BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

i think the Haynes Manual is in error here?
Haynes says to orient high beam bulb tab DOWN. 2012 R1200RT


In that position it lights up only treetops on back roads.
I turned the bulb tab to the UP position (I read this online someplace?) and now I have a bright focused beam on the roadway. 
Any experienced opinions?
I think the tab belongs on top.

Photo 6.4c in section 7.8 Electrical system of the Haynes Manual is of a GS headlight & does indeed show the Tab on the high beam bulb should face down. The BMW Rider's Manual for a GS confirms this.

The BMW RT Rider's Manual (page 111) shows the Tab facing up. It doesn't differentiate between high or low beam bulbs, therefore, they must all be the same. I've changed low beam bulbs and the Tab is up. The above post says that the Tab is up on the high beam bulb. So, between us, it's safe to say they are all the same, Tab up.

Although this photo shows the headlight unit upside down, it confirms the bulb orientations are all the same, with the Tab nearest the hinge of the wire spring clips.



As nice video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dxeKRVaAJE only shows the low beam.

To be honest, neither the up or down orientation results in a very impressive high beam pattern.
Plus, I've readjusted the light housing correctly which gives me perfect low beam illumination.  I guess the high beam just isn't that great.
On a side note: I do notice the hi-beam bulb doesn't sit straight when viewed from the outside, with the tab facing up or down. The bulb glass is tilted up or down in either case.
The low beam bulbs both point straight out in the housing with tabs up.

raider57 wrote:I do notice the hi-beam bulb doesn't sit straight when viewed from the outside, with the tab facing up or down. The bulb glass is tilted up or down in either case.

Have looked at my 2012 RT headlight, the low (2 off) and high beam headlight bulbs all look like they are in the same horizontal orientation.

Well my hi-bulb never seems to sit correctly.  On cars bulbs always fit in tight and secure in the housing prior to any final lock down.  This thing sits loosely in the hole until you clip it down.
Just doesn't seem right. Not like something the Germans would design.

OK. I figured out the problem. 
(A)Tab definitely should face UP.
(B)The real issue is keeping the bulb centered exactly while simultaneously clipping it in.
It helps to have an assistant watch from the front of the headlight housing. It's very easy for the bulb to slip out of position.
Correctly positioned, the bulb is straight and level, just like the low beam bulbs.