Headlight bulb replacement on 2015 RT

General discussion of the BMW R1200RT/R1250RT
User avatar
Rwslater
Posts: 63
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 2015 8:28 pm
Location: Pennsylvania
United States of America

Headlight bulb replacement on 2015 RT

Post by Rwslater »

Holy crapola!! Has anyone tried to install cyclops LED headlights in the RT? I have a 2015 and to get the headlight quadrant out you have to completely take the front end apart/off.  It's nearly impossible  :thinking:
srpuywa
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2015 8:56 pm

Re: Headlight bulb replacement on 2015 RT

Post by srpuywa »

I let the dealer do it when I had a 2015
Nick Evans
Posts: 74
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2018 7:54 pm
Bike Model and Year: 2009 R1200RT
Has liked: 1 time
Been liked: 6 times
Great Britain

Re: Headlight bulb replacement on 2015 RT

Post by Nick Evans »

I fitted them to a 2009RT; I left the light cluster in but removed the plastic around the dash (left the clocks in) dash bezel, made it very easy, (probably completely different on a 2015 bike, but it might be worth looking at.)
User avatar
PatM
Posts: 37
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 4:13 pm

Re: Headlight bulb replacement on 2015 RT

Post by PatM »

It's not impossible, just take your time. BTW I did mine without removing the headlight assembly. It's just easier to insert the bulb when the assembly is out.
Ride safe!
User avatar
Rwslater
Posts: 63
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 2015 8:28 pm
Location: Pennsylvania
United States of America

Re: Headlight bulb replacement on 2015 RT

Post by Rwslater »

srpuywa wrote: I let the dealer do it when I had a 2015

I first took it to the Stealership, they charged me an hour to look at it and then said they couldn't do it.  >:(
User avatar
Rwslater
Posts: 63
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 2015 8:28 pm
Location: Pennsylvania
United States of America

Re: Headlight bulb replacement on 2015 RT

Post by Rwslater »

Nick Evans wrote: I fitted them to a 2009RT; I left the light cluster in but removed the plastic around the dash (left the clocks in) dash bezel, made it very easy, (probably completely different on a 2015 bike, but it might be worth looking at.)

Thanks to BoxFlyer, the LED headlight bulbs were replaced without taking the bike apart.  The low beam was easy, just reached up from the front. For the high beams we removed the speakers and got in through there.  Thanks BowFlyer for all your help!
User avatar
Boxflyer
Posts: 93
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2014 12:00 am
Been liked: 16 times

Re: Headlight bulb replacement on 2015 RT

Post by Boxflyer »

Deleted
Last edited by Boxflyer on Mon Aug 29, 2022 2:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
Motorhead1977
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2020 1:51 am

Re: Headlight bulb replacement on 2015 RT

Post by Motorhead1977 »

Are the bulbs the same in a 2015 as for a 2018? If so which Cyclops LED bulbs did you use? I'd like to upgrade my 2018. TIA
User avatar
Boxflyer
Posts: 93
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2014 12:00 am
Been liked: 16 times

Re: Headlight bulb replacement on 2015 RT

Post by Boxflyer »

Here is the Cyclops kit I installed last week…except that it was for the 2015 so this is the part number you will need when they are back in stock.
CIL-RT-18.
https://tinyurl.com/y9bwwnk9


For my own 2016RT, I only installed the center (low beam) and was VERY happy with just that.


I have Clearwater Darla's, so the total illumination down the road is spectacular…I actually like to fill in the darkness of remote roads with some of the more "warm" light of the standard OEM H1 high beams, so just decided not to upgrade all the lights, just the low beam.


Image
bandytales
Posts: 554
Joined: Fri Nov 03, 2017 10:54 am

Re: Headlight bulb replacement on 2015 RT

Post by bandytales »

Boxflyer wrote:

Image

I am curious about what changes on model years 2015 to 2016, then 2019 to 2020 that would require a different lighting kit? Anyone know?
jordanv
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun May 17, 2020 9:41 pm

Re: Headlight bulb replacement on 2015 RT

Post by jordanv »

I used these bulbs from Amazon for a total cost of $110 and they work great - much much brighter. I was able to install without taking the light assembly out.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XK ... UTF8&psc=1
[size=2px]https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084Q ... UTF8&psc=1[/size]
User avatar
Boxflyer
Posts: 93
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2014 12:00 am
Been liked: 16 times

Re: Headlight bulb replacement on 2015 RT

Post by Boxflyer »

Deleted
Last edited by Boxflyer on Mon Aug 29, 2022 2:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Boxflyer
Posts: 93
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2014 12:00 am
Been liked: 16 times

Re: Headlight bulb replacement on 2015 RT

Post by Boxflyer »

bandytales wrote:
I am curious about what changes on model years 2015 to 2016, then 2019 to 2020 that would require a different lighting kit? Anyone know?

Andy, I just got off the phone with the primary Tech at Cyclops…and he stated that physically the replacements for the H7 low beam and the H1's that are for the 2 high beams are the same for all years, but that the break out of year groups has been in response to the way BMW updates the software within the bike.


All the lights they have for our BMW's are CAN-BUS compatible, but it's how they design them with differences to ensure that they will work with whatever BMW has changed along the way from the introduction of the WetHead.
jordanv
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun May 17, 2020 9:41 pm

Re: Headlight bulb replacement on 2015 RT

Post by jordanv »

The LED's that I bought have a beam pattern that is an exact match of the halogen bulb. Most of the new LED's match the Halogen filament position and shape to ensure proper beam pattern. 
User avatar
Boxflyer
Posts: 93
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2014 12:00 am
Been liked: 16 times

Re: Headlight bulb replacement on 2015 RT

Post by Boxflyer »

Deleted
Last edited by Boxflyer on Mon Aug 29, 2022 2:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
Post Reply