Changing a headlamp bulb

[richorich]

Need to change a blown headlamp bulb and thought it would be easy. In fact I thought Park Lane BMW would help me out last night by popping it in for me as I had to ride home to Buckinghamshire in the dark. Yeah, right.

So now I'm looking at it this morning, have read through some stuff on the forum, and I'm thinking I may have to book my bloody bike in just to have a bulb changed. Bah.

Can anyone who has changed one reassure me that it's not that difficult??

('07 GS1200)

 

[Edventure]

It's really very easy

Just unscrew the caps at the rear of the headlight unit and you will find the bulb is held in by a wire clip. Push the two ends of the clip together and the bulb will come out. Disconnect the wires, fit new bulb, making sure you dont tough the bulb glass with your bare fingers or it will go black. Then refit wires and caps.

 

[DanielM]

its a doddle

Even for a ham fisted oaf like me.

The hardest bit is getting the cap off of the headlamp unit, it just needs to be unscrewed. Look closely or use a torch, and you should see an arrow on which way to turn.

Once off, pull off the power plug, unclip a spring clip that keeps the bulb unit in place, and just fit your new bulb. Getting the spring off is easy, putting it back on seems really hard, but just keep trying.

Then put the power plug back on, and then put the cap back on.

Easy.

Also, see this how-to...

http://www.r1200gs.info/howto/IPF-bulbs.html

 

[Keith Chapman]

See Rich, as Victor the Meerkat would say "simples !"

 

[Slowdown]

See Rich, as Victor the Meerkat would say "simples !"

Oh no! Does this mean we're going to have a 'Compare the Lightbulbs' thread ???

 

[richorich]

done!

thanks chaps, especially Dan for the link - followed it to the letter and it took all of 90 seconds to do the job.

I had phoned Park Lane this morning - they wanted £26 + vat labour - SCANDAL - but what is more annoying is that I bought the bulb there last night, and if they could have been bothered, they could have told me that it is a tool-less operation and that I could have done it on their forecourt there and then rather than ride home in the dark on just my fogs Even better, with just a modicum of goodwill they could have helped me with it

this is the weather - happy riding

 

[jimbogs1200]

Good to hear it is that easy..I am about to replace my std bulb with a blue one... Park lane are outrageous not to offer any help, especially on something like that...

 

[Pukmeister]

I had phoned Park Lane this morning - they wanted £26 + vat labour - SCANDAL - but what is more annoying is that I bought the bulb there last night, and if they could have been bothered....

If anyone in the Fareham area needs theirs changing give me a call. I'll do it immediately and I'll only charge you £25, how's that for customer service......cheers easy

 

[takahe]

Rich pleased to hear you got it done, that was you behind me last night leaving the RSOE on twin spots, nice. It got quite misty.
Paul.

 

[Peter Pan]

Even for a ham fisted oaf like me.

The hardest bit is getting the cap off of the headlamp unit, it just needs to be unscrewed. Look closely or use a torch, and you should see an arrow on which way to turn.

Once off, pull off the power plug, unclip a spring clip that keeps the bulb unit in place, and just fit your new bulb. Getting the spring off is easy, putting it back on seems really hard, but just keep trying.

Then put the power plug back on, and then put the cap back on.

Easy.

Also, see this how-to...

http://www.r1200gs.info/howto/IPF-bulbs.html

Yep. Extremely easy ......... until my dealer pointed out at my MOT that the bulb was in upside down! Duh!

 

[richorich]

Yep. Extremely easy ......... until my dealer pointed out at my MOT that the bulb was in upside down! Duh!

I nearly did that, then I noticed there is a location flange. Trouble is, it will go in anyway even if you don't spot that.

What an illuminating thread this is..........

 

[STUBBS]

thanks chaps, especially Dan for the link - followed it to the letter and it took all of 90 seconds to do the job.

I had phoned Park Lane this morning - they wanted £26 + vat labour - SCANDAL - but what is more annoying is that I bought the bulb there last night, and if they could have been bothered, they could have told me that it is a tool-less operation and that I could have done it on their forecourt there and then rather than ride home in the dark on just my fogs Even better, with just a modicum of goodwill they could have helped me with it

this is the weather - happy riding

then youd have missed your fish and chips

 

[Bear]

thanks chaps, especially Dan for the link - followed it to the letter and it took all of 90 seconds to do the job.

I had phoned Park Lane this morning - they wanted £26 + vat labour - SCANDAL - but what is more annoying is that I bought the bulb there last night, and if they could have been bothered, they could have told me that it is a tool-less operation and that I could have done it on their forecourt there and then rather than ride home in the dark on just my fogs Even better, with just a modicum of goodwill they could have helped me with it

this is the weather - happy riding

I last changed a headlight bulb on the forcourt of a French filling station. It took me a couple of minutes (although it's not the first time I've done the job). For what it's worth Halfords charge £4.99 (including VAT) to change a car headlight bulb (just try it on a Ford Ka to see how good that price is) so Park Lane are taking the p*** big style. Now you know how it's done you need never be threatened with a rip-off again.

 

[JPB]

A couple of years back I discovered ther headlight bulb had gone as I arrived in Dover to get the ferry. I always carry a spare and fitting it took 5 minutes in the queue at the terminal. I'm not the world's handiest person, so I reckon if I can do it, anyone could!

As for what the garage wants to charge, maybe this is their way of trying to avoid little jobs unless someone is prepared to make it worth their while.

 

[David Lee]

Just did mine last weekend, got a new one from Halfords and fitted it myself,
good info in the riders handbook (if you have one) just remember that the cut out is at the bottom, so the two pins are vertical at 9 & 3 oclock.

 

[richorich]

As for what the garage wants to charge, maybe this is their way of trying to avoid little jobs unless someone is prepared to make it worth their while.

surely me having bought a bmw in the first place, and keeping customers happy with small gestures would make it worth their while.....?

I make furniture for tens of thousands of pounds, but I'll happily spend a few minutes cutting some timber for an existing client for nowt

 

[Pukmeister]

As for what the garage wants to charge, maybe this is their way of trying to avoid little jobs unless someone is prepared to make it worth their while.

Anyone in Business knows that any little jobs which are well done can turn into much bigger ones worth their while. Goodwill goes a long way and taking five minutes out from your busy schedule to provide a helpful service can reap rewards later.

They should also be well aware that word gets around. A good reputation takes hard work to earn, and can be easily lost. It can also go a heck of a long way to long-term success through regular custom.

You can take your bike where you please for service. Remember that.

 

[Fudmucker]

Its really rather easy - I replaced mine last weekend when the dipped beam globe blew (4000kms).
It helps to have small hands as the locking mechanism at the upper yoke gets in the way. I found it easier to stick my hand up from below between the forks.
I fitted Nightfighter H7 globes to both dipped and main beams and its already a great improvement - I've rescheduled the priority of the auxiliary lights !

 

[macca]

Anyone know any " how many tossers does it take to change a light bulb?" jokes........

 

[Peter Pan]

"......It helps to have small hands as the locking mechanism at the upper yoke gets in the way. I found it easier to stick my hand up from below between the forks. "

...... brought tears to my eyes!