LED Tail light wiring

[Tony1303]

Hi all,

Just bought myself an R1200GS (2005), I would like to change my tail light to the 2008 onwards type as it looks better and no bulbs to worry about.
My question is this from searching on this forum I believe it is a straight swap over with the use of a loom adapter, is this adapter just to convert to a different type of connector or more involved. I can get a light unit and connector of the original loom, would this work. Cheers.

Tony

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

I honestly dont know for sure but its possible the loom adapter has something so it plays nice with the CAN system. Without it you will most likely get a failed tail light warning.

 

[Tony1303]

Hi, thanks for your reply, that backs up what I was thinking. If I can get the light unit cheap enough I might by it anyway and see what I can do or purchase the adapter. Cheers anyway

 

[Boxerboy55]

Have your considered an NN style LED adaptor and clear lens on the existing lamp unit? Worked for me. 2 minute job.

 

[Tony1303]

Yeah that's probably what I will end up doing. But I do like the look of the BMW one though. I guess it's make my mind up time. Cheers for the suggestion anyway.

Tony

 

[Bobbin-Man]

I bought a s/h LED unit and the loom adapter from Motorworks ('06 bike). It's not quite just a plug in job, but still fairly straightforward. IIRC I had to cut out the original connecting plug and then spliced the new wiring in, only problem was deciding which connection was rear light and which was stop .... which of course I initially wired the wrong way round! Only 3 wires I think.

 

[duckspeed]

I bought my 06 GSA with the LED adapter fitted, had to revert to 380 bulb as different resistance would bring up ABS faults

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Have your considered an NN style LED adaptor and clear lens on the existing lamp unit? Worked for me. 2 minute job.

How does the NN unit plug in. Does it plug into the existing bulb holder (my understanding) or is that removed and then wired in (as with the BWM unit)?

I only ask as the problem with the early bikes is corrosion in the bulb holder and as my 2nd OEM unit is on the way out I'm also looking to go the LED route but there's no point if I still end up retaining the bulb holder.

Andres

Edit: The Wunderlich unit looks like it replaces the whole unit (ie not retain the bulb holder (and is cheaper @ E59)?

 

[skywalker]

Hi all,

Just bought myself an R1200GS (2005), I would like to change my tail light to the 2008 onwards type as it looks better and no bulbs to worry about.
My question is this from searching on this forum I believe it is a straight swap over with the use of a loom adapter, is this adapter just to convert to a different type of connector or more involved. I can get a light unit and connector of the original loom, would this work. Cheers.

Tony

You will need to get the bike recoded if its a BMW one you've bought otherwise you'll blow the LED's

 

[Bobbin-Man]

You will need to get the bike recoded if its a BMW one you've bought otherwise you'll blow the LED's

Are you sure ? I simply phoned Motorworks, told them I had an '06 bike and had them send an o/e LED tail light and adapter loom. All works fine with no recoding and no error messages. I swapped the indicators to o/e LED versions at the same time.

 

[skywalker]

You have to with retrofitting led indicators and I'm sure you have to with tail light. Its to do with voltage output from your ZFE unit. Better safe than sorry. I'll double check and confirm.

 

[Sot1200]

You have to with retrofitting led indicators and I'm sure you have to with tail light. Its to do with voltage output from your ZFE unit. Better safe than sorry. I'll double check and confirm.

Have a 09/2006 GSA. Changed to led back light w the connecting loom with no problems and no faults on the dash but had a friend w a 2004 GS that tried everything and could not get the unit to work properly. It had to go to the dealer for reprogramming

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

You have to with retrofitting led indicators and I'm sure you have to with tail light. Its to do with voltage output from your ZFE unit. Better safe than sorry. I'll double check and confirm.

That's not right at all. There may be a software change needed or the wiring adaptor takes care of it (the ZF unit will see too low a power draw and think the bulb has blown) but it has nothing to do with voltage or blowing LED's. There is an LED driver built into the light unit to take care of that.

 

[Yellow Peril]

You have to with retrofitting led indicators and I'm sure you have to with tail light. Its to do with voltage output from your ZFE unit. Better safe than sorry. I'll double check and confirm.

Converted(o6 GSA) to LED indicators years ago no problems.

 

[skywalker]

If we're talking the Nippy Norman ones here then yes I'll agree.

 

[Boxerboy55]

How does the NN unit plug in. Does it plug into the existing bulb holder (my understanding) or is that removed and then wired in (as with the BWM unit)?

I only ask as the problem with the early bikes is corrosion in the bulb holder and as my 2nd OEM unit is on the way out I'm also looking to go the LED route but there's no point if I still end up retaining the bulb holder.

Andres

It did indeed plug in to the original bulb holder. I don't remember seeing any corrosion problem but I have a low mileage bike that doesn't often get wet