Don’t waste your money on the LED headlights from China on eBay

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gstom89

gstom89

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**This isn’t a ‘Chinese parts are rubbish’ post as a lot of great cheap stuff is available out there!**

Unfortunately this LED headlight unit fall into the ‘expensive and rubbish’ category

I bought one for my 2012 adventure. Went to fit it today but have replaced with the original

- The build quality is shockingly poor. Brittle plastic, missing the required mounting lug underneath - it will just rattle away without

- Gaps in the external cover mean water will ingress

- The DRL connector came faulty. Easily fixed but shouldn’t have to at this price.

- The side grommets won’t fit with the original fitting screws.

- They are not adjustable

Don’t waste your money. This cost me £175 and I have started a return through eBay.
 

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interesting.......you should name the seller, even though it's some dodgy name..........I am understanding that some sellers are charging 'alot' to impart the impression of quality....because generally we see that cheap is shit and expensive is good.......so dodgy sellers start charging a quality price.....so we don't have to 'think'.
Aliexpress or equivalent is always risk taking, but taking a risk can sometimes be worth it but you really have to do your own due diligence and only rely on feedback that you believe to be genuine..


...just to add to the edit....i buy alot from AliExpress......some is shit, but most of the items I buy are what I want/expect for the price....usually I am impressed with the quality.
 
They’re loads of them on eBay and I just went with whoever accepted my best offer but hoped this would help those who are thinking about purchasing. Maybe I was unlucky or maybe there are variations in quality available as there are some great reviews for them on YouTube and elsewhere but alas, I shall stick to good old fashioned German reliability for now!
 
Interesting... Interesting because I have (what I think) is the same headlamp unit, and it has been working perfectly through all weathers for...I think... about 5yrs now. So your post might be a little harsh and not representative.

Your comments about the gaps is maybe misplaced. Gaps are fine, when they're in the right places... You need to bed more specific.

I will however agree that the mounting lugs either side are fucked. The moulding is so wrong I do have some questions .
The only correction is to get into it and make adjustments, which I did. But I totally get it, that this just shouldn't be an issue, especially for the cost.

The unit you've bought, which I would describe as the 'radical' design as compared to the more OEM looking design, had this mounting lug fault. But that side, mine has worked as you would hope.

I think if you're buying one of these headlamps, you need to be ready to make adaptations. Admittedly, the newer version (a la OEM lookalike) send to be a much better 'plug n play' item.

Sent from my SM-S908B using Tapatalk
 
Slipperyeel said:
Interesting... Interesting because I have (what I think) is the same headlamp unit, and it has been working perfectly through all weathers for...I think... about 5yrs now. So your post might be a little harsh and not representative.

Your comments about the gaps is maybe misplaced. Gaps are fine, when they're in the right places... You need to bed more specific.

I will however agree that the mounting lugs either side are fucked. The moulding is so wrong I do have some questions .
The only correction is to get into it and make adjustments, which I did. But I totally get it, that this just shouldn't be an issue, especially for the cost.

The unit you've bought, which I would describe as the 'radical' design as compared to the more OEM looking design, had this mounting lug fault. But that side, mine has worked as you would hope.

I think if you're buying one of these headlamps, you need to be ready to make adaptations. Admittedly, the newer version (a la OEM lookalike) send to be a much better 'plug n play' item.

Sent from my SM-S908B using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Could you send me a link to yours please?

Yeh perhaps there are different variants in different production lines etc

Does yours have the (totally neccesary) mounting lug underneath? In my fourth photo the Chinese unit doesn’t have it

The gaps are at the top of the unit into the front of the headlight, so whilst the LEDs may be sealed and not be affected, the unit will 100% accumulate water. There is no evidence of a deliberate drain (like the oem one)

Perhaps I was unlucky but I stand by my review anyway!
 
Your review is valid! You can only base it on what your received

As for the lug.... Is there not a metal spar running backwards, from the front, with a slot in it? (that slot effectively copying the same slot in the OEM lamp with the grommet)?

If there's no spar, it would be the first I've seen without it. Maybe another pic will help

Sent from my SM-S908B using Tapatalk
 
i cant see what you mean about gaps, so i cant comment on that.

But... the side lugs are fine, you need to take the rubber grommets & bushes out of your existing light to retro fit into the new lamp

that way you can affix it. possibly you will need Rodin's adjuster to fit underneath to give you some beam adjustment
 
Santa-2512 said:
i cant see what you mean about gaps, so i cant comment on that.

But... the side lugs are fine, you need to take the rubber grommets & bushes out of your existing light to retro fit into the new lamp

that way you can affix it. possibly you will need Rodin's adjuster to fit underneath to give you some beam adjustment
Click to expand...
Yes I did that. But it’s only got the mounting points on the side not underneath, therfore isn’t particularly stable.
 
gstom89 said:
They’re loads of them on eBay and I just went with whoever accepted my best offer but hoped this would help those who are thinking about purchasing. Maybe I was unlucky or maybe there are variations in quality available as there are some great reviews for them on YouTube and elsewhere but alas, I shall stick to good old fashioned German reliability for now!
Click to expand...
I sometimes wonder if a lower offer is sent and accepted, they send a ‘second’ or less than perfect item.
 
I have had mine from AliExpress ( the not so radical version) for a few years now with no issues.
Cost about the same as the LED bulbs that it replaced which were dazzling everyone and good light output.
Had to make a bottom adjuster and a Perspex front guard as the plastic in front of the lens does not appear stone proof. but still good value for money.
 
I fitted one to my old Hexhead, buying new rubber threaded grommets from BMW as the old ones in my headlamp were perished.

It was very good, no issues at all. My local BMW dealers said to leave it on the bike when I traded it in.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I’ve returned it due to the issues - I don’t think that at this price point (nearly £200) that it shouldn’t just be plug & play.

I’ve got some big trips planned abroad and I think the simplicity of simply changing bulbs will outweigh the LED benefits. I hardly ride by night anyhow.

Very interesting to hear how others have got on. Perhaps I’m just unlucky. Would be interested to get a link to a ‘good’ one from a ‘good’ seller though!

Thanks all
 
As said above. I have had one for years too. The side fittings from my OE headlight fitted perfectly and it bolted straight in. I put a large grommet in the bottom lug which held the headlight in the right position for me, in my case as high as it would allow. Others have fitted an adjuster. The beam pattern is great with a good light output. Less light spread than the HID's I have had previously. They appear to be on AliExpress for good prices now plus taxes. Less than I paid about 4 or so years ago.
My BMW headlight protector fitted straight onto the new unit too.
I'm very happy with it.

Link
Just found this amazing item on AliExpress. Check it out!
￡73.99 69%OFF | Motorcycle Light 110W LED Front Headlight for BMW 2005 - 2012 R1200GS / 2006 -2013 R1200GS Adv Headlight
 
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Mine had it's first MOT with the LED headlight unit

Passed, no advisory's

Mind you the 24k service was done as well, thank god its not due for another 4 years
 
Using a quality LED bulb that was supposed to be focused to suit the reflector on dip beam I was forever getting flashed by cars coming in the opposite direction in daylight.
I have pulled up behind cars and had the driver holding a hand up to the rear view mirror as I was dazzling them.
The beam height was set correctly and passed an MOT ( this was in the early days before the MOT stations started clamping down on LED bulbs in housings / reflectors they were not designed for.)
Since fitting the Chinese LED headlight unit a few years ago I have not been flashed once, The beam cut off on dip is very sharp without the light scatter you get with an LED bulb in the stock housing.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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