1 headlight down --- change both?

[SK_in_AB]

Lost my right low beam headlight this week on the R12T. I have read here in the past about changing these bulbs being a PITA. If so should I change both out together even if the left one is now ok?? Bike has about 18000 miles, although I bought used so I don't know if these are original bulbs.

 

Comments from all welcome - as are any tips on the change procedure.

 

 

[RichardSpag]

I'd be inclined to wait until the second bulb goes before replacing it. Access to the bulbs need not require removal of panels (although some folks seem to do this). Access is a touch restricted but because the two bulbs are on opposite sides of the bike you will not be saving an appreciable amount of time or skin by doing both.

 

Hang on in there - and welcome to the party!

 

Cheers

 

Richard

[Mister Tee]

I agree. There is no savings of effort by doing both at the same time. But, most definately buy at least two and keep the other in the front compartment.

[marcopolo]

I wouldn't bother changing the left until it blows. BTW, the right bulb is more difficult to change than the left low beam (less room on the right side). As said, some remove panels; I never have; yes, it's a PITA. Have a look at the rider's manual first. The difficulty arises from doing most of this blind. The trickiest part (for me at least)is unhooking the retaining clip from the bulb, again because you do it by feel as you can't see in there. It helps to know what that clip looks like so you have a better idea what to do. The pics in the manual are not the greatest. If you really want to see it better, go to the BMW Motorrad Denmark website where you can download the current R12RT manual as a PDF file. From there you can zoom in on the appropriate photo.

 

http://www.bmw-motorrad.dk/dk/da/index.html

 

Just click on "Downloade manualer" on the right side of the home page and select the R1200RT manual in English.

[10ovr]

I would say change them both,,Remove the upper side panels,,Mirrors and then dash panel,,It takes about 5 minuets,Then you can see what you doing,Note the position of the bulb before you take it out..If one bulb is out,The other is not fair behind,,Trust me,You well save time and blood by taking off the panels ..Also do not touch the glass on the new bulb,,,,The oil from your fingers well shorten the life of the bulb,

[TEWKS]

My left went out at about thirty thousand. Thought i'd wait to change the right, it was less than a week later I had to do it. The right side is the bigger PITA for sure. I wonder if it's worth carrying a spare on long trips?

 

 

Pat

[10ovr]

I carry 2 bulbs in my tool kit,,The cheap ones at the auto store last just as long,,My bike is at 40k miles,,I replace them every 20K when I have the bike apart to do the service,,I would rather do it then ,Then on the side of the road,,,

[marcopolo]

I wonder if it's worth carrying a spare on long trips?

Pat

 

I think so. I carry a spare H-7 in the tail section, along with spare turn signal and brake/tail light bulbs.

[Sailorlite]

To me, replacing the right side bulb is not something I'd want to do at the side of the road. The left side bulb, however, could be.

 

I always carry a spare bulb, but I think changing out the right side, at home in your garage, with plenty of time, before you really need to, is a good idea.

[Harry_Wilshusen]

Lost my right low beam headlight this week on the R12T. I have read here in the past about changing these bulbs being a PITA. If so should I change both out together even if the left one is now ok?? Bike has about 18000 miles, although I bought used so I don't know if these are original bulbs.

 

Comments from all welcome - as are any tips on the change procedure.

 

 

http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=22&Number=381926&Searchpage=4&Main=35467&Words=headlight+bulb&topic=0&Search=true#Post381926

[tomm51]

Both of mine went out within 400 miles of each other at around 20,000 miles.I was on a trip.I'll change them both at 38K along with the high beam.Much better done at home than on the road.

[Hall Vince]

Personaly I want to make sure they blow as far apart as possible time/mileage wise from each other.

Bad news having one blow on your way home in the rain in the dark..It would be a real bummer if both went on the same journey.

JM2cW.

 

I've a long lifer in the RH one now, will wait till other one goes then fit the other LL I have spare.

If the LL bulbs don't give me longer running. I may have to go HID, just for the longevity,as I don't belive the RT12 needs extra lumens, IMO.

\v/

[Smoky]

If you take the mirror off, it goes much better, as you can see what you are doing.

 

That right side one is an awkward bitch!

[Mister Tee]

Keep in mind that you have three active bulbs (two lows and a high beam), which is a luxury. You can ride around no problem with one of the lows burned out - it does't make a huge difference in light and if it burns out just use the high beam. I just ride it, and replace it in the daylight the next opportunity when I'm home or comfortably at the office. I'd never replace a bulb on the side of the road.

 

Right now, I've got about 10K since the last bulb burned out and I just replaced the burned out bulb. I would have hated to have replaced the other bulb with 10K of service left in it.

[LeftCoastMan]

Lost my right low beam headlight this week on the R12T. I have read here in the past about changing these bulbs being a PITA. If so should I change both out together even if the left one is now ok?? Bike has about 18000 miles, although I bought used so I don't know if these are original bulbs.

 

Comments from all welcome - as are any tips on the change procedure.

 

 

I'd change them both now. What if you're out riding at night and the second one blows out? I guess you could ride with the high beam only, but you're going to piss off everyone.

 

Changing bulbs is a major PITA, because unless you have very delicate, thin, girly hands, it's hard to change the right bulb. I even think it's hard to change the left one, but it is slightly, very slightly easier.

 

I bet that you can remove the front tupperware along with the windshield and dash panel in 30 minutes. Maybe an hour. You can then replace both bulbs with HID (if you want) or a better bulb (there are tons of recommendations). Then you're safe and you remove a worry from your brain. And you'll be good for a couple of years.

[Don_Eilenberger]

Law#8 - Parallelism: If one of two identical bulbs burns out, it's buddy is just waiting until you've replaced the one, and buttoned things up to blow out. Also applies to lots of other devices.

 

http://www.eilenberger.net/laws.htm

 

Do both.

[LeftCoastMan]

Law#8 - Parallelism: If one of two identical bulbs burns out, it's buddy is just waiting until you've replaced the one, and buttoned things up to blow out. Also applies to lots of other devices.

 

http://www.eilenberger.net/laws.htm

 

Do both.

 

Oh, that was hysterical. I shared it with my motorcycle buddies, and they think you're the next Einstein. LOL.

[anvo]

I bet that you can remove the front tupperware along with the windshield and dash panel in 30 minutes. Maybe an hour. You can then replace both bulbs with HID (if you want) or a better bulb (there are tons of recommendations). Then you're safe and you remove a worry from your brain. And you'll be good for a couple of years.

 

Having just recently changed both within 2 weeks of one another, I'll strongly consider that next time, even if it does take an hour. At least I'll be doing something productive other than yelling profanities and slowly shaving the skin off of my hands.

[LeftCoastMan]

I bet that you can remove the front tupperware along with the windshield and dash panel in 30 minutes. Maybe an hour. You can then replace both bulbs with HID (if you want) or a better bulb (there are tons of recommendations). Then you're safe and you remove a worry from your brain. And you'll be good for a couple of years.

 

Having just recently changed both within 2 weeks of one another, I'll strongly consider that next time, even if it does take an hour. At least I'll be doing something productive other than yelling profanities and slowly shaving the skin off of my hands.

 

I have normal sized hands (based on glove size). And I was pretty close to selling my bike on here to someone for $1.50 trying to change the light bulb. At that point I knew I had to take off the tupperware. And once I was doing that, I went HID.

 

My only issue was that I was having a huge freaking problem removing the accessory plug connector, and complained about it here. I got abused for being an idiot, which I am about this thing, because I couldn't figure out how to disconnect it. I think someone snarkily recommended I clip the wire. Little did he know how close I came.

[BMWLUVER]

Yea it took me a few times and a little skin to finally figure out how to do it with out taking a part the whole front end. It just takes a lot of patients and a little practice. Good luck

[marcopolo]

If it's any consolation, it does get easier with practice. I'm not one of those ones who would bother taking any part of the fairing off. I figure if I can't change the bulb in my garage without tearing the bike apart, what am I going to do on a long road trip. I once had my independent tech replace both low beams (both failed on start-up at his garage). He had them both replaced faster than you can blink an eye. It was a joy to behold. And he could not be described as having small hands either.

[LeftCoastMan]

But it's so much fun to take apart the tupperware and find all the schmutz that has accumulated back there. Or maybe it's best not to know.

[Arizona_oldguy]

I had a turn signal broken,and the replacement in hand, when one low beam when out on my R1200RT. Since I had to take the dash apart to get the signal out, I took the opportunity to replace both low beam bulbs the easy way. I would have replace the high beam too, but I did that only 2000 miles ago.

 

I have replaced all those bulbs two or three times in the past, the hard way,in the 70,000 miles I have had on my bike. It does get easier with practice, but it was really a breeze to do it with the dash apart.

 

I don't worry about them all burning out on the same night, and I do drive lots of miles at night. A new bike comes with 3 new bulbs, and I have never had two go out in the same month, let alone same time.