07 R1200RT-P parking light bulb

I give up. How do I get to the damn bulb?
I've removed bodywork. Replaced main headlight bulbs.
Removed mirror assemblies.
Tried removing speakers (solid behind there).
Still no obvious way to get to those bulbs. This is driving me crazy and my hands are bloodied and scraped to heck.

I'll answer my own question.

The mirror assembly (plastic and glass panel) pop off easily, which is why they sell tethers to hold them in place.
You do NOT want to pop the glass off the mirror mechanism, which I did on one side (shattering the mirror).

Once the mirror assembly is off, at the top you will see two torx screws, which hold on the "nacelle". That's French for "which German $#%# engineer came up with this system?" or in English the small pieces of bodywork atop the signals.
With these removed, you will see the parking light wiring and holder. Rotate about 45 degrees and it will pop out, pull the bulb and replace.

I'm learning...

Because I don't want you to think no one reads your posts, I'll respond.

Correct.

Couldn't respond yesterday because I was working....

Hahaha. Thanks Steve. I swear changing bulbs on this bike has got to be the most complicated repair job (so far).

On the topic of bulbs, BMW calls for a W5W.
That would be a #194 bulb, but other posts here or in another forum recommended the use of a #168, which is slightly brighter as it draws a tiny bit more voltage.
I went with an amber bulb for visibility, and the new bulbs are not as bright as what was in there (well, the one working bulb). Not sure if this is because of the amber, or because the info about the #168 being brighter is incorrect.
Whatever was in there is unmarked, and I have a feeling if I replace these again, I'll go LED.

danix said:

On the topic of bulbs, BMW calls for a W5W.
That would be a #194 bulb.

Click to expand...

Actually, the entire world save for the USA calls them W5W.

The owners manual for my 2012 has instructions for replacing park light bulb.

So does the owners manual for the OP's bike. The fact it's an ex-Police bike makes no difference and the OP can still order an owner's manual at a BMW dealer.

I did check the manual - perhaps the year was wrong, but what they described (removing the mirror) was for the turn signal bulb.

After going through a pair of inexpensive amber LED wedge bulbs from Autozone, I got a pair of these from PIAA: http://www.piaa.com/store/p/179-168-Wedge-XTreme-White-Plus-Twin-Pack-Halogen-Bulbs.aspx.

There are similar products that may cost less: http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/miniature-wedge-base/194-led-bulb-1-led-wedge-base/197/.

Hope your hands heal. Cheers!

Parking bulbs are one thing but you need to be awareof another BMW difference should you think you can randomly sub LEDs elsewhere.

Your bike has a central computer system that monitors current draw and serves as automatic fuses (which is why it has no traditional fuses except what might be there for add ons). Called by it's German abbreviation, the ZFE will display an annoying "bulb out"" alarm on your dash with many types of LED substitutions, unless the bulb or device in question is designed to mimic the current draw of the original bulb or is close enough not to trip the unpublished monitoring limits of the ZFE. Unless you're willing to reseach bulb alternates carefully, its best to stick with oem types or the US equivalent number. (My 08RT is using a halogen parking bulb which is brighter because it is more efficent at the same current- but those bulbs are hard to find and perhaps currently unavailable).

Ah yes, similar to the headlight monitoring system used in many Audis back in the day.
Thanks racer7, will definitely keep that in mind.

danix said:

I did check the manual - perhaps the year was wrong, but what they described (removing the mirror) was for the turn signal bulb.

Click to expand...

That is the correct procedure. First remove the Mirror (pull it off) then the triangular piece of painted tupperware held by two Torx T25 screws. This reveals a rectangular access port to get at the bulbs (small hands are of value here). You may need a flashlight to see the socket but at least they thought ahead and there is a handy lever on the socket to help get them out. Fish the socket and wire out the hole, change the bulb and put everything back the way it was. I changed both bulbs - the first lasted 70,000 Km.

P.S. I substituted with a #194 available at Auto Value stores in Canada for $0.94 CAN each. Their part number was WKO194.

just wait

now that you've learned to change the parking bulb ( with frustration) just wait until you try putting in a new left side low beam headlight.

Believe it or not I got all the headlight bulbs in OK (with skinned knuckles and lots of small cuts!)

danix said:

Believe it or not I got all the headlight bulbs in OK (with skinned knuckles and lots of small cuts!)

Click to expand...

Yeah, me too. Nice job!