Fix for headlight holder clip

NLC · Mar 12, 2011

Went to change my bulbs today and I looked at the H7 holder the wrong way and it cracked as I took it off. Come on BMW surely you could have come up with something better than plastic to hold the light bulbs in. :rob

For those who haven't changed a bulb the plastic that holds the clips are very very fragile. Some stuff made in China is better quality. After yelling fu*k and waking up the neighbours I used this fix. Carpenters screw covers can be found in and DIY store and are about £3 for 50 of them. They are the plastic covers that carpenters use to cover screw holes in cabinets. I had some lying around and gave it a shot. I took one and cut out a two notches with a stanley knife and screwed it back in. It was going to be a temporary fix but I think I will leave it as it is more solid than the stock version. I tried washers but the clip slid off. Worth carrying a couple as spare in your tool roll especially for the road trips.

Glyno · Mar 13, 2011

Neat little fix there, mine is fixed with a washer and the screw, your jobby looks far superior. You can bet half the lamp units out there have the same problem. :thumb2

Peter · Mar 13, 2011

Clever fix, well done, great lateral thinking! I broke one of the "hooks" that holds the wire clip a few years ago. The wire holds ok with one "hook" in conjunction with the screw. When changing bulbs now I hold the bulb firmly pushing it into the reflector unit whislt I pull the electrical wires connector. I will make your modification. Thanks for sharing it all of us.

Gremlin Serbia · Mar 14, 2011

After all crap happned with de-positioned reflector in my headlight, and all day effort to fix it - I realized that I have the same problem with clips described here as well !!!

Looks like BMW do some good biz with China regarding parts of headlight...

:nenau

NLC · Mar 14, 2011

My pleasure guys.

Gremlin sorry you are now part of the club!

Toad · Mar 14, 2011

Nice one - I've added this to the Useful links thread above :thumb2

Gremlin Serbia · Mar 14, 2011

NorthLondonCookie said:
My pleasure guys.

Gremlin sorry you are now part of the club!

Thanks mate...

I visited BMW service this morning, and the owner who had the same problem with his GSA headlight, knew how to fix - and while I was drinking coffee with him, a technician fixed fecking problem.

And we are fully operational now...until next bulb dies...

:beerjug:

Gremlin Serbia · Mar 14, 2011

Also, BMW official program for spare parts see headlamp as one piece - and no parts inside, and no repairing possible - just full replacement for many $$$.

:nenau

wideparting · Mar 14, 2011

mine went in croatia last year.scrunched up a serviette packed it behind the bulb holder and it got me home.fixed by bmw under warranty on my return. j

NLC · Mar 14, 2011

Rang the dealer on another matter and asked how much the reflector was. They don't sell it as a single item and he said "you had better sit down for this". £250 for the whole light console.

Gremlin Serbia · Mar 14, 2011

Here is approx 200 Euro for complete headlight case...but skilled mechanic fixed dismantled joint and ball and they didn't charge me single euro.

Even I got a coffee and orange juice on BMW, while waiting. Meanwhile, we were joking about Chinese parts in BMW headlamp.

The luck was that owner of BMW service is also biker, and he had same problem on his GSA recently, so they knew the trick how to fix it.

:beerjug:

Gricejam · Aug 10, 2011

Bulb spring clip retainer

Thanks for your inventiveness North London Cookie, I just broke the clip retainer changing a bulb after only 8800 miles. It was a regular H7.

Took two attempts to get it right but i now have more faith in it than the orginal fitting.

My bikes still under warranty could it be replaced even though I broke it?

solidstate100 · Aug 10, 2011

Gricejam said:
My bikes still under warranty could it be replaced even though I broke it?

TIP: Dont tell them you broke it...!

say you just noticed there was a "problem"

NLC · Aug 11, 2011

solidstate100 said:
TIP: Dont tell them you broke it...!

say you just noticed there was a "problem"

+1. I did have it replaced given my bike was not really that old and said exactly the above. Really for a £10k+ bike they should have come up with a better design (since these bikes are meant to go around the world don't ya know).

Gricejam · Aug 11, 2011

Spring retainer clip

So, did you remove your modification when you took the bike in to have it replaced?

NLC · Aug 12, 2011

Nope. Just said it was a temporary fix to get me to the dealer safely.

Yellow Peril · Aug 12, 2011

Great fix, add a washer to the screw and then its permanent the clip never comes out

Mick-B · Aug 12, 2012

Oh how I wish I'd looked here first last Wednesday evening... spent the entire evening trying to persuade the spring-clip to stay in contact with the retaining screw... I managed it eventually but this quick modification would have been the mut's nuts! I might even apply the fix now, rather than wait for the next bulb failure - no, you're right, I probably will wish at some future date that I had quit browsing the forum and done something useful, such as applying this fix!!

BTW, the plastic cup-washer looks identical to a number-plate fixing cover (available in black, orange and white) so local Halford or favourite motor factor will stock (if Halford, probably in a plasti-pack of 5 and at an exorbitant price but convenience seems to come at a price!)

davegs · Aug 12, 2012

clip

I did the same whilst fitting an HID, did mine with a modified washer but the screw cap idea is brilliant, so that will be the next job. Thanks to the inventor
should be a sticky.
dave GS

HPNer · Aug 29, 2012

Clip

I have never know such a shoddy piece of kit. What idiot designed that retaining clip hinge/holder, http://www.ukgser.com/forums/images/smilies/rob.gifand to think it hasn't been modified since the original 1200GS was introduced. Spent THREE hours replacing bulb, the plastic tang on the clip retainer had gone as pretty much everybody's will when they change the bulb . . . so wish I'd looked here, eventually fixed by nicking a washer from elsewhere on my bike.
The plastic number plate screw cover is a fantastic fix, far better than BMW's miserable effort. Everyone should carry this pre-cut piece of plastic in their toolkit.
Great job guys!http://www.ukgser.com/forums/images/smilies/clap.gif

Fix for headlight holder clip

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