The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: VaSteve on September 03, 2012, 08:31:35 PM

Title: Anyone do an LED conversion?
Post by: VaSteve on September 03, 2012, 08:31:35 PM

I was thinking today about how this would be possible.  LED blbs inside stock fixtures?  Remove existing lights and install?  I don't even know where to start.   Any thoughts?

Title: Re: Anyone do an LED conversion?
Post by: fbenach on September 03, 2012, 08:37:07 PM

I changed the inner lights on my tach and speedometer for super bright leds and it worked perfectly... actually, I got the tip from the forum.
nhmaf wrote it:
http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1318297528/0#0

There was an old thread somewhere about changing ths stop lights to LED,
http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1334936977/13#13

Hope it helps!!

Title: Re: Anyone do an LED conversion?
Post by: nhmaf on September 03, 2012, 08:53:50 PM

And don't try to replace the turn signal bulbs with LED units unless you also change out the flasher relay for a solid state unit designed for working with LED lamps - the LEDs don't draw enough current to allow the mechanical flasher relay to work properly, and they won't flash.

Title: Re: Anyone do an LED conversion?
Post by: VaSteve on September 03, 2012, 09:06:17 PM

Thanks guys....do you have a part number for a solid state flasher?   Or is that easy to find?   TIA.

Title: Re: Anyone do an LED conversion?
Post by: nhmaf on September 03, 2012, 10:04:50 PM

A Kisan signal minder flasher unit may work, and there are a number of units available from autoparts stores, and even at superbrightLEDs.com, depending upon your bike's setup (either 2 terminal or 3 terminal device).   If you have a "new" BMW with CANbus then you need to take a different approach, because the signal relay controller is integrated into part of the main computer.. but BMW offers OEM accessory parts for those.

Title: Re: Anyone do an LED conversion?
Post by: montmil on September 04, 2012, 08:02:04 AM

When I was messing with LEDs on the R65s, I ordered the LED-compatible turn signal flasher, along with some bulbs, from http://superbrightLEDs.com

While adding small, teardrop-shaped LED front turn signals to the cafe fairing on the '81, the relay was on hand and a simple plug n' play it was.

Title: Re: Anyone do an LED conversion?
Post by: mrbindc on September 04, 2012, 09:47:41 AM

I added LED turn signals to my bike and wired in some LED resistors to stop the fast flashing.  The resistors are cheap, I spent about $4 on ebay for them.  

The LED relay was about $40.

Title: Re: Anyone do an LED conversion?
Post by: steven m on September 04, 2012, 10:28:33 AM

I just read the earlier posts and am not clear if the LED wedge bulbs will fit in the tach as the bulbs are taller than the stock bulbs.  If they fit it seems like a no brainer.

Title: Re: Anyone do an LED conversion?
Post by: fbenach on September 04, 2012, 10:51:15 AM

At least the 5 LED points unit from superbrightleds does fit perfectly...

Title: Re: Anyone do an LED conversion?
Post by: steven m on September 04, 2012, 10:59:44 AM

Great.  Thanks.  

Title: Re: Anyone do an LED conversion?
Post by: steven m on September 04, 2012, 11:03:23 AM

Are these the bulbs you used?  #5:  http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Fspecs%2FWLED-x5.htm

Title: Re: Anyone do an LED conversion?
Post by: fbenach on September 04, 2012, 12:50:00 PM

I used these... xHP5´s

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Fspecs%2FWLED-xHP5.htm

They went from the box to the bike...
The speedometer light is under the back-hood of the panel.
For the tachometer, you have to work a little bit more, because the light is inside behind the front number panel, so there are a few more screws to untight...

Good luck!!

Title: Re: Anyone do an LED conversion?
Post by: steven m on September 05, 2012, 01:03:54 AM

Thanks.  I'll keep you posted.