It’s not a hidden feature, any more than turn signals or daytime running lights … it is just outside the normal North American experience.  If you lived in Europe at the time these vehicles were manufactured, it was an expected behaviour.

> On 16-Aug-2016, at 03:19, Scott <SCOTTDANIEL@TURBOVANS.COM> wrote:
> 
> there is no question about the purpose of this feature.
> 
> my criticsim is about how it's a hidden feature ..
> and one could return to a car with depleted battery, not realizing the
> turn signal switch of some porsche cars has this hidden feature.
> 
> I'm glad to have small parking lights on one side or the other..
> WHEN I TELL THEM to be on, such as my Mercedes has.
> 
> On 08/15/2016 03:23 PM, Edward Maglott wrote:
>> it's for parking on the side of a road or street where your car may be
>> sticking out into the travel lane a little.  it illuminates the front and
>> rear marker lights dimly on that side so other drivers will see the car at
>> night.
>> Edward  (had a 914 once with this confusing feature)
>> 
>> On Mon, Aug 15, 2016 at 8:27 PM, Tom Hargrave <thargrav@hiwaay.net> wrote:
>> 
>>> And what feature is this?
>>> 
>>> Thanks, Tom Hargrave
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>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
>>> Of Dan N
>>> Sent: Monday, August 15, 2016 9:22 AM
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>> Subject: Re: German Engineering
>>> 
>>> French cars have that feature too...
>>> -----
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