High Beam Bulb Not Working

[Irishkev]

Hi
I have a HID kit installed which came with the bike R1200GS Year 2004. Both the bulbs and lights where working as normal and then one day I got the bulb symbol flashing indicating the bulb had gone. I replaced it with a new one exactly the same but the light did not work. Normally when I turn the ignition key the high beam would come on and then when I start the engine the low beam would also come on . Currently when I turn the key the high beam does not come on. Anyone able to steer me in the right direction as to what the problem might be or how to approach this issue.

Regards Irishkev

 

[JJH]

I don't know about hid but it sounds like something other than the bulb. Can you swap the leads hi beam to low and see what is happening? Jjh

 

[Irishkev]

Hi JJH
I swapped over the bulb which has the cables attached to leads but it still didnot work. The low beam worked as normal but the high beam still did not work. The conclusion I arrived at is the bulbs are fine but I don't have much experience with the electrics on the BMW.

 

[Irishkev]

Hi JJH
I swapped over the bulbs which has the cables attached but it still didnot work. The low beam worked as normal but the high beam still did not work. The conclusion I arrived at is the bulbs are fine but I don't have much experience with the electrics on the BMW.

 

[JJH]

There's something else going on there. I don't remember the high beam coming on when the key is turned on unless it was switched on. Low beam comes on when engine starts. I think with hids the low beam is changed to stay on all the time because they take a few seconds to give full light. Can you use a muliti meter? Jjh

 

[Irishkev]

There's something else going on there. I don't remember the high beam coming on when the key is turned on unless it was switched on. Low beam comes on when engine starts. I think with hids the low beam is changed to stay on all the time because they take a few seconds to give full light. Can you use a muliti meter? Jjh

Yes I can try, I have one but not had to use it to often.

 

[TLSgazza]

You say you've replaced the HID bulb and its still not working and when swapped over it works on the low beam,
I would say its more likely to be a problem with the ballast, they tend to be more troublesome than the bulbs, I've had to replace a few over the years but never had to replace a bulb.
If you can get to the connections for the ballast try swapping them over to see if it makes it work, or simply remove the HID bulb from the headlight and fit a normal bulb in its place.

 

[jags]

a while back my hid dipped would not light up when starting the engine for the first time. ran the engine for a few minutes then stopped and started it again and the light fired up. the remedy was a new battery.

 

[bikemad]

Check connections both cleanness & tightness I had to crimp mine up with hid everyone will say poss batt but so simple to check easy stuff 1st

 

[Bendy toy]

My main beam played up. Problem was a bad connection.
A simple test is to refit the halogen bulb if that works,
Check everything in the HID kit The OEM bulb connectors can work with halogen - heat affects the contacts so they don't connect properly to the HID ballast connector.
Normal wiring is dip beam always on, main beam is additional. If you put HID on dip only the main beam looks so weak it can seem like it's not working, even though the lamp is lit.
The HID burner has no filament so very rarely fails.

 

[Bendy toy]

Have anyone used the new LED H7 bulbs that are said to be correctly focussed for the lamp reflector.

 

[JJH]

Have anyone used the new LED H7 bulbs that are said to be correctly focussed for the lamp reflector.

Never heard of them but interested in hearing more. Jjh