Headlight bulb blowing

[rodingboy 2009]

My 2005 GS seems to have developed a taste for headlight bulbs! I've only had the bike for 3 months, and up until this had no problems. About 2 weeks ago the headlight bulb blew, so I replaced it and all seemed well for the 30 mile journey home. Next morning I started the bike, and as soon as it fired up the bulb warning light came on, and guess what........headlight bulb gone again! I took it back to the showroom that it came from (10 days left on the 3 month warranty), and after a week they rang to say it was fixed. Took the bike home, parked it up and next morning exactly the same problem, bulb blew as soon as I started the bike.
It's back with them now to get it sorted, but I just wondered if anyone on here had experienced the same problem , or had any thought on a possible cause ?

 

[Andy63]

Yes mine has gone through multiple bulbs since i've had it, i now use Philips Xenon in my dipped beam they seem to last longer.

When installing the bulbs don't touch the glass as moisture/residue from your fingers can damage them.

Also don't buy cheapo bulbs off ebay

 

[Buckingham]

++1 cheap bulbs - I only use Standard Osram H7 bulbs, no fancy extra bright versions, just a good quality bulb. If you want more light fit an HID conversion.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AberdeenAngus]

I took it back to the showroom that it came from (10 days left on the 3 month warranty), and after a week they rang to say it was fixed. Took the bike home, parked it up and next morning exactly the same problem, bulb blew as soon as I started the bike.

I wonder what it was they 'fixed'?

 

[TLSgazza]

Are the bulbs definately blown. Just wondered if it might be a wiring problem.

 

[NicD]

There is another thread on this somewhere as I asked a simialr question. If I recall it was the mount - cheap plastic surround had broken slightly allowing movement of the lamp while riding, and the movement contributes to short lamp life. Obvs touching the lamp won't help

 

[fizzer]

bulbs in a vehicle are like bulbs in the house,sometimes they last a month and sometimes they last years,i think you have just been unlucky ,but as said fit lucas,osram etc

 

[squibb34]

Is the bike overcharging or the battery failing?

If the blown bulbs are coming out clean, it suggests low quality or a loose mounting causing vibration. If blackened on the inside of the glass capsule then I would be getting the battery/charging system checked - can you get some voltage readings across the battery, at tickover & say 4k rpm, seeing if there is any surging above c.14.6V throughout the rev range.

For all automotive bulbs I use these guys at Wakefield. Very efficient ......... www.powerbulbs.com . Take your pick; I usually go with Osram.

 

[phooey]

I've had two 1200 hexheads over a 7 year period.

Both blew headlamp bulbs ( low beam ) regularly - by which I mean around 8 to 12 months on average. I am fairly skilled at changing the fekkers now.

 

[rodingboy 2009]

Update

Sorry for the delay with an update, no internet access for the last couple of days. It seems that the 2 bulbs that they installed (and that failed straight away) were off the shelf pattern parts. They've now fitted a genuine parts bulb from BMW, and so far it's still working. Seems like the old adage "buy cheap, buy twice" has been proved yet again. Thanks for all the replies though, it's great to know that there's support out there if needed.

 

[roamer]

The h 7 bulbs appear to be fragile, commonplace on many vehicles,
the bumpy roads don't help, had 2 in my tc hexhead over 3 years,
basic lc gs 2 in 4 years same bulb as hex,

 

[Buckingham]

Sorry for the delay with an update, no internet access for the last couple of days. It seems that the 2 bulbs that they installed (and that failed straight away) were off the shelf pattern parts. They've now fitted a genuine parts bulb from BMW, and so far it's still working. Seems like the old adage "buy cheap, buy twice" has been proved yet again. Thanks for all the replies though, it's great to know that there's support out there if needed.

The marketplace is awash with crap quality bulbs and also automotive fuses - caveat emptor. I see so many cars on the road with headlamp bulbs out too, sometimes it seems like every other car on the road !

 

[Bendy toy]

The rubber grommet underneath the headlamp wears and allows too much wobble. Filament bulbs don't like wobble. LED bulbs cope a lot better but bring host of issues on sealing the headlamp case.