Purpose of new Switch on ‘98 R1100RT Right Hand Control?

[Paul_F]

The local BMW dealership informed me that I needed a new right hand control unit, which arrived today.

Above the turn signal cancel switch is a yellow button which moves sideways. Called the dealership and the service/parts department double checked my bike’s VIN and his parts fiche and although he did not know the purpose of the switch, he assured me that it would work on my ‘98 R1100RT.

is he right and what does that switch control?

 

[bewareboy]

My guess is that its for heated grips, but not 100% sure. On my 04 R1150RT that is where the heated grip switch is, but its a gray rocker type switch.

 

[cjcs]

It’s the headlight switch

 

[bewareboy]

Oops, guess my speculation was a bit off. I would have thought that the old switch gear would have had a headlamp switch there also though? I need to stick to later oilheads more similar to my 04.

 

[pglaves]

US models have lacked a headlight on-off switch for a long time while European models had such a switch. The new switch might have been for models sold where full time headlights were not required, or for Authority bikes in the US.

 

[senseamidmadness]

Three-position yellow switch below the starter button that moves parallel to the handlebar it's mounted on?

My own 1996 RT came with the same switch (used). It turns the headlight/taillight circuit on and off. As Paul said, that switch did not come on any US-market RT's from the factory unless they were Authority models.

 

[Paul_F]

I am assuming then that since this is a shut off switch, the high/low switch on the left handle bar assembly will still work when I install this.

Mystery solved!

Thank you for the replies.

Paul

 

[senseamidmadness]

Your high-low should be totally unaffected. European riders still use high beams