No main beam

[tommymoto]

I used the bike yesterday; all working fine. started her up today and got the F-LAMP message on the display.

I took the bulb out, checked it but it wasn't blown

Am I right in thinking that there are no fuses on 1200's?

Any helpful suggestions welcomed.

 

[Mr K]

Did you take the right bulb out?

Only asking because I didn't....also sometimes they look okay but they're fecked....

Remember when swapping and checking bulbs to restart the bike as it does strange things when bulbs are duff....if you put a fresh bulb in and don't restart the bike the new bulb won't light....

 

[Wapping]

I used the bike yesterday; all working fine. started her up today and got the F-LAMP message on the display.

I took the bulb out, checked it but it wasn't blown

Am I right in thinking that there are no fuses on 1200's?

Any helpful suggestions welcomed.

There are no fuses on 1200 GS.

(1) Have you restarted the bike (fired the engine) since replacing the bulb? If not, do so. That simple procedure may well clear the problem. Assuming of course the replaced bulb lights up at the same time and / or you flick the main beam to on (assuming it was the main beam bulb you played with).

No good?

Then let's move on.

(2) Which bulb did you remove on seeing the message? Did you have a look first to see if it was working?

Why, if it was working, did you remove it? If it was not working....then I guess it was blown* and needed replacement....or you didn't start the engine, so the main and dip lights wouldn't light up anyway.

(3) How did you check the bulb you removed, to ensure it hadn't blown? Are you sure you haven't simply put a duff bulb back in?

(4) There are three bulbs on the front: Main, dip and sidelight.

Have you checked them all? I seem to recall the side light bulb failure has a slightly different error message. But anyway, it should be easy to see if all three are working, despite the error message. Don't forget to turn the engine on before you check.




* It could be some other reason of course, Chafed leads, dirty contacts etc. But let's do the simple things first before we start taking everything apart.

 

[tommymoto]

I changed the main beam because that was the one that did not work. Full beam and parking light are ok. Tried turning off and then restarting to see if it would reset itself but no luck

I may have to ring BMW if it turns out to be something a bit more sinister...... don't know if it might be covered under warranty.

 

[Wapping]

I changed the main beam because that was the one that did not work.

Full beam and parking light are ok. Tried turning off and then restarting to see if it would reset itself but no luck

I may have to ring BMW if it turns out to be something a bit more sinister...... don't know if it might be covered under warranty.

Are you now saying that you did replace the bulb as it wasn't working. I thought you only checked that the bulb hadn't blown then put it back?

I guess you mean dip beam (not main beam) in your opening line? Only because you mention the full beam as working in your second line.

Were all three lights working (actually on) when you first looked on receiving the error message? I guess that the dip beam wasn't as you took the bulb out and checked it. How did you check it?

Have you tried swapping the main beam bulb (which you know works) with the dip beam bulb, which you say wasn't working. What happens if you simply swap the two bulbs around? Does the light that does work, now not work and visa-versa?

In short:

Error message.

Started bike.

Looked at all three front bulbs.

Dipped beam light not working. Main and parking light both working.

Removed dip beam bulb and checked that it does work. How?

Put the same dip beam bulb back again. Still certain that it was OK? Or did you replace it?

Restarted bike.

Error message still there.

Main beam and parking light still working?

Dip beam now working but error message still on, despite restarting the engine? - Odd. Call BuMW.

Dip beam light still not working.... which is odd, as the bulb is definitely OK, you have checked or you have replaced it with a fresh one.

Now swap main and dipped beam bulbs around. What happens?

Does side beam now light up? If yes, it's looking like a duff bulb you had. If no, then it's probably a more difficult problem.

Does main beam still light up? If no, then it's definitely a duff bulb you had. If yes, then it's definitely a more difficult problem.

===

Check the contacts in the switch and the socket and the bulb itself.

Check the loom for any obvious cuts, nicks etc.

There are no easy checks you can make on the bike's Canbus control / electronic error messages.

Call BuMW.....it's a warranty job....unless it's just the pesky bulb all along, or someone (a past owner perhaps) has been fiddling with the whole lot.

 

[tommymoto]

All sorted

Thank you Mr Wapping your attention to detail is unsurpassed

I swapped main beam with dipped beam and still no light

put main beam back in, replaced dip beam with a fresh bulb and hey presto it only feckin worked

looking at the bulb, you would never guess that it had gone. It looks perfect.

Any way thanks for your help

PS sorry I missed your ride out yesterday. I was late so I decided to meet you en-route I waited at Haddenham from 10.15- 10.30 but I guess you had gone through by then. see you on the next one.

 

[Wapping]

Thank you Mr Wapping your attention to detail is unsurpassed

I swapped main beam with dipped beam and still no light

put main beam back in, replaced dip beam with a fresh bulb and hey presto it only feckin worked

looking at the bulb, you would never guess that it had gone. It looks perfect.

Any way thanks for your help

PS sorry I missed your ride out yesterday. I was late so I decided to meet you en-route I waited at Haddenham from 10.15- 10.30 but I guess you had gone through by then. see you on the next one.

Excellent......Always go for the simple things first. The bulb simply blowing is the most likely and simplest to work out. Checking them by eye is not easy. Whacking in a new bulb always is.

The H7 bulbs seem to blow with monotonous regularity, 8k miles in my case and in several other posts, cured by HIDs.

===

I didn't know you were planning on joining us yesterday. You would have been most welcome.

We didn't leave Chelmsford in the end until about 09:45 as I waited for someone I thought was coming but didn't show up..... We then had a tea and whatever stop at Milldenhall, via Saffron Walden and a very busy Newmarket (race day)....Then Noddy of this parish appeared out of the undergrowth (most welcome) so, we waited and chinwagged some more while he slurped his tea....So you left before we got there.....

Next time, for sure.

Richard

PS It's 90 odd miles from Chelmsford to Milldenhall, via the scenic route....still short of where you thought we might pass you at 10:15... Even leaving Chelmsford at 09:30 don't see how to do it in 45 minutes....

 

[Slowdown]

The H7 bulbs seem to blow with monotonous regularity, 8k miles in my case and in several other posts, cured by HIDs.

I was discussing this with the people from Philips Automotive Lighting Technical department recently. They too had noticed a trend for modern bikes to blow bulbs more frequently. Apparently a very small increase in volts will lead to the bulb failing substantially more rapidly. Especially with the 'high output' ones!

 

[tommymoto]

I think HIDs are the way forward.

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

I was discussing this with the people from Philips Automotive Lighting Technical department recently. They too had noticed a trend for modern bikes to blow bulbs more frequently. Apparently a very small increase in volts will lead to the bulb failing substantially more rapidly. Especially with the 'high output' ones!

My originals failed, as did Philips £12.99 replacement. Cheap old replacements from Lidl - two for £5 - have been in for the last 20,000 miles without problem!

 

[Wapping]

My originals failed, as did Philips £12.99 replacement. Cheap old replacements from Lidl - two for £5 - have been in for the last 20,000 miles without problem!

Don't tell us, tell Philips' Automotive Lighting Technical department.