Lighb Bulbs - Is this normal

[TOG]

Hello all.
I own 12 plate GSA, done 9.5k in the 8 months I have owned it.

Love the bike, bloody brilliant.

But I keep going through headlamp bulbs too quickly from my experience. Think I am on my 5th or 6th so far. Tried various makes etc but does not really make much difference.

Any one else familiar with this problem? Any known issues?

Thanks
Tog

 

[DrFarkoff]

Is your headlamp secure

Is the Bulb holder holding the bulb tight ? (Be Careful her because this is a known weak spot the little pivot for the bulb retaining spring breaks off

Excess Vibration is usually the cause

 

[Greenman14]

No, it's not normal. Vibration or over voltage are probable causes.

 

[TOG]

I have learns to my cost how fragile the holder is which secured the bulb in place. Funny how BMW's price for a complete new headlamp incentivised me to find a diy fix.

I have been guilty of fitting the bulb incorrectly n precious occasions but I am 100% satisfied it sits correctly since about 3 bulbs ago.

I do like to make progress on the bike and don't feel it is excessively vibey, (i had two 1150's i found more vibey) but they never bust.

With regards to the voltage I don't have any extra kit on the bike, so not sure what could cause this? Maybe a surge as the bike starts????

 

[Jimeroo]

I have the same issue as you, also a 12 plate. Always the dipped beam.
Permanently lit, hence hot lamp, vibration.. Who knows.
Had the same on a 55 plate.

 

[Ted]

Had similar experience on both our 09 bikes, lasted about 6 months/6k. Fitted some of these and so far so good 12 months and just under 9K..
http://www.powerbulbs.com/product/philips-eco-vision-h7-car-headlight-bulbs

 

[comberjohn]

My 2010 TC was inclined to be hard on dip beam bulbs. The brighter, more expensive ones seemed to be the short lived ones.
Cured when I went over to an HID system. Magic! Not the cheapo ones, though. Check out www.hid50.com.
Some are claiming some success with the latest generation LED bulbs.
Do a quick search on these on the forum. Hours of fun!

 

[Bendy toy]

As above. HID or a latest generation LED bulb. Both will give a much better light and be more reliable. No filaments to blow - blah - blah.

Check the headlight unit is properly mounted. It should sit on a rubber grommet underneath which can get pushed out of place .

 

[TOG]

Thanks for the tips, looks like this could be solved.

Will check the seating of the unit.

The LED conversion looks nice, one more compelling reason to keep my bike rather than a newer one!!

ComberJohn - do you run extra spot lamps/running lamps from your HID 50 set up? I see the add shows this can be done.

 

[Bendy toy]

I have HID-50 on main and dip beam with wide angle LED spots wired to the aux headlights switch and a pair of pencil beam LEDs wired with the main beam. I avoided LampF issues by triggering the LED pairs with relays.

 

[Greenman14]

Bikes have had permanently on lights for over 10 years. I've never had a problem and I don't believe the "always on" feature makes any difference. As said, checking the mounting of the bulb and headlight unit would be worthwhile.

Even when the bulb is OK the headlight is still crap, hence the number of HID conversions (main and dip from Les at HID50 on my bike). Used sets appear quite often in the for sale section.

 

[Mr K]

Halfords Heavy Duty H7 bulbs. Not brighter, just stronger built.

 

[TOG]

Looks like the HID50 option is popular. I'm at the point where it will be worth while me looking at the conversion. Especially as I intend to add some additional lights before long.

 

[comberjohn]

Mine had a set of Tourtech mini spots and marker LED's on it when I got it. They're just connected to a handlebar switch via a relay.
As greenman says, hid50 kits turn up on the for sale section regularly. That was were I got mine from.
They were pretty straight forward to fit as they are plug and play. They are a great job, too.
I tried a pair of H3 LED bulbs in my spots that I bought on eBay but they were disappointing and I put the halogen bulbs back in.
Be careful buying LED bulbs as they're a bit more of an unknown quantity and there is some crap out there.
Look for recommendations but be prepared to spend money to get good ones.

 

[younger06]

Try Osram Night Racer, they are the motorcycle version of the "Nightbreaker" that use a heavier filament.

Sent using a Jedi mind trick!

 

[Watty100]

My bike has always been cruel to dipped beam bulbs, probably getting through 1-2 a year. Then it suddenly started blowing them monthly, followed by the light ceasing to work.

Traced it to a wiring fault inside the lamp. I cut the wires inside the lamp and drilled a small hole in the body to pull them through. I cut off the connector block on the wiring harness. I then put bullet type connectors on the wires and clipped them back together, all sealed up with Aldis' finest heatshrink.

That was over 12 months ago and in that time, no more blown bulbs. Result!

Also, the original headlight was replaced under warranty as it couldn't be adjusted from lighting up the sky or blinding oncoming drivers. Not ones of the bikes better components, methinks.

 

[Bendy toy]

the original headlight was replaced under warranty as it couldn't be adjusted from lighting up the sky or blinding oncoming drivers. Not ones of the bikes better components, methinks.

There are quite a few components that BMW really should be doing better with. It's a premium product with some distinctly ordinary equipment.