Rear brake light question - LEDs

[i_satan]

I'm thinking of swapping my standard rear brake & indicator light set for a clear LED set. Simply for the looks.

I have an 07 GSA.

Occaisionally theres one on ebay - but difficult to tell how it looks in real life.

I want it to be cheap but not look cheap if you know what I mean.

Anyone got one ? and can recommend a place to buy from ?

Cheers

 

[D6]

got mine from project r,(e bay) half price of some an just as good,
techno, on here does a very good board too,

 

[Barfly]

I bought a rear clear lens and LEDS for my 1150 from Nippy's. It lasted about 5 months before the LEDS started to go. The 06 1200 I bought a couple of months ago had a Wunderlich clear lens and LEDS. On my trip around Europe (got back last week) 4 of the strips of LEDS stopped working. I took the bike to the BM dealer in Geneva and he had no spare parts. When I got back to the UK the helpful man I spoke to in Bahnstormers said that the LEDS often "go" and they have problems with them. I'm just about to change my "cool" looking clear lens with a standard rear red lens and conventional bulb. At least if that goes I can buy a new bulb for a few pence (or Euros) wherever I am. Just a thought. I'd rather have something that worked than something that looks good. It may well be that there are reliable ones out there but the ones I've had experience of are not.

 

[Mr K]

Been running a "designer" LED rear light from Nippy Norman for a few years and also LED indicators with a strip of red LEDs in each that light up when you brake.

I use the standard "coloured" lenses.

No problems at all.

 

[yalcrabm]

I bought a rear clear lens and LEDS for my 1150 from Nippy's. It lasted about 5 months before the LEDS started to go. The 06 1200 I bought a couple of months ago had a Wunderlich clear lens and LEDS. On my trip around Europe (got back last week) 4 of the strips of LEDS stopped working. I took the bike to the BM dealer in Geneva and he had no spare parts. When I got back to the UK the helpful man I spoke to in Bahnstormers said that the LEDS often "go" and they have problems with them. I'm just about to change my "cool" looking clear lens with a standard rear red lens and conventional bulb. At least if that goes I can buy a new bulb for a few pence (or Euros) wherever I am. Just a thought. I'd rather have something that worked than something that looks good. It may well be that there are reliable ones out there but the ones I've had experience of are not.

why not fit the 08 back light it looks a lot better than the 06 one

 

[davedyer]

why not fit the 08 back light it looks a lot better than the 06 one

The 08 LED light is a straight retro fit into the earlier bikes with the addition of a plug in wire cable. BMW are soon (been waiting since the beginning of the year!!) to release a retro-fit kit for about £80 which will include an update of the bike's firmware to stop the 'bulb fail' warning on the dash. You can order the parts from the separate part numbers but that'll cost an arm and a leg.

 

[Ali-bear]

I'm a bit shocked to hear of LED's "going". Their big advantage over bulbs is that they are supposed to be more reliable i.e. are not susceptible to vibration.

More likely is that the PCB and/or solder contacts have failed and this would be repairable.

 

[Steve B]

I'm a bit shocked to hear of LED's "going". Their big advantage over bulbs is that they are supposed to be more reliable i.e. are not susceptible to vibration.

More likely is that the PCB and/or solder contacts have failed and this would be repairable.

Got some on my 1150 and a bank of 4 diagonal lights have gone and 3 lights on the top row now flash intermittently. I wonder if they can be repaired? Anyone know of someone on here who could oblige?
I got them cos I just wanted a brighter illumination than the standard bulb

Steve

 

[Ali-bear]

I'd just have a look at the circuit board and see if the solder joints looked weak, and have a go at re-soldering them.

Sorry I can't help too busy at the moment!

 

[D6]

Got some on my 1150 and a bank of 4 diagonal lights have gone and 3 lights on the top row now flash intermittently. I wonder if they can be repaired? Anyone know of someone on here who could oblige?
I got them cos I just wanted a brighter illumination than the standard bulb

Steve

mine did this, its the way they are wired, it was 1 led down that caused this, replace it , or link it out

 

[GrinningGSer]

The 08 LED rear light is very smart indeed and readily available, BUT, it needs a wiring harness, which, when I last enquired was not yet available.. It would seem that BMW launched a new08 product without being able to supply a comprehensive parts service.

 

[Davy F]

The 08 LED rear light is very smart indeed and readily available, BUT, it needs a wiring harness, which, when I last enquired was not yet available.. It would seem that BMW launched a new08 product without being able to supply a comprehensive parts service.

No, the wiring harness is available as DaveyP has retro-fitted the '08 tail light to his '07 Adv. Main arguement was the dealer wanted something like £50 for software upgrade so that the bulb out display wouldn't be lit. Luckily, he circumnavigated that by forceful negotiation.

 

[Gabby]

Got mine from Nippys' back on 2006 with 2000 miles on the clock.

It's now 2008 and 54,000 miles later and still going strong.

Did not like the thought of a single back light bulb as I ride 500 miles a week in winter darkness getting to work.

Well worth the money.

Look good to.

 

[G4]

Got my one from Nippys', for my 07 GSA a year and half ago 9000 miles on, no prob.
Do like the rear light off the 08 GSA though, so would like to change to that, if kit comes out and price is good.

 

[i_satan]

Thanks for all your advice.

Just went on to NN to order and they are closed until sept for a "stockcheck". Grrr !!