Headlight

[Dizerens5]

Another request for information (sorry!), this is mostly directed to members in Britain but maybe a US company can help - does anyone market a slightly oversize chromed rim to allow fitting a standard British 7-inch light unit? The difference in price between the correct BMW unit, glass and reflector, and the 7" Wipac (a pretty good headlight) is what our British journalists like to call "eye-watering".

[Bob_Roller]

Our moderator, Justin, installed a non-OEM headlight in one of his bikes, I think it was the 'junkyard dog' .

Price was about $15US .

I'm sure he will fill in the details later .  

[Barry]

I know what you mean about the the original being expensive. I've being treating mine with great care since I saw how expensive they were.

Don't know if you seen this supplier. There are some chromed rims for 7" units at the bottom of this page

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinestore/lighting/headlamps.php

[Dizerens5]

Thanks. I wonder how hard it is to get a 7" rim to fit the R65 headlamp shell? Also re Barry's link: VWP is Vehicle Wiring Products here in UK but may interest members in the US and elsewhere as they will send anywhere. They have just about every electrical part for cars and bikes (but not specific to any one make) - wire, connectors, relays, switches, lights, test rigs etc. They have a printed cat as well as website. Their email is sales@vehicleproducts.co.uk. I've often ordered from them, quick and efficient company.

[Darwin_R65]

Motorworks in the UK advertise second hand headlight rims for 20 pounds .

John

[Dizerens5]

It's more complicated than it looks. To use the Brit 7-inch light unit you need a 7-inch rim - easy to find (VWP has pattern ones) but they will not fit the BMW headlamp shell. Brit shells are easy to find also but are about 8 inch dia. which is too wide to fit, tho they are probably ok for depth. The clamp arrangement is different too. However all is not lost, there is a general electroplating company near here called Ashford Chroming, they claim to resilver headlight reflectors. I'll ask for a quote. The front glass can go in the dishwasher.

[Darwin_R65]

just make sure they use silver and not chrome, chrome looks prettier but doesn't reflect the light as well.

[Justin B.]

Here was my solution on the Junkyard Dawg...

http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1287174798

[Bob_Roller]

Justin, that link you provided comes back to this thread !!!!!!!!!!!

[Dizerens5]

Right Darwin I'm pretty sure chrome would be useless! I recall reading about the resilvering process years ago, if memory is correct it's not silver at all but some kind of aluminium deposition.  I'll find out when I get the quote. When I was young older Brit bikes had separate glass and reflectors (R 65 style) and the m/c mags had loads of adverts for resilvering. I mean, how oldie can you get!

[Justin B.]

Oops...

http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1228860638

The writeup is in the FAQ section.

[bruce_launceston]

I have emailed Motorworks a few times a few years back when I was chasing a new chrome headlight rim but they didn't have any second hand ones available. $300 AUD for a new one over here is way too dear!

[Darwin_R65]

you are probably right about the reflector being aluminium not silver, I had my head around vintage car headlights at the time. Model T's etc.