The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: jgp1854 on January 20, 2013, 05:12:24 PM
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My tail light bulb element has broken, the bulb markings are: 12v 5w, and is a single contact. I checked with the local auto supplier and they were at a lost....on a replacement bulb. The manual likewise denotes 12v 5w.
Is there another number that can be used? That can be found locally?
thanks
jgp
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I think that the part is (Eiko #) 7506 for a single 21W bulb. There is a north american cross/equivalent but I cannot recall what it is at the moment, and my garage is too chilly tonight to venture out.
One must be careful about not using a replacement bulb that is higher in wattage and/or larger in glass bulb size. While a variety of bulbs will work, electrically speaking, if too high in wattage or if the glass comes too close to the inside of the red plastic lens, it WILL burn/melt a hole through the middle of the lens over time.
One thing you may want to consider, is getting a Beacon LED tailight assembly from Motorrad Elektrik for your R65LS - I installed one on my R65 and will be getting one for my R100 soon. The Beacon LED array replaces the internal guys of your tailight and is all solid-state LED construction, and installation is "plug and play". It will never burn out, will consume less electrical power and is brighter.
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I've never had any trouble buying 5 watt tail light globes for my bike, just try somewhere else, they are out there.
Okay I found it online LLB207 looks to be what you want.
http://www.retroclassiccarparts.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=155&category_id=196&page=shop.browse&limit=8&limitstart=8
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If you use a standard incandescent lamp I think there is a safety advantage in using a 10W Ba15s rather than a 5W provided you make sure it has the smaller glass envelope to stay clear of the lens. Many cars even my 24 year old one use a 10W Ba15s so our airhead tail lights can look a bit dim by comparison.
Standard 5W lamps are approx. 50 lumens and 10W approx. 125 lumens. If choosing an LED replacement I'd want to shoot towards 125 lumens. Don't worry about being too bright in comparison with the stop lamp as they are 460 lumens(http://)
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On a post-purchase survey of one of my R65s, I found the tail light bulb had been replaced by an 1156 model with a much higher wattage. The bulb's larger globe diameter, the heat generated and its proximity to the lens had melted the plastic -fortunately not all the way through.
Both R65s now have LED tail lights sourced from SuperBrightLEDs. Not cheap, but brighter with no heat.
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/tail-brake-turn/page/1/filter/Cross_Reference_Number,1156,21,194:
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I agree with nhmaf re the Beacon LED replacement panel. The entire tail light assembly is lit for both lighting and braking instead of just a portion with the stock unit AND is a lot brighter. 5 minute install, plug and play.
Steve
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Called Rick Jones @ Moto Electric and ordered the Beacon II, looking forward to getting it put in.
jgp
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You can find LEDs at Superbrightleds.com, with info to match.
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I'm very pleased with my Beacon. Plug and play - 5 minutes.
Damn Barry, you have the most useful library of graphic schematics I've ever seen.
-Mike V.
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The downward facing lights in the beacon unit for the license plate are also very bright. Puts a good spot of light on the pavement, which I think might help other vehicles judge their distance to you more easily, not to mention some added conspicuity from the side.
Makes me want to get a vanity plate too...
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I love the Beacon II. I wish they made one for my new (non-BMW) bike.