BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

My rear number plate bulb blew last week. When I took the old bulb out, I was surprised to see a mini halogen bulb, known as an H6W. I didn't have one to hand so I used an H4W, the same bulb used as the side/ parking light in the smaller of the two headlight units.

When I got round to buying a new H6W this weekend, I bought two, with the idea of trying one of them in the headlight. Well, I have to tell you all, it has transformed the second headlamp unit from a rather dissapointing orangey glow to a decent, bright white light. I'm well happy. Been out tonight for an hour and no adverse effects from the slightly higher wattage.

I have absolutely no idea why BMW put such a poor excuse of a bulb in the front headlamp, and a decent one in the number plate light. Seems ar$e about face for me.

So if any of you want to brighten up that parking light/ side light in the second headlamp unit, get out there and buy a new H6W bulb and swap it. You won't be dissapointed. Especially the Northern Hemisphere guys that ride all year round. I hardly ever ride in daylight these days

Sounds like a great idea! That's the ONE thing that I hate about my Rockster. Everyone always asks if I have a burnt out headlight. I'll have to go grab one! Thanks!

Dan

mdouglas wrote:My rear number plate bulb blew last week. When I took the old bulb out, I was surprised to see a mini halogen bulb, known as an H6W. I didn't have one to hand so I used an H4W, the same bulb used as the side/ parking light in the smaller of the two headlight units.

When I got round to buying a new H6W this weekend, I bought two, with the idea of trying one of them in the headlight. Well, I have to tell you all, it has transformed the second headlamp unit from a rather dissapointing orangey glow to a decent, bright white light. I'm well happy. Been out tonight for an hour and no adverse effects from the slightly higher wattage.

I have absolutely no idea why BMW put such a poor excuse of a bulb in the front headlamp, and a decent one in the number plate light. Seems ar$e about face for me.

So if any of you want to brighten up that parking light/ side light in the second headlamp unit, get out there and buy a new H6W bulb and swap it. You won't be dissapointed. Especially the Northern Hemisphere guys that ride all year round. I hardly ever ride in daylight these days

How does it help?? does it actually cast any usable light?

Not sure that it allows me to see any more. My happiness was that I can be seen better by other road users and look more convincing to oncoming traffic (instead of looking like some scooter who's alternator is struggling to light its headlight bulbs). As an added bonus, the bike looks better with two well illuminated lights. I had a car driver tell me at a filling station recently that one of my headlights was blown!

mdouglas wrote:Not sure that it allows me to see any more. My happiness was that I can be seen better by other road users and look more convincing to oncoming traffic (instead of looking like some scooter who's alternator is struggling to light its headlight bulbs). As an added bonus, the bike looks better with two well illuminated lights. I had a car driver tell me at a filling station recently that one of my headlights was blown!

ah right.

TBH - I'd be careful about "relying" on others to see you (I'm sure you know this, but putting it here for the benefit of others), far better to assume no-one has seen you at all.

I really like the suggestion of the brighter sidelight. The standard set-up looks a bit half-hearted! I've also seen suggestions for auxilliary lighting. But I've only really just begun to notice how poor the main beam is on the Rockster. Our very plebian Ford Falcon family hack has headlights that work like 747 landing lights compared to the Rock's main beam. Any simple answers out there?

Captain K.

I have converted my headlamp to genuine HID (xenon) and in the process replaced the small bulb by a LED. Bright and white, matches the HID perfectly !

My number plate lamp has gone too - £6.50 for a new one!!! BM don't arf take the p*ss!