No W140 brake lights with ig key off?
 

This seems strange... the brake lights do not function in my '95 S500 with the ignition key off or out of the tumbler. I swear they used to. Am I losing it? Everything else works on the car, save for the flash-to-pass high beams, but I can't imagine that's related... any thoughts?

The brake lights on my W126 turn off with the key.

-J

Standard European car, no brake lights with ignition off.

Do BMWs do this too? VW/Audi does not, though the horn is on the ignition switch like a Mercedes.

-J

Thanks guys. Glad to hear it's working as designed, but I'm a little disturbed it took me 7 years of ownership to notice it!

I do think they should light up without the car running, though.

Thanks again!

I don't think I've ever seen a car that's brake lights work without the key.

I think all American cars have brake lights that work with no key.

Interesting, it's been a while.

oestek, why would the brake lights need to function without the key in the accessory position or the engine running? Makes no sense to me, and apparently not to Daimler-Benz either.

Make that Bosch, as German car electrical systems are to standards set by Bosch.

I always thought it to be a safety feature. I imagine there would be a circumstance when the car would bot be running and it would be helpful to have visual that the brakes are applied, like during a crash cleanup, towing, etc. We restore American cars and the brake lights have always had hot power with no key function. Not a big deal, just something different in European cars I guess.

It's probably just cheaper to run hot power to the lights than to have them switched.

As I noted VW/Audi's have the brake lights active all the time.

Most Japanese cars also do.

Same with the horn function, actually. For my MB's the key has to be in position 2 (engine running already, or prior to cranking) for the brake lights and the horn to work.

Weird, I can't imagine why I would want my horn or brake lights to work with the key off. :confused: