Broken Headlight fittings - quick fixes?

[Ropey]

I'm in France at the moment and got lampf warning and went about changing the dipped bulb as I had done previously.

Only this time the little clip jobby wasn't attached at the pivot point but loose.

I changed bulb and put it back together as I could but upon checking at each fillup the bulb is still working but loose and bulb is floating inside.

Any quick fixes or just live with it till I get home?

I'm hoping it's not a full light fitting replacement to fix

Cheers,
J

 

[Beemerman59]

There should be a small screw which holds the clip in at the bottom of the fitting - replace if missing or if its still there you can refit the clip and tighten the screw (not too hard though as the plastic parts break easily).

 

[Ogmios]

Cant say for sure without seeing a pic or diagram but,
i've fixed similar in the past with a big paperclip bent to suit.
dunno if that helps.
Good Luck.

 

[wideparting]

same thing happened to me in croatia get a tissue or bog roll,stuff it in the cupola bit.holds the bulb in fine. hth j

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

same thing happened to me in croatia get a tissue or bog roll,stuff it in the cupola bit.holds the bulb in fine. hth j

Can't beat the premium quality & design of the BMW Products

 

[Ropey]

Gents, as always thanks. The little screw is still there and will tackle it tomorrow morning once I polish off this bottle of vin rouge...!!

Cheers

John

 

[Roymondo]

I suspect the design is similar to the F800S/ST, which has a known weak point (among others) in the headlamp bulb mounting. In essence, what happens is that the bent wire clip doesn't always fit properly, and the "ears" of the plastic retainer get snapped off on releasing/fastening it.

On the 800, the "fix" requires that the headlamp unit be removed from the bike (not hard), then remove the dinky little screw that is supposed to retain the bent wire clip. Take a small, thin washer (or fabricate something fron e.g. a tiny piece of a coke can) and bend a small section over so that the washer is shaped more like a flat tyre than a donut. Put this modified washer under the screw so that the bent-over section retains the wire clip.

This is the sort of washer shape you are aiming for:

 

[Ogmios]

Roymondo,

Nice work - good on you. Thanks for sharing it.

 

[gsman1]

Repair clip

Guy told me take screw out that holds clip, get cap that fits over number plate screws to tidy up then cut two small groves for clip then put screw through hole in bottom of cap and screw into headlight again.Now put clip inside with it protruding from cap through groves cut, and clip cap top closed to secure bulb clip, worked on my 1200 s hope you can understand this and it helps, should permanently cure it.
Good luck

 

[Beemerman59]

I did the bent washer fix on my 1200 a couple of years ago and it works a treat

Once in position you never have to loosen or retighten the screw.

 

[darkhorse]

This may help
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=261110

 

[The G Man]

For what its worth I found that a 90 degree plate from my son's meccano set was the perfect size & shape to retain the spring - I'm sure he won't miss it as he's now 20 years old

 

[DrogoNevets]

stuffing bog roll in? have you felt how warm those lights can get? you're brave (ok they are water (therefore air?) tight but still.

go for the washer, and if you paint it black, no one will know the thing isnt a proper job (assuming theyve never seen one before) and i knwo from experience you can stick a screwdriver in withough having to take anything but the couploa off

 

[wideparting]

stuffing bog roll in?

the bog roll doesnt touch the lamp,only the 2 contacts on the bulb holder. mines was in for a few weeks no problem.

 

[David G]

Just had the same problem with my 2010 GSA. My hands are to big to get the clip back on. Is best to remove the speedo for more space ?