55w bulb for main beam AND dip beam?

[steveuk]

school boy question...

my 2005GS has a (12v, obviously) 55w bulb for BOTH main beam and dipped beam.....

how come the main is brighter? is it just the difference in reflector shape/design?

can i fit a brighter bulb (than 55w) without additional spotlights?

thanks

 

[Droopy Dick]

The main beam is a focussed 'projector'- type lamp-holder whilst the dip beam is very diffused,

Thus the one looks brigher than the other.

A pal has fitted 100w lamps but I'm not sure whether the wiring can take the load, or even if the lenses can take the extra heat.

I've fitted two HID xenon lamps at 35w but with around 4 times the light output of the ordinary lamps.

(Oh, lamp = bulb. But for me, bulbs grow in gardens).

 

[steveuk]

thanks!!

how much were your addtitional hids (35w) ? worth it?

 

[Nicko]

Droopy

Also I 've read somewhere that OE lenses and reflectors weren't particularly compatible with HID lamps(bulbs!). What is your view/experience?

Cheers

 

[Mouse]

If it's a 1200, I doubt it would let you fit a higher wattage bulb - the overload protection in the control unit would probably cut the power if the light circuit was drawing twice the current it was supposed to. Never tried it though.

The thing I'd worry about would be the (plastic I think) reflectors in the lamp housing - if you melt these it could be very expensive!

 

[Droopy Dick]

thanks!!

how much were your addtitional hids (35w) ? worth it?

£180 for the pair.

Yes, the amount of light thrown out is staggering.

 

[Droopy Dick]

thanks!!

how much were your addtitional hids (35w) ? worth it?

Perhaps I should have pointed at where I bought them?

It was from http://www.hids4u.co.uk/product_details.asp?id=12

 

[Droopy Dick]

Droopy

Also I 've read somewhere that OE lenses and reflectors weren't particularly compatible with HID lamps(bulbs!). What is your view/experience?

Cheers

I did type out a lengthy response to this, but the PC hung when I tried to 'submit' it.

I hope this time that there will be no problem.

The BMW OEM headlights are little short of a disgrace. If Honda can produce headlights on the Balckbird and VFR that could illuminate the moon, there seems little reason that BMW couldn't follow suit. Perhaps it's a matter of form over function?

However, the lamp fitting is completely compatible and the H1 HID unit just fits as does a regular lamp. The arc (which produces the light) is at the same distance from the reflector as the filament in a tungsten lamp.

Without doubt, you need to take some time to adjust the headlights for maximum effect. I've never had much complaint with the projector type light unit fitted as a main beam. The dipped beam unit, however, is as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

Having had additional lamps fitted courtsesy of BTBR, I am now able to travel significantly faster along A-roads at night. (I might even do the HID conversion for those next year, although I'm not sure where the ballast units will go).

 

[BTBR]

Just to throw something into the pot here and add some food for thought.

I am just trying out some PIAA Superwhite Plus bulbs. They are rated at 55w but give out the same light output as 110w bulbs, lots of extra light but no fear of damaging the wiring.

They are not cheap mind, in the region of £26 each, plus p & p, BUT...........they are bloody excellant!

The differance from the standard bulbs is nothing short of staggering to be honest. Plus, the light is that much whiter than OE.

I only have them fitted in my spots at the moment, but I will certainly get some for the headlights next

They are anti-vibration and are suitable for bikes, more details here

Cheers

BTBR

 

[Cheesy Mike]

I am just trying out some PIAA Superwhite Plus bulbs. They are rated at 55w but give out the same light output as 110w bulbs, lots of extra light but no fear of damaging the wiring.

I have had bad experiences with the longevity of PIAA's H1 bulbs. I have heard that this is because they don't like vibration - something the GS delivers in buckets.

Mike

 

[Raindancer]

PIAA

Quote......."BUT...........they are bloody excellant!

The differance from the standard bulbs is nothing short of staggering to be honest. Plus, the light is that much whiter than OE".

Spot on Alan

Totally agree.......superb lighting comapred to the standard b.w lights.

Regards

 

[Nicko]

I did type out a lengthy response to this, but the PC hung when I tried to 'submit' it.

I hope this time that there will be no problem.

The BMW OEM headlights are little short of a disgrace. If Honda can produce headlights on the Balckbird and VFR that could illuminate the moon, there seems little reason that BMW couldn't follow suit. Perhaps it's a matter of form over function?

However, the lamp fitting is completely compatible and the H1 HID unit just fits as does a regular lamp. The arc (which produces the light) is at the same distance from the reflector as the filament in a tungsten lamp.

Without doubt, you need to take some time to adjust the headlights for maximum effect. I've never had much complaint with the projector type light unit fitted as a main beam. The dipped beam unit, however, is as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

Having had additional lamps fitted courtsesy of BTBR, I am now able to travel significantly faster along A-roads at night. (I might even do the HID conversion for those next year, although I'm not sure where the ballast units will go).

Droopy

Thanks for the reply. Do I take it that you think the dipped beam is not much good after the HID conversion?

Nicko

 

[kdude]

Droopy

Also I 've read somewhere that OE lenses and reflectors weren't particularly compatible with HID lamps(bulbs!). What is your view/experience?

Cheers

Droopy... a buddy of mine imports bulbs (no name brand) from China. He gave me two 70 bulbs hid (white) to replace my 55 watt bulbs.

I was scared to death doing this ... but I let him put them in and you know what ? It's brighter than the stock bulbs by a lot and the bulbs were (get this) only $7.00 cdn. per bulb.

Bottom line.... the 70 watts h7's will not cause a problem to the lens or wiring.....

 

[Droopy Dick]

Droopy

Thanks for the reply. Do I take it that you think the dipped beam is not much good after the HID conversion?

Nicko

The dipped beam is much improved by virtue of the extra light output.

However, it's still far from being a good beam shape. As I said previously, I always found the main beam light to be reasonable effective, although shockingly poor after my Blackbird.

It's vital to adjust your beam as well. I set mine up by putting the bike some 15 meters or so from a parked car and adjusted the beam height until it cut off below the height of the car's rear window/boot edge. The light beam has a very flat top and cut-off.

The part of the beam on the left which is supposed to help illuminate the kerb seemsa tad high, but it must be 'right' Incidentally, I asked SPC to check the beam alignment on my last service and they reported no problems.

I think it's worth, perhaps, annoying some folk in low cars for the sake of ensuring that YOU have decent illumination. After all, all cars these days are fitted with dipping mirrors.

 

[Droopy Dick]

The differance from the standard bulbs is nothing short of staggering to be honest. Plus, the light is that much whiter than OE.

I only have them fitted in my spots at the moment, but I will certainly get some for the headlights next

BTBR

Perhaps, Alan, you can report after you've used them for a while. £100 to upgrade my spots seems not too expensive, so long as the lamps don't break after a dozen cycles of use or 50 miles riding.