Auxiliary Lights on the 2008 GS

[Thunder]

I'm a firm believer in additional lighting on the bike particularly with regards to visability to other road users who seem to find the stealth grey model totally invisible so have been waiting eagerly for a suitable light bar to be released.

I'd used one of Migsel's light bars on my previous bike and knew how stable a mounting point it provided for auxiliary lights so had been chasing him for a while for the 2008 version. When he mentioned he had one sorted but needed a guinea pig to try it I had my hand up like a shot and the parts arrived on Friday, after a few hours wiring yesterday here's the result.

The bike already had a set of Les Wassall's HIDs fitted on main and high beam, I decieded to fit a set of his HiD Micro DEs as fogs and running lights and PIAA 510s with high output bulbs as spots and long range driving lights, with all lights all independently switched and relays triggered from the main and high beam lights.

It's just not possible to capture how lights perform on camera but before anyone asks here are a some shots taken after installation but before I had a chance to align them properly.

 

[Davy F]

My eyes, my eyes !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[drifter]

Nice job as usual Roger and nothing less have we come to expect from you,

 

[Les Wassall]

Top job

 

[carlo888]

to Mr. Thunder
Can you post the wiring diagram for the 2 hid aux light
many thanks

 

[Thunder]

to Mr. Thunder
Can you post the wiring diagram for the 2 hid aux light
many thanks

Hi Carlo

I don't have a wiring diagram for the lights I'm afraid but if it is any help I'll try and describe what I did.

Both sets of lights are powered direct from the bikes battery through relays which are triggered by a connection made into the wiring for the bikes high and main beams inside the headlight unit.

I can't remember the wire colours but if you remove the caps to access the headlight bulbs and pull off the bulb connectors the negative is the brown wire.

I connected switches into the relay trigger wires so I can fully control the auxiliary lights, in the case of the Micro DE Hids I used a switch I got from the USA which looks like the stock switches.

Hope this helps.

 

[The Bede]

... The GSA has slightly different mounting arrangements
... This is the Migsel bar.

... This set-up isn't HID, but adds a huge amount of light.
... The underneath Micro DEs supplement the dip beam
... The FF50s, on top, blast along with the main beam.

... Control is by PIAA switch next the instrument cluster. Only the Micro DEs are switched (left hand), the FF50s are full time linked to the hi-beam. Everything is relay switched from a Centech fuse panel, underseat.
... The right hand PIAA switch controls a hi-intensity red rear LED fog lamp

 

[Thunder]

Nice set up Bede, couple of questions if I may, does the bar come from Migsel for the GSA or have you come up with your own mounting solution and are those the PIAA switches with the silicon covers?

Oh yeah more questions

Any pictures of the rear foglight and information on it?

 

[The Bede]

Nice set up Bede, couple of questions if I may, does the bar come from Migsel for the GSA or have you come up with your own mounting solution

... The bar is the same for the GS and GSA, only the mounting brackets change. I fiddle for ages trying to find a suitable clamp for my original 'stock GS,' NN manufactured, Migsel style bar.

... In the end I bought a new Migsel for the GSA and sold the 'stock' bar in FS&W.

and are those the PIAA switches with the silicon covers?

Oh yeah more questions

Any pictures of the rear foglight and information on it?

... Spot on, NN supplied PIAA stick on switches, with the silicone covers.

... The 'fog-light' is a NN supplied LED 'strip.' It houses a 5W/21W equivalent tail-light/brake-light function. I've simply wired it up for full only brake use, activated from the right hand PIAA switch via relay.

... I used a take off from the underseat din socket to relay switch a Centech fuse panel for all the electric bling. Everything switches off with the can-bus, but the LED and front spotlights are also individually relay controlled.

... Under-tray wiring and, after drilling a small hole through the number-plate hanger, a cable tie takes up the worst of the slack out back

... The mounting board is a piece of semi-flexible un-made circuit board. I gooped some clear silicone sealant round the cable entry, seems pukka.

 

[mjtir]

Still looking for a light bar.

Migsel’s light bar for the 2008 GSA is too restrictive if you are going to use two sets of lights .

 

[The Bede]

Migsel’s light bar for the 2008 GSA is too restrictive if you are going to use two sets of lights .

... ...

... Loads of space

... Besides Migsel's offering what are the alternatives anyway

 

[mjtir]

Migsel

Migsel make quality products, I already own his gps mount, and I'm very happy.
But when in comes to light bars ...I was expecting something different.
I mean almost all GSA’s have a factory light bar now days .
The problem is that you can’t put anything big in upper side.
But yes no alternative.

 

[The Bede]

Migsel make quality products, I already own his gps mount, and I'm very happy.
But when in comes to light bars ...I was expecting something different.
I mean almost all GSA’s have a factory light bar now days .
The problem is that you can’t put anything big in upper side.
But yes no alternative.

... Is size a problem

... The smaller set-ups like the PIAA510, FF50, FF100, Micro-DE combinations fit the Migsel/GSA combination and are more popular here than large size 'rally lamps.' HID is now gaining greater popularity.

... The small lamps still seem to chuck out as much light as the anti-aircraft alternatives

... Factory light bar is supplied with BWM option lamps. As a spare part it costs £90 in UK. It's a very crude piece of tube and looks a bit flimsy for 'through bolting' an upper and lower pair of lamps. More expensive and less elegant than the Migsel IMHO.

 

[mjtir]

I do not see why we must start a debate about aux lights.
My opinion is that size counts, between the some technology the bigger lamp wins. And for those that already have that
crude piece of tube for one reason or another , we need something more than cosmetics to pay 105 € .

 

[Cole]

My opinion is that size counts, between the some technology the bigger lamp wins.

Hmmm I am not sure what the logic is behind your claim. Please advise ... I might be missing something here ...

The size of the lamp merely represents the size of the reflector. The size of the reflector makes no real difference as to how much light comes out the front of the lamp.

If you have a bulb (light source) that puts out 1400 lumens of light (a normal H7 bulb for example), then whether you have a close in small reflector sending the light forward or a larger one, the same amount of light gets thrown forward. Exactly how are you imagining that the larger reflector sends more light forward? Whether you have a large or small reflector, about 95+ % of the light from the light source will end up coming out the front of the lamp.

Larger reflectors mean that given manufacturing tolerances, that a reflector twice the size will only have half the relative error rate in the theoretical surface of the reflector. It means that the beam can be more accurate, or that the manufacturer can ease up on manufacturing tolerances.

It doesnt mean that more light ends up on the front side of the lamp.

 

[mjtir]

Check the data for various lamps of the same manufactor (hella has very good info) and you will get my point.

 

[MiGSel]

My opinion is that size counts, between the some technology the bigger lamp wins.

I'm sure huge lights will give you more light.

But I think aux lights should always be smaller than the stock headlight.
Otherwise your bike will looks like it's got elephant ears and I hate that.

So if you want this kind of setup:

you will have to get your light bar elsewhere, sorry.

Cheers,
Michel

 

[mjtir]

Wow , great lights .
Michel you just gave me new ideas ...
By the way i'm really enjoying your gps mount . The best solution i ever had ,and i had many.
Cheers .

 

[NYUK]

BMW have now released additional foglights as an option on the 08 1200gs.

Around £280 for parts alone. They couldn't confirm fitting costs at this stage.

 

[panman]

Hi Carlo

I don't have a wiring diagram for the lights I'm afraid but if it is any help I'll try and describe what I did.

Both sets of lights are powered direct from the bikes battery through relays which are triggered by a connection made into the wiring for the bikes high and main beams inside the headlight unit.

I can't remember the wire colours but if you remove the caps to access the headlight bulbs and pull off the bulb connectors the negative is the brown wire.

I connected switches into the relay trigger wires so I can fully control the auxiliary lights, in the case of the Micro DE Hids I used a switch I got from the USA which looks like the stock switches.

Hope this helps.

where did you get that switch from