High beam and fog lights don't work on an 03 R1150RT.

[tbone99]

Hi everyone, new BMW owner here from Omaha, NE. I picked up a 2003 R1150RT with 13k miles this weekend and noticed the high beam and the fog lights don't work. The PO had a spare high beam bulb so I replaced it and still nothing. When replacing it I notice some strange wiring around the headlight and asked the PO about it. He said the BMW dealership installed a modulator kit on it a few years ago. It's funny because the low beam doesn't modulate either. I tried the switch on the dash for the fog lightsand no fog lights either. I was going to try and unplug the wiring for the modulator and see if that helps.

 

Any ideas before I take it into the dealer?

 

Thanks,

 

t

[bmw_rider]

Just me, but have you checked the fuses?

[tbone99]

Yes, checked them.

 

Today I unplugged a wire going to the modulator and the high beam started working but the fog lights are still out. Tonight I'll try swapping a fog light bulb and hope they work. That would save me a trip to the dealer.

[knight88]

change the bulbs out even if the filament look good, unless you can test it with a meter. I once didnt change it because the bulbs looked good and guess what? the bulbs were bad, I learned the hard way and paid the dealer for some very expensive bulbs

[scout6]

Check the back of the fog light switch. It comes off sometimes.

 

[tbone99]

Thanks everyone, I got it sorted. The headlight modulator was preventing the high beam from turning on. I unplugged a wire going into the modulator and the high beam started working. For the fog lights I took the dash off and found the switch was unplugged. Plugged it in and one of the fog lights worked so then I took a side panel off and changed the bulb for the burned out fog light. Now everything it wroking fine but I noticed there was some water in the rubber caps under the fog lights on both sides. I don't know if water got in there during the 8 hour drive home in the rain when the bike was on the trailer or when I washed it yesterday. Anyway, all I can say is WOW! Those headlights really put out some light and the fog lights are amazing.

 

Now onto the next project: Tires. It currently has Metzler Z6 on there and they are pretty square. I had Pilot C2's on my last sport touring bike (2002 Honda VFR 800) and liked them alot. What are you guys running?

[BFish]

been running z-6's, but recently changed to metzler 880's.

[AndyS]

Thanks everyone, I got it sorted. ......, all I can say is WOW! Those headlights really put out some light and the fog lights are amazing.....

 

Hi tbone,

Great news that you got it sorted. I don't know what lights you are used to, but these 1150 lights are rubbish.

Many of us have uprated all the lights and even gone down the route of fitting HID lamps and PIAA auxilliaries to try and make the bike a little useable after dark.

 

Andy

[tbone99]

Thanks everyone, I got it sorted. ......, all I can say is WOW! Those headlights really put out some light and the fog lights are amazing.....

 

Hi tbone,

Great news that you got it sorted. I don't know what lights you are used to, but these 1150 lights are rubbish.

Many of us have uprated all the lights and even gone down the route of fitting HID lamps and PIAA auxilliaries to try and make the bike a little useable after dark.

 

Andy

 

Andy, the bike I sold to buy the RT was an 06 Suzuki DRZ400SM Supermoto. So compaired to that bike the lights on the RT are much better. Maybe I'll add some of those PIAA lights to my wish list.

 

Thanks,

 

T

[Secret Buzzard]

Don't 1150RT's have a known problem with the headlight ground wire? I remember there being an issue with that but I could never find a specific fix. Didn't the dealer replace a lot of the headlights for this problem?

[AndyS]

T, now you mention the Suzuki DRZ400SM I understand!

 

Secret buzzard, Yep, SOME bikes do have a ground issue, I am not sure many dealers replaced them though.

 

Andy