Headlight Adjustments

[David.]

Whilst looking for info. on headlight adjustments, came across this thread on BMWSportTouring.

https://www.bmwsporttouring.com/topic/1 ... w-r1200rt/

Thought it might be useful for future reference, some good photos.

[Strat Tuner]

Whilst looking for info. on headlight adjustments, came across this thread on BMWSportTouring.

https://www.bmwsporttouring.com/topic/1 ... w-r1200rt/

Thought it might be useful for future reference, some good photos.

There was no fitting like that around the 13mm hex head on my 2008 model. I wish I understood how the adjustment mechanism works.

turning a screw seems to push/pull on a steel cable? for both headlights?

Turning the 13mm hex seemed to make NO difference in UP/Down Headlight tilt.

[Strat Tuner]

I noticed that there was a Phillips head screw at the center of the 13mm hex head after it detached.
Should I have been turning the screw at the center and NOT the 13mm hex?

Here's what I think I know....

The cable that has the 13mm hex head is a steel cable in a sheath.
Turning the screw pushes on the steel cable core and tilts the headlight (both or just one?) up and down.

Making a repair to that means putting a fitting on the end of the cable that allows the threaded screw to move in/out of the cable.
Does the steel cable core slide in and out on its own?

That fitting would have to slide on to the cable and hold securely. The other end would have to be threaded to accommodate the screw.
Turning the screw clockwise would push the screw into the fitting, and into the cable, and push on the steel cable core.
Does the core slide back out when when we back off the screw?

I confess I'm shocked at how fragile this thing is, but that's not a useful critiscism.

[Strat Tuner]

I just checked the price of a headlight assembly for my BMW...

A guy like me shouldn't own a bike like this...

[Strat Tuner]

I'm thinking the 13mm bolt turns the entire cable.

If it does, then I can turn the cable with needle nose pliers.

.... Or.... I can leave it like it is and not make things worse.

I don't even know what the adjustment does when it works...let alone when I have to bully it.

[David.]

The one in the centre of the white flip lever is the Up/Down adjuster.

The other is the Left/Right beam adjuster.

[Strat Tuner]

The one in the centre of the white flip lever is the Up/Down adjuster.

The other is the Left/Right beam adjuster.

I've managed to twist off the 13mm bolt on the right adjustment, and I still don't know what that knob did anyway.

I'd like to lower both beams just a little. How many turns will lower both beams without twisting off the left knob as well?

[David.]

The right adjustment is for the horizontal beam throw, left/right.

The 13mm plastic adjuster shouldn't twist off. Without seeing a photo, it sounds like it has sheared off, leaving the crosshead screw in the end of the splined shaft upon which the 13mm (hex head) adjuster is secured.

[Strat Tuner]

probably it did. I don't know.

I've found a headlight housing replacement on EBAY for about $400. (who knows if it comes witht he headlight adjustment cables).

I wonder if it's possible to replace only the broken cable?

I'm pretty sure I could pay $10,000 for the BMW mechanic to fix this, but I lack that kind of resource.

It lights the road ahead? YES
Are the beams in oncoming driver eyes? NO
Is the beam focus perfect? NO

I sense that if I try to fix this on my own, it will only get worse. It is what it is.

Bill Murray (comedian) was once in a movie called "St. Vincent". His character translated
"it is what it is" as
"your f***ed, and it's going to stay that way."
It's a useful translation in many cases.

[Strat Tuner]

To be fair, I should take it to our local BMW dealer and ask what it would take to fix this...

maybe it's not so bad after all?

[Strat Tuner]

I've just come home after an hour in the dark in traffic.
The lights are good enough, not perfect, but acceptable.

don't let the perfect become the enemy of the good

they say,...

and they're right.