GS 1200 Dipped beam headlight

[rosey60]

Hi and happy New Year!
I recently changed my dipped beam headlight bulb and the light pattern is not as it was. I am also dazzling other road users especially when following cars. I checked the bulb was fitted correctly and it was so checked the Haynes manual which states the bulb should be fitted with the tab at the top (it was). However the BMW owners manual states it should have the tab at the bottom but there is no 'slot' for the tab to fit into.
Apart from throwing a 'spread' of light rather than a beam it also appears too bright - almost as if the main beam element of the bulb is illuminated and not the dip element. Grateful for any ideas. Many thanks.

 

[swissrob]

change the bulb.... or if you have been too enthusiastic whilst changing the bulb and forced it into the housing then you might have pushed the reflector off the ball adjuster, because BMW appear incapable of making the bulb housing the correct size

 

[sanensafe]

Have you put the correct bulb in? You mention the main beam appears to be lit. The standard bulbs are a single H7 not a dual element H4.

 

[TLSgazza]

Apart from throwing a 'spread' of light rather than a beam it also appears too bright - almost as if the main beam element of the bulb is illuminated and not the dip element. Grateful for any ideas. Many thanks.

It's only a single filament bulb as there is a seperate light for high beam.
Have you got the correct bulb. Mind you a dip/highbeam bulb wouldn't fit would it , and the plug wouldn't fit

Doh. Beat me to it

 

[(RIP) Miff]

Is the bulb in properly?

The dip beam and high beam bulbs go in different ways up... IYSWIM

 

[Roymondo]

Dipped beam bulb goes in with the tab pointing upwards.

 

[Roymondo]

Or at least it does on mine. The BMW handbook specifically states that the bulb orientation might not be the same ad the diagram (no surprise really as the two bulbs are oriented differently and there's only one diagram!)

 

[Popell]

Cheap bulb, filament in the wrong place? i have dazzling problem with the HID bulb - it illuminates everything - including the rear view mirror of leading cars, frankly embarrassing but the last time I looked on the web for a reflector appropriate bulb, one of the bulbs on the Mercedes failed the following morning!! Spooky

 

[The Prospector]

change the bulb.... or if you have been too enthusiastic whilst changing the bulb and forced it into the housing then you might have pushed the reflector off the ball adjuster, because BMW appear incapable of making the bulb housing the correct size

+1 the previous owner had done this on mine, what I can't understand is how something so easy to push off is so hard to put back on - bloody stressfull hour getting it back on had to make a hook out of an old electrical screwdriver

 

[(RIP) Miff]

Are you riding with or without a pillion?
Have you knocked the "Dipped beam adjuster" lever (used when carrying a pillion to dip the whole headlight unit) when changing the bulb?

 

[rosey60]

Thanks for the replies so far.
Basically it's an H7 bulb from a major parts supplier and presumably a reasonable quality product. It's fitted with the tab at the top and I'm not aware that I have damaged the unit whilst fitting (how would I know - would the reflectors in the unit be loose?).
I'm riding solo and I've had to move the lever for the 'heavy load' adjustment to it's down position to minimise the dazzle to other road users.
Any other suggestions most welcome. Thanks!

 

[Bendy toy]

I have the same issue with my headlight. IMO, the angular difference between dip and main is too close so you dont really get much benefit from main beam.

I did think about a souped-up brighter H7 bulb, but they have a shorter life and wouldnt fix the alignment/focus issues. So I'm looking out for some high power narrow angle LED spots. Most however seem to be fogs/floods which is no benefit for main beam.

 

[ghiribizzo]

Go and get measuring:
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eyXUnfbATNQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Powerful Pierre]

I had a similar problem when I fitted a cheap bulb from a local autofactor . The glass bulb was not at right angles to the locating flange so the beam pattern dazzled all oncomers . I now only use Halfords +50% bulbs which give a decent life , are made properly and usually available on 2 for 1 deals .

 

[Greenman14]

I just fitted Phillips Extreme Vision bulbs to my GS and to the wife's Mini. The GS beam is more or less where it was but the Mini was dazzling oncoming drivers and I had to adjust the beam down.

I've fitted these "improved" bulbs to all my bikes for years and never had a problem. And if, as suggested, the fault lies with bulb manufacture why would it be confined to high output bulbs?

All the above is no help and inconclusive, but it is true. Thought I would add to save someone else doing it.

 

[Bobbin-Man]

how would I know - would the reflectors in the unit be loose?

Remove the cover over the bulb connector and push against the back of the bulb. If the ball fitting has become detached the whole reflector unit (inside the headligt housing) will be able to rock back and to, maybe 10mm at the bottom when viewed through the glass. The issue is that the ball that becomes detached is the lower adjuster so if it's not anchoring the reflector the beam angle swings from very high to very very high!
I tried all the various fixes for mine but not satisfactory so eventually replaced the whole headlamp

 

[The Prospector]

Remove the cover over the bulb connector and push against the back of the bulb. If the ball fitting has become detached the whole reflector unit (inside the headligt housing) will be able to rock back and to, maybe 10mm at the bottom when viewed through the glass. The issue is that the ball that becomes detached is the lower adjuster so if it's not anchoring the reflector the beam angle swings from very high to very very high!
I tried all the various fixes for mine but not satisfactory so eventually replaced the whole headlamp

Just as above, when mine was loose the dipped beam was lighting tree tops up. I made a hook from an old screwdriver ground down and bent round but the force required to clip the socket back over the ball feels like some thing will break first. If I remember correctly it does not just clip on but it has to be lifted up as the socket sits on top of the ball

 

[rosey60]

Thanks for the responses - much appreciated. It certainly doesn't appear that the adjuster has become detached. Just as well judging by the hassle some of you guys have had to get it back on!
The bulb doesn't seat very well at all and is able to move, albeit very slightly, in the holder. I'll try another manufacturer and see if that helps. Thanks for all the replies and happy new year!

 

[araspitfire]

I have a friend who managed to re-seat the ball.

He fed a cable into and around the unit. Pulled both ends to pop the ball back in.

Instructions apparently on the Dutch GS site....

Al...

 

[The smudger]

Dare I suggest, pop into a dealer and get them to fit one?