[Three Pedal Steve]

When I got my first 2002 back in 1971 I quickly found that oncoming BMWs would often flash headlights at me so I started doing the same thing. Maybe it was because the headlight controls were on the left stalk, something new and easy for Americans. Maybe it was like an autoban thing. And people used to call them Beamers. And always asked- "BMW, it that for British Motor Works?"

Why did we stop signaling on coming bimmers?

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by Three Pedal Steve

When I got my first 2002 back in 1971 I quickly found that oncoming BMWs would often flash headlights at me so I started doing the same thing. Maybe it was because the headlight controls were on the left stalk, something new and easy for Americans. Maybe it was like an autoban thing. And people used to call them Beamers. And always asked- "BMW, it that for British Motor Works?"

Why did we stop signaling on coming bimmers?

Because more people started buying them and many of them are assholes or people who couldn't care less about other peoples' BMW's.

People with Jeep Wranglers will still do stuff like that. Same with Corvette owners.

I have gotten nods or waves from other BMW owners though. One person in another EBII M-Sport, one guy in an 1M...and that's it really.

[SakhirM4]

People stopped flashing when it became the common signal for a radar trap ahead. It's kind of funny though, as every time I flash another Bimmer, I look in the rearview and their brake lights are on

[oolas3]

In 1971 BMWs in the US would have been a relative rarity. Around here these days I see so many BMWs I would be spending half my driving time flashing people. That said, there are a few enough e9x M3 drivers here that I do often get thumbs up and waves from other like owners.

[Ian_Mark]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

People stopped flashing when it became the common signal for a radar trap ahead. It's kind of funny though, as every time I flash another Bimmer, I look in the rearview and their brake lights are on

Ya I figured that out last year flashing headlights means speed trap ahead. In my Subaru sti we usually wave

[Chihuahua]

If I flashed my headlights every time a BMW drove past me people would think I have strobe lights on the front of my car.

I reserve the 'flashing of the lights' for older bimmers (beamers are bikes, always have been) when I'm driving around in my E30.

[Bushum]

The Corvette wave is a thing because it is a specific and relatively rare model of a brand. Can you imagine if everyone with a Chevy, Ford, etc. waved to one another?

[Peter_R]

Originally Posted by Railgun

It's the same mentality that causes bikers to give a wave. Thought I've only seen that in the US, nothing like that in the UK.

Yep...seen it at times.

[P1]

Because I flash my headlights at someone when there is a copper up the road, or if I want to say "OH, go ahead kind sir".

[IEDEI]

if i flashed every 'beamer' i saw on the road.....i'd spend my entire day flashing leased 328 x-drives being driven by people who probably don't even know why i'm flashing them.....or who probably think i'm drunk.

the great majority (>90%) of BMW drivers on the road in the year 2015 have no idea what the roundel is all about; however they likely feel they are very clever and classy for leasing such a 'luxury' car for $379/mo for 39 months.

[chris @ eas]

i will wave at mostly modded BMW's or if they have a decal on their car i will know at least they know what they are driving.

[johnbradshow]

Last time I got flashed by another driver was my headlights were not turned-on at night time.

[MalibuBimmer]

I suspect there are not very many BMW automobiles (Bimmers, not Beemers or Beamers) in Highlands NC 28741.

[zx10guy]

The only time I get flashed with a healthy dose of high beams is by ahole drivers that can't tell the difference between a high beam and a normal low beam output from Xenons or HID headlights. The pricks realize real quick that I'm not running high beams when I give them back the same treatment.

[GlobalScientist]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

People stopped flashing when it became the common signal for a radar trap ahead.

So true on the highway. On a burb road, its considered either a compliment or something is dragging from your car or your tires are flat.

[ycb]

I used to drive bus for the city.. and whenever we see another bus driver, we'd give each other a wave.. nice speechless rapport. Got to a point where I quit driving bus (as I found a new career) but yet I was still waving at bus drivers.. haha..

Motorcycle riders have this sign language with one another as well.. feel left out..

[Samurai of 2day]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

The only time I get flashed with a healthy dose of high beams is by ahole drivers that can't tell the difference between a high beam and a normal low beam output from Xenons or HID headlights. The pricks realize real quick that I'm not running high beams when I give them back the same treatment.

While we are on this subject, what is the deal with people driving around with their high beams on full time?

During my daily commute, I can say that about 1 out of every 6 cars is running their high beams on full time! Driving around the 5 boroughs, so you can imagine that there are may cars on the road, so this is no exaggeration.

Is this some sort of trending thing that I'm not cool enough to know about?

[CHCCubs]

Originally Posted by Samurai of 2day

While we are on this subject, what is the deal with people driving around with their high beams on full time?

During my daily commute, I can say that about 1 out of every 6 cars is running their high beams on full time! Driving around the 5 boroughs, so you can imagine that there are may cars on the road, so this is no exaggeration.

Is this some sort of trending thing that I'm not cool enough to know about?

Nope just stupidity. I see this all the time around here as well, along with opposite version of people driving around with just DRLs at night.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by CHCCubs

Nope just stupidity. I see this all the time around here as well, along with opposite version of people driving around with just DRLs at night.

Yep. Total stupidity. If you're that blind you can't see very well at night without blinding everyone else, then you need to either have your eyes checked or not drive at night.

If there's no cars in front of me, I high beam those idiots back if they're coming in the opposite direction. If they're traveling in the same direction, I have slowed down to let the idiot in front of me and then I follow them with my high beams on too. Just so they can experience what everyone else is experiencing.

[Peter_R]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

then I follow them with my high beams on too. Just so they can experience what everyone else is experiencing.

Vindictive nasty and typical of a young BMW driver. That is just the way to give BMW drivers a bad name.

[cityjohn]

Originally Posted by Samurai of 2day

While we are on this subject, what is the deal with people driving around with their high beams on full time?

During my daily commute, I can say that about 1 out of every 6 cars is running their high beams on full time! Driving around the 5 boroughs, so you can imagine that there are may cars on the road, so this is no exaggeration.

Is this some sort of trending thing that I'm not cool enough to know about?

Here's my theory (at least partly). People who grew up calling highbeams "brights" think they need something bright enough to overcome the sun during daylight hours, so they "turn them up" as it were.

[Samurai of 2day]

Originally Posted by CHCCubs

Nope just stupidity. I see this all the time around here as well, along with opposite version of people driving around with just DRLs at night.

thanks for clearing that up. Looks like it's just the city type environment that we encounter a lot of people who treat driving as more of a chore, that as a joy.

Too bad we have no choice but to shore the roads with these people.