BMW E85 and E86 Z4 owners looking to enhance their vehicle’s safety features often explore coding options for Brake Force Display (BFD). The Brake Force Display is a valuable safety system that dynamically adjusts brake light behavior during hard braking to alert drivers behind you more effectively. While the benefits are clear, information on how to enable the full potential of BFD, particularly flashing brake lights on the E85/E86 models using the Carly app, has been somewhat limited.
Initially, users like yourself may find the “Brake lights” coding section within the Carly app for the BMW E85/E86 to be less informative compared to later models like the E89. The descriptions might seem vague, leaving you unsure about what each setting actually controls. You might be looking for detailed documentation similar to what’s available for the E89, outlining specific parameters like activation speeds or blinking frequencies.
In a helpful exchange with the Carly support team, a detailed explanation emerged, directly from a BMW Z4 enthusiast engineer at Carly. This expert insight clarifies exactly how to activate the desired flashing brake light functionality of the Brake Force Display on your BMW E85 or E86 using the Carly app.
The key to unlocking the full BFD on the E85/E86 lies in understanding that it operates in multiple stages. Unlike some newer BMW models where BFD activation might be simpler, the E85/E86 requires a series of coding selections within the Light Switch Center (LSZ) module using your Carly app.
Here’s the breakdown provided by the Carly engineer to fully activate the flashing brake lights via the Brake Force Display on your BMW E85/E86:
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Activate BFD Function in General (1/5): This is the foundational step. You need to enable the overall Brake Force Display functionality within the coding options.
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Activate Stage 3 (2/5): BFD Stage 3 represents a more intense braking scenario. Activating this stage is crucial for triggering the flashing brake lights.
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Activate Stage 2 (3/5): Stage 2 is a less intense braking level than Stage 3. While flashing might be specifically tied to Stage 3 in the E85/E86, activating Stage 2 is part of the necessary configuration.
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Set Stage 3 as Default Stage (4/5): By setting Stage 3 as the default, you ensure that this more aggressive BFD behavior, including flashing, is prioritized when the system is activated.
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Turn on Flashing for Stage 3 (5/5): This final, and arguably most important, step explicitly enables the flashing brake light function specifically for Brake Force Display Stage 3.
By meticulously applying these five coding steps within the LSZ module using your Carly app, you can successfully activate the flashing brake lights for your BMW E85 or E86 Brake Force Display system.
It’s important to note that the Carly engineers mentioned they did not find a way to enable flashing for Stage 2 on the E85/E86. This explains why achieving the desired flashing brake lights for the Brake Force Display on these models requires these five distinct coding options, a slightly more complex process compared to models like the E89 where BFD activation is partly enabled by default.
This detailed explanation from Carly not only empowers you to customize your BMW E85/E86 for enhanced safety with flashing brake lights but also highlights the depth of expertise within the Carly team and their commitment to supporting BMW enthusiasts in getting the most out of their vehicles. With Carly and this guide, you can confidently code your BFD for improved visibility during hard braking situations.
