Headlight bulb replacement

[SpeedyG]

I'm a new RT owner and so far I really like the bike. Can anyone tell me, or direct me to a link, on how to change the lightbulbs? Sounds silly but as I look under the dash it's a pretty tight fit to get my hand under there to replace a bulb. Does the front fairing have to come off or is it more simple than that? Thanks for any info.

[Effjay]

Access is normally by removing adjacent mirror and (painted) eyebrow. It can be fiddly requiring some patience by visualizing by feel bulb socket engagement without looking directly at it. There are several posts here (http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm) with replacement tips (perhaps in this forum also). Do searches and see what you find...

Jeff

[SpeedyG]

Thanks Jeff. I've done some searches here and on other forums but there's not much out there.

[nail24]

It's a royal PITA especially the right low beam. The tab goes up. If you have a young son with small hands that is mechanically inclined you're home free. I hold the bulb in place with my middle finger and engage the wire clips with my index finger. Oh yeah, if you have young kids around it's best to send them far far away out of hearing distance.

[barryRT]

I have done it without removing anything, however, it is a tight fit.

[keith1]

Which bulb is out, left low beam, high beam, or right low beam?

[SpeedyG]

The bulbs are all good right now but my experience has shown that invariably on a trip at least one bulb goes bad. I'd like to be able to change it on the road. Thanks for all the info.

[Stixx]

I would have your tech show you how to both adjust and change bulbs rather than stumble about with manuals.
The manual had me adjusting the wrong nut for low beam adjustment on my 08 and the nut came off in my hand rendering a very expensive headlight assembly void. BMW replaced it under warranty but it was all so unnecessary. While we had the front faring off I got to see the real beam adjustment and load compensation assembly as well as the adjustment fro left and right aim. There are two big round knobbies on the back of the assembly that allow access to change the bulbs and to say they are not intuitive is an
understatement. IF you get the tech to show you how, most will do it during a regular service interval and not charge you for it. My guys allow me to watch the whole service process and it is always a real eye opener.

When they replaced my whole headlight assy the tech had to remove the whole front fairing as well as a portion of the side tupperwear and it was really cool to see how that was done and the size of the headlight assy was huge . At least with it off the bike everything was fairly easy at that point to change but it is all one piece and anything you break knocking about under there is going to cost you the whole assembly if you strip it.

My advice is take the whole thing apart at least once and carefully exam what has to be done then when you try and change a bulb in place you wont me ignorant of what your are feeling around with.

I am now comfortable with what I can see and feel under the fairing much more than before . I think with my moderately small hands I could probably change a bulb if needed though I certainly don'lt carry spares so I'd let a tech do it most likely on the road when needed.

[BrianV]

Watching the tech is absolutely the best way to go. However, if you can't wait - here's a link to a good article with pix on how to remove the front fairing.

http://www.bmrider.com/images/reports/R12RT%20Front%20Nacelle%20Removal%20Part%203.pdf

While it's off, you might want to go ahead and replace the horn with the dual 2005 version, mount your XM antenna, and install an oil cooler grille - see other threads in this forum for very nice info on getting all this done.

-Brian

[keith1]

OK. Here is how you do it for the left low beam and high beam.
1. Unscrew the plastic cover in front of the front forks. Unhook the electrical connector
Do not remove windscreen, etc.
2. There are 2 metal clips on each side of the bulb. Unhook them below the bulb
and they swing up above the bulb towards the windshield.
3. Remove the burned out bulb
4. Insert new bulb without touching the filament and reattach the metal clips.
5. Re-attach the electrical connector. Replace plastic cover.

Now the right front bulb is more of a challenge (a bitch in other words)
1. Remove right front painted panel. Remove mirror.
2. Repeat steps 1, 2, and 3.
3. Now grab a pair of long needle nosed pliers and a long screwdriver- at least 12"-14"
4. Grab the bulb by one of the spade connectors with the needle nosed pliers and insert
the bulb in the hole. Using the long screwdriver hold the bulb in place.
5. Then re-attach the metal clips on each side of the bulb.
6. Re-attach the electrical connector. Fit mirror into place and re-attach the side panel.
Viola! You are done.

[hopz]

What keith said is all true... but would like to chip insome as well.

The "plastic cover" is a round cover, about 2" across. It is black and has has tabs on it so you can turn it. It unscrews counter clockwise

The metal clips are wires that are hinged from the top side. You squeeze the two ends of the wire together and flip it up. Be careful NOT TO REMOVE the wire springs from the carrier at the top. Difficult to put back in place.

Once the spring retainers are flipped up you can pull the connector plug off the bulb's tabs.

The left hand side is easy because you can see it and it is accessible for a right handed person. The right hand bulb is made difficult because most of you are using your left hand, and there is not very much room, plus you are working blind. Like so many things, it gets easier the more you do it. My first time was awkward and frustrating beforeI got it. The next time was easy and fast.

Good luck

[IanW]

Another couple of tips that I found worked:
Look through the front of the headlight to align bulb correctly, and
Come up from underneath with your hand.

Ian

[Stixx]

If that works it sounds like a great idea.

[keith1]

Hopz
Thanks for the adding the extra detail to my explanation. :D

[kapod2t]

Or . . . you could just ride to a dealer and say, "Fix it," and then have lunch somewhere close.

[Keith_H]

Or . . . you could just ride to a dealer and say, "Fix it," and then have lunch somewhere close.

I prefer to do my own service, Where's the fun in having a dealer change the light bulb?... :rotf:

[Stixx]

I prefer to do my own service, Where's the fun in having a dealer change the light bulb?... :rotf:
Obviously you don't go to my dealer. We laugh and joke and I can shop for farkles and apparel and hang out with Nate Kern when he's there. It beats losing the skin on my sensitive money making fingers. LOL :dance:

[lafiredr]

I've got some pretty big hands, and I have changed the bulbs without too much trouble. The covers on the back side of the headlight assembly just twist off. Then undo the clips by feel. Look in from the front to check alignment. You don't need to take off any mirrors or fairing. I think I did have to take some plastic off on my old rs. The new RT is easier. The height and side to side adjuster (there are both)are easiest with a socket with an extension. There is also a flip lever too for quick height adjustment if you have a fat passenger.