Opinions of Wunderlich LED Micro Flooter Lights

[Grey Beard]

Hi Guys

I recently bought a 1200 GS Adventure and have been looking at improving the lights to make it more easily seen by other road users. I was going to go down the HID 50 Xenon Gas Discharge Bulb route using Les Wassall's kit. However, I have made enquiries about the legal situation here (in Germany) and they would definitely fail the German TUV (MOT), though I could always revert to the original halogens for the test. Unfortunately, the police here do enforce the law and only last week my local police station fined someone €80 for using non-approved Xenon light(s).

As yet there are very few bikes in Germany with Xenon Lamps, so fitting them does make you stand out from the crowd. The lamp glass must show the appropriate E approval for Xenon Lamps, so it's not a case of changing the bulbs and adding HID electronics.

Using the Adventure twin fog lights in daytime/good visibility is technically illegal, but I think may be tolerated in the interests of safety. A single approved Xenon spot lamp may be used, but Xenon fog lamps for day time use are not available here. TUV guy told be maximum Xenon illumination must not exceed 2000 lumens, so only one such light can be fitted/used at any given time.

I see Wunderlich have white LED Micro Flooter lights for daytime use. They don't have enough power to see with them, but I think they are designed to enhance the bike's visibility in day time.

So the question is has anyone fitted the Wunderlich LED 'running' lamps and if so are they effective, since I already have a pair of 55 W halogen BMW standard fog lamps fitted?

Also, what is best way to fit these LED Micro Flooter lamps (below the fog lamps)?

Thanks for any advice, opinions, etc.

Grey Beard

 

[GunZenBomZ]

This man needs some answers people!

 

[Andy B]

I don't know if this is much use but at the NEC bike show BMW was exhibiting some LED aux light sin the GS. I've just had a quick look on the UK Motorrad site and can't find them, but they are definitely a OEM accessory item.

Worth checking whether they sell them in Germany?

 

[Grey Beard]

I don't know if this is much use but at the NEC bike show BMW was exhibiting some LED aux light sin the GS. I've just had a quick look on the UK Motorrad site and can't find them, but they are definitely a OEM accessory item.

Worth checking whether they sell them in Germany?

Hi Andy

Thanks for your thoughts. If BMW UK offer such accessories, it follows they will have an 'E' number to certify legality of use within the EU.

My dealer told me a couple of weeks back that the fog lights on the 1200GS were LED, but on the Adventure LEDs were not fitted as the shock/vibration would be too high. Another dealer (Touratech?) told be LEDs can be reliable - it's the connection at the back of the LED, not the solid state electronics, which can fail, though surrounding the back of the LED with a silicone mastic helps prevent failure.

I know that the K 1300 GT and the forthcoming K 1600 GT bikes have the option of factory fitted Xenon Gas Discharge lamps, presumably of either the Dip or Full Beams. I think on the 1200 GS Adventure, the dip light stays illuminated while the Hi Beam is on, so there may be legal restrictions on this configuration.

The LED 'Parking Light' is shown in the English Wunderlich Catalogue (pdf format) :

http://download.wunderlich.de//PDF/...0-2011/ENG/08_R 1200_GS+Adventure-HP2_ENG.pdf

Page 39. I wrongly called the lights Micro Flutter (they are in fact the Wunderlich fog lamps) but the LED lights I am asking about are called 'Wunderlich LED Park Light “P-Marker” ' and seem to be attached to the underside of the fog lamps.

Grey Beard

 

[thomo57]

Grey Beard
I have the Wunderlich Micro Flooter Aux lights on my F800 GS, the led marker kit can be installed below the Aux lights, see link

http://www.nippynormans.com/ShowAdditionalImg.asp?number=WUN-8600511#

Hope this helps

 

[Grey Beard]

Grey Beard
I have the Wunderlich Micro Flooter Aux lights on my F800 GS, the led marker kit can be installed below the Aux lights, see link

http://www.nippynormans.com/ShowAdditionalImg.asp?number=WUN-8600511#

Hope this helps

Thanks Thomo57

Do you also have these marker lights, or just the fog lamps? I was looking for opinions on their effectiveness (i.e. if using the fog aux lamps, is there any added benefit using the LED Marker Lamps?)

Grey Beard

 

[Popell]

Not cheap and not sure about E markings but have a look at these
http://www.bikevis.com/motorcycle-visionx-solstice-solo-led-light.html
or they have soem little bullet leds that would enhance your road presence here http://www.bikevis.com/motorcycle-led-running-lights.html

These can be mated to their modulator ton make them glint, pretty sure the local police would have an opinion on these though

 

[thomo57]

Thanks Thomo57

Do you also have these marker lights, or just the fog lamps? I was looking for opinions on their effectiveness (i.e. if using the fog aux lamps, is there any added benefit using the LED Marker Lamps?)

Grey Beard

I have only the Aux lights, planning to buy & fit the led markers over the winter.
I think the main advantage of the led markers is that Wunderlich recommend that they are connected so they are on all time + low current consumption, so in daylight you have dipped beam + bright led

 

[wknight]

I have these LED lights fitted below my Microflooters. They are very easy to fit but I did need some additional wiring.

Looking at what is available on Ebay I think they are extremely expensive, its a lot to pay for the bracket. That said they do make the bike stand out a bit, could be brighter and I am trying another led light on one of my other bikes which cost a mere tenner on ebay and came with a bracket.

 

[HarvSki]

Hi Grey Beard

The option you mentioned about upgrading the headlamps to HID is the one I've taken, albeit I'm in the UK, they are fantastic on my 1150GS. I opted for 5000K rather than 6000K lamps which are closer to the normal halogen colour, i.e. not too blue. If you could get 4000K lamps then I'd have thought the local German police would not notice at all but you would be able to see!

Just a thought

Harv

 

[Grey Beard]

Hi Grey Beard

The option you mentioned about upgrading the headlamps to HID is the one I've taken, albeit I'm in the UK, they are fantastic on my 1150GS. I opted for 5000K rather than 6000K lamps which are closer to the normal halogen colour, i.e. not too blue. If you could get 4000K lamps then I'd have thought the local German police would not notice at all but you would be able to see!

Just a thought

Harv

Hello Harv

Yes, I discussed that option with Les. Also thought about 4500 Deg K lights at 35W on dip to avoid reflector damage and draw less attention from the local police. Problem is I now know they stop and prosecute road users who fit non-certified equipment. It's a point on your licence and still only one point even if I fitted 4 HIDs, plus you start with 18 points. (I think in the UK you could loose all 12 points & hence licence with 4 bald tyres on a car).

Thanks for the ideas.

Grey Beard

 

[Grey Beard]

I have these LED lights fitted below my Microflooters. They are very easy to fit but I did need some additional wiring.

Looking at what is available on Ebay I think they are extremely expensive, its a lot to pay for the bracket. That said they do make the bike stand out a bit, could be brighter and I am trying another led light on one of my other bikes which cost a mere tenner on ebay and came with a bracket.

Hi wknight

Yes, all the bike add ons seem ridiculously expensive. The problem with buying on eBay is that I would need to ensure the goods were E marked to make them legal in the EU.

I thought the LED lights were not so expensive (at least compared to the aux lights) but of course I would probably get taken for a ride just buying a couple of brackets.

I will look on eBay to see what's there. Thanks

Grey Beard

 

[Grey Beard]

Not cheap and not sure about E markings but have a look at these
http://www.bikevis.com/motorcycle-visionx-solstice-solo-led-light.html
or they have soem little bullet leds that would enhance your road presence here http://www.bikevis.com/motorcycle-led-running-lights.html

These can be mated to their modulator ton make them glint, pretty sure the local police would have an opinion on these though

Thanks for the link Popell. I will look at them in more detail later.

Grey Beard

 

[mark-forrest]

Sorry for coming late to this thread but I've only just seen it.

I've got the micro flooter lights with the LED marker lights and have been disappointed by the LED's, they look fine once fitted (they come with a special bracket to mount them on the fog lamp fitting) but they are not sealed and have let water in. There is condensation in the lenses and what looks like rust staining, the left hand light has gone through every combination of which of the 3 LED's work till they all failed and now one LED has packed in on the right hand lens as well.

My lights are about 18 months old have have been on the bike for probably 15,000 miles and are on their second winter.

I've got some high power 3mm LEDs and am going to try and open up the housings and replace them.