Lampf fault

[pfreak]

Last night when I cranked up my bike to head home I got a lampf fault. It was dark and my dim was out. I drove to the nearest auto retail store (hopefully not blinding everyone with my high beam) and picked up a bulb. In the parking lot I was able to replace the bulb in about 5 minutes and no tools were needed. Man I love the maintenance on these bikes.

Just thought I would share a good repair experience,
Pfreak

[JetSpeed]

Congratulations, but changing a light bulb is easy as pie, what took you so long?
There's guys on here that can patch a tire in the mud and rain in less time that that.

[Osmin C]

And this year's award for "Biggest Debbie Downer" goes to this guy ^^^^^


OP,
Im new to my BMW as well and I am pleased to hear first hand that these bikes aren't as scary as others would like you to believe. Thank you for sharing!

[pfreak]

Originally Posted by JetSpeed

Congratulations, but changing a light bulb is easy as pie, what took you so long?
There's guys on here that can patch a tire in the mud and rain in less time that that.

Yep, that is what I was saying easy as pie.

[Twempie]

Someone once said "the GS eats headlight bulbs like popcorn"' and after owning one for over a year, I have to agree.

Buy a two-pack of bulbs and keep one with the bike. One of two things will happen: Either you'll have a spare, or you'll never need to use it because you have a spare :)

[Undermoose]

I changed my bulbs when I first got my r1200gs for whiter light. Took about 5 minutes.

Several months later one blew so went to change it, couldn't figure out for the life of me why it was takin so long to get the clip back in place, 45 minutes later...

The next time I was at the dealer I asked them about it, they took one look and told me I cracked the housing near the screw and the part was $500 bucks. There are 3rd party fixes most people do to spare them the cost however.

I told my dealer to try to warranty it, they said they could try but what usually happens is BMW requires the part be shipped to them, denies the claim, then destroys the part so the customer ends up eating the $500 plus installation $$$.

I got lucky as the BMW rep who has authority to approve the warranty repair showed up at the dealer and OK'd mine, but the dealer said he had one three weeks prior that was denied.

[qman8]

Originally Posted by Undermoose

I changed my bulbs when I first got my r1200gs for whiter light. Took about 5 minutes.

Several months later one blew so went to change it, couldn't figure out for the life of me why it was takin so long to get the clip back in place, 45 minutes later...

The next time I was at the dealer I asked them about it, they took one look and told me I cracked the housing near the screw and the part was $500 bucks. There are 3rd party fixes most people do to spare them the cost however.

I told my dealer to try to warranty it, they said they could try but what usually happens is BMW requires the part be shipped to them, denies the claim, then destroys the part so the customer ends up eating the $500 plus installation $$$.

I got lucky as the BMW rep who has authority to approve the warranty repair showed up at the dealer and OK'd mine, but the dealer said he had one three weeks prior that was denied.

That reflector plastic is brittle as hell. I broke both of my little retaining tits off ...ended up putting a big washer on that screw. IT IS very difficult to get a big hand in there without removing the headlight assemblt totally.
Those "brighter" bulbs are known to burn out (break the filament) quicker. I've gone thru 3 sylvania ultra's in 2 weeks on my VFR. My answer was to convert to HID!

[hyena]

pfreak

Glad you got it changed OK. Next time it happens, if you're not anywhere near a parts store, you can always use the bulb that's in the high beam housing, as opposed to blinding people with your high beam. (Also thereby doubling your chance of breaking off BMW's flimsy retainers by changing two bulbs.)

[STUFF2C]

I change every bulb in my bike as part of the 100k mile service

[pfreak]

Originally Posted by hyena

pfreak

Glad you got it changed OK. Next time it happens, if you're not anywhere near a parts store, you can always use the bulb that's in the high beam housing, as opposed to blinding people with your high beam. (Also thereby doubling your chance of breaking off BMW's flimsy retainers by changing two bulbs.)

Thanks, sounds like good information to keep handy since these bulbs seem to be a little finicky.

[bemiiten]

Originally Posted by Undermoose

I changed my bulbs when I first got my r1200gs for whiter light. Took about 5 minutes.

Several months later one blew so went to change it, couldn't figure out for the life of me why it was takin so long to get the clip back in place, 45 minutes later...

The next time I was at the dealer I asked them about it, they took one look and told me I cracked the housing near the screw and the part was $500 bucks. There are 3rd party fixes most people do to spare them the cost however.

I told my dealer to try to warranty it, they said they could try but what usually happens is BMW requires the part be shipped to them, denies the claim, then destroys the part so the customer ends up eating the $500 plus installation $$$.

I got lucky as the BMW rep who has authority to approve the warranty repair showed up at the dealer and OK'd mine, but the dealer said he had one three weeks prior that was denied.

Had the same problem. I simply made a hinge out of some saftey wire and used the screw to hold it in place. Better then new and cost next to nothing.

[Desert Skies]

After chasing that stupit f'n clip around inside the f'n light bucket, in the f'n dark with my f'n fat fingers, I made this mod.

[eric_the_bald]

+1
Great picture of the same fix I made. The stock part is worthless beyond belief and seems to be a cash cow designed into the bike.

[SEKhund]

"After chasing that stupit f'n clip around inside the f'n light bucket, in the f'n dark with my f'n fat fingers, I made this mod."

I just pissed myself.

[WeazyBuddha]

What exactly is the mod/fix?

Putting a small washer under the screw?

I had mine break too but the dealer replaced the housing under warranty.