LED Headlight grime

[Tonyx]

HI guys, new here, do be gentle!

Just got my 2014 R1200GS, loving it to bits! being in Oz, the red dust gets everywhere! anyway somehow over its last 62000 miles (you read correctly) some of this Aussie grime has got inside the front glass... Is there any way of cleaning this? Can the front glass be removed? Seems to me to be a sealed unit (obviously not that well sealed!) Cleaned through the bulb recess? Help! anyone ever done this?

Cheers

 

[Tonyx]

Help! anyone ever done this?

Obviously not! Well I will attempt it then..


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[telbenj]

Inside the LED lamp unit there is a cooling fan, so I would assume from that that somewhere in the casing must be an air inlet which again I would assume is how the dust is able to get inside.

Terry.

 

[andylel]

Led headlights are sealed and can not be taken apart according to BMW.


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[Tonyx]

Thanks Terry, that's probably it. Still wondering if I can get the outer glass off and bung it in the dishwasher without my wife finding out


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[Tonyx]

Led headlights are sealed and can not be taken apart according to BMW.


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I'll have a chance tomorrow morning to try and prove them wrong I'll let you guys know if I find a solution, I suspect it will have to be cleaned through the bulb recess somehow.


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[ChazzyB]

I'll have a chance tomorrow morning to try and prove them wrong I'll let you guys know if I find a solution, I suspect it will have to be cleaned through the bulb recess somehow.


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Does it have a bulb recess? There's no replaceable bulb in there.

 

[dr nosh]

Use an airline?

 

[Tonyx]

Does it have a bulb recess? There's no replaceable bulb in there.

It certainly seems to have a cover on the back.


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[Nikonnigel]

Led headlights are sealed and can not be taken apart according to BMW.


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It must have been "assembled" in the first place by far eastern child labour (allegedly). SOOO it must come apart me thinks.

 

[GrinningGSer]

If you remove the outer screws and border, the lexan and be seen, complete with tabs and it does appear removable... BUT....I've not read of anyone trying. Its an £800+ risk, cos I believe that BMW only sell the light as a complete unit, so beware !

Good luck and please report your experience.

 

[Tonyx]

If you remove the outer screws and border, the lexan and be seen, complete with tabs and it does appear removable... BUT....I've not read of anyone trying.

Good luck and please report your experience.

I also got that far the other day, and started trying to pry it a bit, with no obvious way of getting it off and the thought of that price tag (!!!), I then ran out of time and courage to take it any further. It definitely looks like the glass can be disassembled, but needs some further and very careful investigation! I'm not going to give up so easily and for the benefit of science I will set aside some time and report back


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[Nutty]

I also got that far the other day, and started trying to pry it a bit, with no obvious way of getting it off and the thought of that price tag (!!!), I then ran out of time and courage to take it any further. It definitely looks like the glass can be disassembled, but needs some further and very careful investigation! I'm not going to give up so easily and for the benefit of science I will set aside some time and report back


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I'll come round and do it for you.

Oh, hang on, just seen your location!

 

[Tonyx]

I'll come round and do it for you.

Oh, hang on, just seen your location!

I'll wait for you at the airport!


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[Bobbin-Man]

I had an issue with the inside of the headlight glass on my hexhead GS being so grubby it was having an effect on the function. I eventually removed the unit and accessing through the bulb holders I used a length of dowel wrapped in a cloth and soaked with some polish. Cleaned up really well. Obviously the same would not be possible on the LC LED headlight, but would it be feasible to drill a couple of access holes in the rear to do the same? The holes could be sealed with grommets giving access to clean again in the future.

 

[Tonyx]

I had an issue with the inside of the headlight glass on my hexhead GS being so grubby it was having an effect on the function. I eventually removed the unit and accessing through the bulb holders I used a length of dowel wrapped in a cloth and soaked with some polish. Cleaned up really well. Obviously the same would not be possible on the LC LED headlight, but would it be feasible to drill a couple of access holes in the rear to do the same? The holes could be sealed with grommets giving access to clean again in the future.

Good bit of lateral thinking there mate, not sure if drilling through the back would be a great idea though, nobody seems to know what's inside and where! That said, a hole through the side might do it! We will see, there must be a way to get that glass off surely??!!!


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[Kitsilano]

Tony, Would it be worth trying to use a vacuum (shop-vac or an industrial model) with a narrow tube/wand to increase suction, and try various parts of the exterior of the unit, to try and see if you can suck the stuff out without any invasive action? Just a thought....if there is a leak in a seal, maybe it can come out the way that it went in?

 

[Tonyx]

Tony, Would it be worth trying to use a vacuum (shop-vac or an industrial model) with a narrow tube/wand to increase suction, and try various parts of the exterior of the unit, to try and see if you can suck the stuff out without any invasive action? Just a thought....if there is a leak in a seal, maybe it can come out the way that it went in?

Thanks mate, also great lateral thinking there! Definitely worth a try!

Anyway all, confirmed today that the front glass is held in by lock tabs, once pushed in, never get out again type.. trust me... I tried! and is also sealed up rock solid (I couldn't get any movement out of it), way over engineered for what it does! So I guess, the next step is the vacuum method above, the airline method, drilling holes, or of course trying not to look at it...

 

[BigAlSoS]

Good job you are round the other side of the world, or I would have popped round to asssit you...... I am really good at forcing anything to the point that it fuckin breaks then sitting down and thinking wtf did I do that for? I always regret this sort of thinking..... but that's just me... fucking useless

Good luck Tony, will keep an eye out for how you get on

 

[Kitsilano]

Good job you are round the other side of the world, or I would have popped round to asssit you...... I am really good at forcing anything to the point that it fuckin breaks then sitting down and thinking wtf did I do that for? I always regret this sort of thinking..... but that's just me... :

Big Al,

Did you serve an apprenticeship at British Leyland, by any chance??