Pre LC 12rt : changing the headlight bulbs

Posh Pete

Still got a pulse.
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Anyone got any tips? Other than bringing in a double jointed gynaecologist that is! There's a YouTube vid from Max BMW. Fine but they use a dash mounted in a vice!
 
It's an epic and I have small hands..My local Bm dealer sorted eventually lost too much skin of my knuckles!!!!
 
Get the Mrs to change it if she has small hands, failing that get a small child to fit it for you!
 
"Other than bringing in a double jointed gynaecologist that is"

Been called a number of things in my time....but not that.:augie


C'mon boyo, you've seen me do this a couple of times.:nenau

Just whip off the upper panel and you are in!
Much quicker and less painful than trying to do it with panels on.
 
"Other than bringing in a double jointed gynaecologist that is"

Been called a number of things in my time....but not that.:augie


C'mon boyo, you've seen me do this a couple of times.:nenau

Just whip off the upper panel and you are in!
Much quicker and less painful than trying to do it with panels on.

Arty,Like that idea,why have i not tried that...instead gone for swearing,cursing and bleeding...and still failing....
 
Maybe it's years of working on Citroen cars but I have changed a few headlight bulbs on RTs without taking panels off. A bit fiddly but not impossible.

John
 
I change them facing the headlight knealt down.
Make sure that bulb is correct orientation then reach up and behind to fit.
Works for me.☺
 
I change them facing the headlight knealt down.
Make sure that bulb is correct orientation then reach up and behind to fit.
Works for me.☺

Yes done it this way too, as you can see the light bulb being aligned and seated properly, before applying the clips then the connecting block.

However, when back at the campsite and it's nice and sunny and your in the middle of the Harz mountains in Germany and you want something to do or play with and you need to replace a bulb...whipping off the panel and frustration free replacement takes about 20mins.
 
The only tip I can give is when 1 blows change them all. Every time I changed one the other would blow a day or 2 later. JJH
 
One of my daughters does mine ,little girly hands ,but i have to wash there bikes as payment.
 
Be careful with the clip which secures the bulb in place. The plastic can become fragile which holds the metal clip and can break.
If this happens there are fixes on the net which mean you dont need to buy a whole new unit.

Make sure bulb correct way up.

Make sure round plastic cover is orientated correctly (it says top on it), can put a bit of WD on threads to help take it off.

Not teaching you to suck eggs, these are all stupid mistakes I learned the hard way!!
 
"Other than bringing in a double jointed gynaecologist that is"

Been called a number of things in my time....but not that.:augie


C'mon boyo, you've seen me do this a couple of times.:nenau

Just whip off the upper panel and you are in!
Much quicker and less painful than trying to do it with panels on.

Yep. Did the job today and removing the upper panel is the way to do it. 5 screws: two rear where your knee is, two front under the oil cooler and one front up top. Still a pain to do (back of my hand cut to ribbons) but panel off is the way to do it.
 
Anyone got any tips? Other than bringing in a double jointed gynaecologist that is! There's a YouTube vid from Max BMW. Fine but they use a dash mounted in a vice!

Two late obviously (some of us had miles to do in USA !!) ... but yes.
Make my special tool ...............

piece of electrical wire , about 12 inches long , crimp a female spade connector on each end . Adjust connectors so they are a slightly loose fit.
Form into a U shape - tape wires together , leaving enough slack at the ends to fit spades to new bulb.
Take out old bulb - easy when handling bulb does not matter (all done by feel ... no space to see)
Fit new bulb to special tool - this allows correct easy orientation , allows you to hold bulb in place while reattaching wire clip ... and easy to remove , since you DID remember to adjust connectors ?

First time doing .... approx 1 hour of cursing (and sore hands) . next time ... 5 mins !
 
I actually tried something similar with a plastic tube, forcing it over one of the bulb connectors. Not enough strength in it though. I have now fitted two bulbs. The first one burnt out the same day I fitted it! Second one seems to be OK suggesting I may not have fitted the first one correctly.

I swear that there is a BMW design engineer somewhere who has worked donkeys years for them. He's the one who puts these irritating minor glitches into their bikes. He did the cable operated brake reservoir for the /7 bikes and the rear brake switch and rear reservoir on the disc braked RS models too! He/ she must be due retirement by now!
 


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