I was sitting at a light and the Sun was just starting to go down, so I had my parking lights on. Across from me is a BMW with his headlights on, including his fogs. He flashes his highbeams and since there's no one else around, he must be flashing them at me. I just sat there, so he flashes them again. Well after the third flash, I pull the T/S lever back and flash the passing lights at him. The light changes and he drives past me giving me the stink eye, so I gave him the he's number one salute. The only thing I can figure out he's flashing at me for is the DRL lamps, but I just can't see those things burning out anyone's retinas. Has anyone else ever had this over the DRLs?
Those Prius DRL's aren't that bright and are not aimed upward to distract incoming traffic at their eye level. Perhaps he felt your headlights should of been on due to dimming conditions Was the falling sun to his back and his view was darker than yours?
Maybe he was just letting you know that your lights were on. Perhaps what you thought was a stink eye was him admiring your Prius and he's got a post on a BMW chatroom about how his courtesy was met by a one finger salute from a Prius driver. Regardless of which version of the story is more valid, we all win when we treat others respectfully.
Around here, courteous and BMW are never used in the same sentence. Maybe he thought my DRLs were brighter than his fog lights and was jealous.
They are not that bright IMHO but if someone has a need to ride my bumper on the dark, deer laden, winding roads, I wait until no oncoming traffic is coming and hit the brights... I can light half of town I live in using them and folks then back off, enjoying my lighting capabilities. I have been flashed at too but disregard it as I look for hiding speed traps or in one case, the flasher was warning of deer in the road ahead or one Sunday there was a horse and rider and the rider fell off in the road, causing a huge line of traffic as the horse was contained and the rider assisted. However if they keep flashing, I have to wonder what they are so worried about... I am usually watching for the person on my bumper.
He was telling you if you think it's dark enough or there is any other reason to have your parking lights on, you actually should have your headlamps on! This is a common mistake people make. Your second mistake was to think he was somehow mad at you. He was actually feeling sorry for you.
First, he was a BMW driver. Second, he gave me the look and when you get that look, you're not going to get a hug. Third, he was a BMW driver. Oh, and did I mention he was a BMW driver.
I've had people beam me thinking my high beams are on. I usually give a flash my high beams to tell them that these are my normal lights. Frankly, the dipped lights seem pretty low to me, with a very distinct cut-off, so I think it's just the terrain fooling them: if there is no maximum or minimum between two vehicles, then any change in incline is going to mean lights in one of the drivers' faces and this is exacerbated by dirty windshields (inside and out). But it is possible that the OP's lights should be adjusted to give a better dip. Of course, around here I get dipped lights of SUVs and pick-ups in my face all the time.