ok - I'll play then I suppose.
The flasher relay is a thermatic switch that opens and closes according to a piece of spring steel that heats and cools as current is run through it. I'd presume that when you first put on the indicators, it takes a moment for the spring steel in the switch to heat up (it then opens and closes the circuit as it heats and then cools).
On most cars the indicators don't come on until the spring steel in the switch has heated as the switch is always open until current is run through it, at which point it closes, then opens, then closes etc... This appears even, although there has actually been a pause BEFORE the first flash.
I'd assume that in the e30, the switch in the flasher is closed so that as soon as you flick the indicator stick, the indicator comes on - then as the switch heats, it causes the switch to open, then close, then open etc. Hence the slightly longer first flash.
Presumably BWM did this so that the indicator stalk gave an instant response, rather than having a slight pause before the indicator comes on - this would make the controls potentially seem more responsive than other cars? (Fitting with creating the impression of "the ultimate driving machine") BMW's engineers are renowned for being pedantic, so I'd assume they did think of such things.
That'd be my best guess without bothering to spend hours pouring over the e30 wiring diagram.
The flasher relay is a thermatic switch that opens and closes according to a piece of spring steel that heats and cools as current is run through it. I'd presume that when you first put on the indicators, it takes a moment for the spring steel in the switch to heat up (it then opens and closes the circuit as it heats and then cools).
On most cars the indicators don't come on until the spring steel in the switch has heated as the switch is always open until current is run through it, at which point it closes, then opens, then closes etc... This appears even, although there has actually been a pause BEFORE the first flash.
I'd assume that in the e30, the switch in the flasher is closed so that as soon as you flick the indicator stick, the indicator comes on - then as the switch heats, it causes the switch to open, then close, then open etc. Hence the slightly longer first flash.
Presumably BWM did this so that the indicator stalk gave an instant response, rather than having a slight pause before the indicator comes on - this would make the controls potentially seem more responsive than other cars? (Fitting with creating the impression of "the ultimate driving machine") BMW's engineers are renowned for being pedantic, so I'd assume they did think of such things.
That'd be my best guess without bothering to spend hours pouring over the e30 wiring diagram.
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