Low Beams Question

I have gone through 2 low beam bulbs in the 12000 miles I have had my 09 gs the first lasted about 8000 miles and the second just went on the way to work this morning I was just wondering if this is normal or should I be worried

Normal. Look around, on this very page is a thread about it. Also, check out the G-Spot FAQ at the top of the page.

Jim

Ckinneavy, if you ever find the mystery links could you share them here? You got me curious about this issue but after burning a half hour in the FAQ's, I give up.

Your bulbs anywhere but the Beamer Dealer. Got mine at Canadian Tire and this last one has over 30,000 miles on it and is constantly on.

I must be lucky. Mine's at 30K miles and is still the original bulb.

Ok guys thanks i decided to try the 9 dollar napa special see how long in lasts

I go through a low beam bulb every 9-10K miles. I have been buying two packs of [FONT=arial, helvetica] Philips Xtreme Power from Costco for around $25. They are cheap enough and it takes 5 minutes to swap one out. One of these days will take the leap and go with HIDs.
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I just love the slightly-yellowish Osram All-Season bulbs

But the high beam stays as stock (white).

I got 9-10,000 miles and finally put HID in low beams.

Got a Crappy Tire part number handy pardner? I'd like to throw one in the luggage for an on the road spare. Thanks!

Not normal unless you have a BMW R1200GS. Hopefully BMW will address this in the next model.

It is not a BMW issue, except for the choice of the H7 bulb. Every vehicle I have had that has the H7 has a similar burn out rate. My Hyundai Elantra went through 6 bulbs in 3 years. It was so bad that Hyundai extended the warranty for the bulbs to 5 years.

Jim

My guess it is grease from your fingers. If you are buying your bulbs at different times/places it probably rules out at bad batch. Use a paper towel to hold the bulb as you put it in.

But the bulb is inserted by holding it's metal base. I don't see how one can easily touch the bulb itself.

A clean bulb is necessary when you change. Finger oils will cause cracks and failures once the bulb heats up, and they get very hot...the filament is boiling electrons off the surface and there is lots of infrared emitted from an incandescent.

Wash the lamp capsule with alcohol before you instal it and handle it with a paper towel or clean rag...or, instal an HID and never change lamps again.