Headlamp bulbs.

[Clem]

I'm travelling in France at the moment and I've had two headlamp bulbs go within a week. Standard H1 55W bulbs nothing special.

Two have gone within the week, one would be ok, but two seems odd.

Any ideas what could be worth checking - earthing, vibration?

Ta.

 

[Ian J Hartley]

Bulbs can fail at any time most often on switching on. It could be you are just unlucky. Vibration could be a cause. But your Symptoms are unclear.

Does the two bulbs that have failed include you original one which has lasted for ages and has only failed in the last week together with it's replacement. If this is the case you've only had one bulb fail in a week. Which is unlucky, but not uncommon.

Or

You've replaced the long standing original together with two further bulbs which have just failed in the last week. In which case you've probably bought poor quality bulbs.

Try another, it might last you years.

 

[warmshed]

Use good make ones, Phillips are amongst the best for light output. Take a spare to comply with French laws. If in doubt check the voltage at highish revs and make sure it does not go significantly over 14.4 volts. Low voltage is also a killer of halogen bulbs.

 

[Fanum]

Everyone knows this and I'm sure you were careful, but touching the glass of a halogen bulb with your fingers is a prime cause of early failure, as the nearly invisible grease marks cause hot-spots, which lead to them failing early.

Make sure you don't touch them, or if you do, clean carefully with a spectacle wipe cloth or something

 

[STUBBS]

did you fit a travel plug them frenchies use a different voltage

 

[Clem]

Thanks for the responses. The original 2002 bulb went this week, closely followed by a replacement from Feu Vert Carref ( French halfords), this was one of two in a set so we'll see how the second one lasts.

No I didn't touch the glass, but the metal part of the bulb did seem to have discoloured - looked like it could have overheated but I can't see how.

 

[Clem]

Cleaned up the earth just in case and the second Feu Vert bulb has lasted all the way home - so could be just bad luck with the replacement H1.

 

[Slipperyeel]

Hi Clem

I presume the 1150 has a regulator/rectifier? If it has (maybe someone can confirm, no manual to hand whilst writing this) then i would head for this first.

If you can find the unit itself, take a really careful look at the wires exiting it. They may be a tad shinny (from recent over heating) or discoloured and worse beginning to melt.

This fault has happened to me over the years a few times and bulbs blowing is the first sign. If you don't fix it, there is a risk it could fry a lot of the loom near to it...

recommend half an hour out to double check this.

Good luck

 

[warmshed]

Think the regulator and diode pack are buried deep inside the alternator like most cars. Quick check with a voltmeter across the battery with engine running, should put your mind at rest.

 

[Slipperyeel]

Hi Clem

Warmshed is right. BMW has gone for the integrated voltage regulator. unless you find another obvious solution/reason to the bulbs blowing I would take a look at the wires coming out of the alternator. This is assuming you have no kit otherwise a multi meter and a reference for the readings you should be getting is the most accurate way to test if this source is the cause.

Let us know how you get on!

 

[Mr K]

Although I am afflicted with a 1200. I bought Halfords Heavy Duty H7s

They're not supposed to be more powerful or owt, just more robust.

 

[goosenet]

Hi,

I experienced this bulb blowing problem too ... It turned out to be a weak connection to the end of the bulb where the spade connector fits ... I gently squeezed the connector with a pair of pliers ... It solved the problem .. Could also be why the end of the bulb was discoloured ..

I've done 3k miles on the same bulb now ..

Hope it works for you