BMW turn signals used to work differently until I think the mid-2010s. You would press down to turn on the left signal, it would revert back to the middle, then you would press down again to turn it off.

People would turn on the signal and then accidentally turn on the opposite signal when trying to turn it off. So a lot of people stopped using them.

I test drove a 1 series in 2018 and it still worked like that

Yup, I remember when I got a loaner car that had those new momentary switches and I couldn't believe how terrible they were. What made it all the more baffling/disappointing was that earlier BMWs had some of the nicest turn signal switches available that were so satisfying to use.

I have this same problem with cars like the Honda Fit, where you can't immediately abort a signal because the minimum number of blinks allowed by the system is greater than 1. Far longer than it takes to realise you were about to turn too soon, or attempt a merge at a wrong exit.

The excessive minimum-blinks usually causes me to try moving the lever farther or jiggle it because "off" didn't seem to mean __off__, with the frequent result that the opposite side's turn signal engages, probably confusing other drivers.

Supposedly, this is a Feature, so that a brief flick of the control allows sending a preset number of blinks to other drivers. Myself, I think "off" should mean OFF.

They aren't useless at all, I see them used all the time when they double park somewhere.

Someone once told me "as a current BMW driver, the whole 'BMW drivers don't use signals' is complete bullshit, I didn't use them before I drove one!"

So I wonder if someone not using turn signals in a non-BMW is a leading indicator that they may buy one in the future.

Shower thoughts.

You nailed it.

A study actually went into this[0]. Or a popular science summary of it[1]

  Assholes really are more likely to drive Mercedes or BMWs, study finds

  It’s not that all of them are assholes, but according to a new study, self-centered men who are argumentative, stubborn, and overall disagreeable are much more likely to own a high-status car such as an Audi, BMW or Mercedes.

[0] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ijop.12642

[1] https://www.zmescience.com/science/psychology-science/asshol...

Have you see the new animated turn signals on luxury cars? I've noticed that people actually use them!

Yes, I always wonder WTF is going on and after it's too late to be of any use it registers and I'm reminded of all the stuff I'm reading about in this thread.

Reminds me of the difference between a BMW and a porcupine.

(A porcupine has pricks on the outside.)

? I don’t get it, isn’t the person installing critical safety features in an automobile performing a valuable social function?

The joke is that BMW drivers don't use them.

Not familiar with that meme/stereotype…

Many people merge without using turn signals, but the subset that do it where you will notice it (e.g, close to you) seem to often be in BMWs.

I don’t know if anyone has ever actually done a study. Would be amusing.

Sounds distinctly like a Bay Area/populated city thing.

TikTok is leaking

That stereotype is ancient. I've first heard it like 15 years ago.

Humor? In my Hacker News?

Or count votes at Russian elections