Headlight glass replacement??.

[philbytx]

Has anyone replaced their glass?
Mine got hit by a rock today (a bloody big one!) and it broke the glass, even through the headlight protector!
New glass is priced like unobtanium and I wondered if anyone used the replacements available on Ebay or something similar?

Thanks

[omg1010]

Hi there,

I have never seen the glass alone being offered on E-Bay. Aftermarket headlights are being offered quite often but the quality in general is poor (at least this is what fellow riders have said in the german oilhead forum). I'd look out for a used headlight on ebay or beemerboneyard or alike.

Or replace the headlight with something different. In Germany a fellow rider has mounted the headlight of the K1200R alongwith the windshield of the K1200R on a R1150R and it looks quite nice. By the way the headlight of the R1200GS is the same ...

Have a look here http://picasaweb.google.de/kingfreddi/Umbau0809#

Best regards
Oliver

[philbytx]

Thanks Oliver but I managed to get a new lens glass and gasket from Chicago BMW for $54 and change including shipping !
I used to buy all my parts from Hammersley but they changed the name and it appears their parts prices have gone up .

Also bought a replacement headlight saver from http://www.jmhmotorsport.com but slightly thicker (40mil v 30mil) this time. The saver did its job.....just the lens glass needed replacement plus the headlight saver held the broken lens together. While waiting for the replacement, I've been riding it with the broken lens with no probs.

[philbytx]

Received the headlight glass and gasket for $45 shipped from Chicago BMW.
Replacement is a breeze....the reflector and glass are two parts which are held to the chrome rim by 8 spring clips. The JMH Headlight saver really saved the bulb and reflector, so put a new one on the new glass. The headlight saver made taking the old glass out very easy (one piece!) and I put the new one on the new glass before assembling.

[omg1010]

Hi Phil,

what do you mean by "headlight saver"? Is this kind of a protective plastic? Having a broken headlight is kinda rare I would assume. I got my R1100R since 1999 (60 000 kms now) and it is still the first headlight (just the bulb has been changed a few times). Safe ridin to you ...

Kind regards
Oliver

[philbytx]

Hi Oliver,

Sorry I took so long...life has been a little hectic!
Yes, I get mine here http://www.jmhmotorsport.com/index.php? ... &Itemid=26.

Our side road construction is VERY different than that in Germany. A lot of our roads are "chip and seal" and not high pressure (rolled) macadam or concrete. Basically, they pour thick tar on the road then sprinkle it with stone/granite chips.

Besides making it "fun" to ride your motorcycle on them (when they are new!), it also plays holy hell with your paintwork, tyres and headlights. I have headlight and foglight savers on the bikes plus my wifes Subaru Forester and also on my BMW E34 5er. We already replaced two windshields on our cars and I recently got a nice sized chip on the windshield of my 5er!

Also, the bottom of my BLACK R1150RT's tupperware looks like it has been sandblasted! I should have installed a protection kit on it before we moved to Texas!I am always touching up the paint on the upper bodywork of my RT, at least once a week!!!

Be safe....

[omg1010]

No I get the point. Sounds like you're in an area of gravel roads

Maybe you're better of with this kinda bike?

http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?tit ... 00_01_.JPG

Brgds
Oliver

[philbytx]

Hey Oliver!

That picture took me back many years when I used to go with my father to motorcycle speedway back in the U.K.!
West Ham was my local track....I always remembered the great smell of the Fuel/Castrol R mixture !

FYI - I used to race a Norton Manx in the 60's. Wished I still had it......

Thanks for all your help