paddles are back asswards. 
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2019 C63CS
A similar situation arises with Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, aka Adaptive Cruise Control. When do the brake lights come on and how long do they stay on?
I had been using one-pedal driving but due to this report will discontinue and switch to Intelligent Recuperation until this is fixed. It must be fixed for safety reasons.
For me, with either of the above, the brake light must come on when there is reasonable slowing, stay on while stopped, and only turn off with reasonable forward motion. They should stay on during creep in stop and go traffic.
The brake lights are there to warn traffic behind that I am slowing or have stopped. I do no want to be rear ended. The 3rd brake light was introduced to provide additional visibility to vehicles further back.
ps. I would also support brake light that increase in intensity with harder braking, but that is another discussion.
I had been using one-pedal driving but due to this report will discontinue and switch to Intelligent Recuperation until this is fixed. It must be fixed for safety reasons.
For me, with either of the above, the brake light must come on when there is reasonable slowing, stay on while stopped, and only turn off with reasonable forward motion. They should stay on during creep in stop and go traffic.
The brake lights are there to warn traffic behind that I am slowing or have stopped. I do no want to be rear ended. The 3rd brake light was introduced to provide additional visibility to vehicles further back.
ps. I would also support brake light that increase in intensity with harder braking, but that is another discussion.
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EQE350 SUV 4MATIC
To end all the speculation we just need a volunteer with a friend to conduct some tests to resolve how the EQ operates. With driver and friend in 2 vehicles and a live cell connection:
1. EQ driver with DISTRONIC set and following a vehicle to a stop sign or red traffic light
- Friend driving behind reports when the brake light comes on and goes off
2. EQ driver with full recuperation (one-pedal driving) set drives at 40mph on an open road, and takes their foot off the pedal
- Friend driving behind reports when the brake light comes on and if it goes off when the EQ has come to a stop
3. Similar to #2 but with Intelligent recuperation enabled
I missed an opportunity to do these tests on the weekend, and another opportunity will not come up for a while.
1. EQ driver with DISTRONIC set and following a vehicle to a stop sign or red traffic light
- Friend driving behind reports when the brake light comes on and goes off
2. EQ driver with full recuperation (one-pedal driving) set drives at 40mph on an open road, and takes their foot off the pedal
- Friend driving behind reports when the brake light comes on and if it goes off when the EQ has come to a stop
3. Similar to #2 but with Intelligent recuperation enabled
I missed an opportunity to do these tests on the weekend, and another opportunity will not come up for a while.
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To end all the speculation we just need a volunteer with a friend to conduct some tests to resolve how the EQ operates. With driver and friend in 2 vehicles and a live cell connection:
1. EQ driver with DISTRONIC set and following a vehicle to a stop sign or red traffic light
- Friend driving behind reports when the brake light comes on and goes off
2. EQ driver with full recuperation (one-pedal driving) set drives at 40mph on an open road, and takes their foot off the pedal
- Friend driving behind reports when the brake light comes on and if it goes off when the EQ has come to a stop
3. Similar to #2 but with Intelligent recuperation enabled
I missed an opportunity to do these tests on the weekend, and another opportunity will not come up for a while.
1. EQ driver with DISTRONIC set and following a vehicle to a stop sign or red traffic light
- Friend driving behind reports when the brake light comes on and goes off
2. EQ driver with full recuperation (one-pedal driving) set drives at 40mph on an open road, and takes their foot off the pedal
- Friend driving behind reports when the brake light comes on and if it goes off when the EQ has come to a stop
3. Similar to #2 but with Intelligent recuperation enabled
I missed an opportunity to do these tests on the weekend, and another opportunity will not come up for a while.
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
To end all the speculation we just need a volunteer with a friend to conduct some tests to resolve how the EQ operates. With driver and friend in 2 vehicles and a live cell connection:
1. EQ driver with DISTRONIC set and following a vehicle to a stop sign or red traffic light
- Friend driving behind reports when the brake light comes on and goes off
2. EQ driver with full recuperation (one-pedal driving) set drives at 40mph on an open road, and takes their foot off the pedal
- Friend driving behind reports when the brake light comes on and if it goes off when the EQ has come to a stop
3. Similar to #2 but with Intelligent recuperation enabled
I missed an opportunity to do these tests on the weekend, and another opportunity will not come up for a while.
1. EQ driver with DISTRONIC set and following a vehicle to a stop sign or red traffic light
- Friend driving behind reports when the brake light comes on and goes off
2. EQ driver with full recuperation (one-pedal driving) set drives at 40mph on an open road, and takes their foot off the pedal
- Friend driving behind reports when the brake light comes on and if it goes off when the EQ has come to a stop
3. Similar to #2 but with Intelligent recuperation enabled
I missed an opportunity to do these tests on the weekend, and another opportunity will not come up for a while.
https://mbworld.org/forums/eqs/85519...ml#post8682027
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I haven't watched that video, but my wife and I did exactly as you are requesting. She followed me, while on the phone with me, and watched the brake lights activate during OPD (strong regen) as I decelerated and the car began to brake for me. So, it has already been done.
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
I haven't watched that video, but my wife and I did exactly as you are requesting. She followed me, while on the phone with me, and watched the brake lights activate during OPD (strong regen) as I decelerated and the car began to brake for me. So, it has already been done.
Last edited by superswiss; Jul 13, 2023 at 04:13 PM.
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Yes, but what they are saying in the video is that once you come to a full stop, the brake lights go out, unless you put your foot on the brake pedal, because US regulations don't require the brake lights to be lit when stationary, unless the brakes are applied. They are saying that the brake lights will come on after 15 seconds, but between coming to a full stop and 15 seconds later there are no brake lights. Did you verify this with your wife?
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From: NM
2023 AMG EQS
The brake light apparently was only programmed when creep mode is active and not programmed to behave when creep mode is disabled.
I guess it takes 15secs for the car to realize that creep mode has been disabled.
You know… because the fact that the car is going 0mph or that creep mode is disabled in its own software is not a big enough hint that the brake light should stay on. /s
