R1100S Headlight Bulbs

3rd world country? Oh that's gonna leave a mark!

Seriously though, he's right. Most after market bulbs are cheaply made and do not last. Key word there is cheap for sure.

mmmm... sounds like unfair characterizations of several organizations...

Sylvania's actual name is OSRAM/Sylvania, a wholly owned subsidary of OSRAM - a german company.
Nevertheless the OSRAM branded "Silverstar" has the same specs as the Sylvania "Silverstar Ultra".
50% brighter (careful - compared to a worn standard bulb) - etc.
I can't find documentation thus far to confirm or deny they are actually different.
I too have always heard Philips and OSRAM were high quality.

In the Sylvania brand there are 7 variations on "headlight bulb" and three of them wear a Silverstar moniker.
Oh yeah a couple of them have blue tinted glass - don't know if it is for style or to filter some UV out?

This is bewildering to me - you'd think that OSRAM would give their high-end headlight bulb a different name, even if the two products were identical, to further distinquish it from the brand label they sell in Wahmarx. I'm assuming that its because the Silverstar name is "catchy".

Oh well.

Is it just me or is this turning into a reasonable facsimile of an oil thread?

I stand by Post #3. I guess I'm just lucky.

BC1100S said:

Is it just me or is this turning into a reasonable facsimile of an oil thread?

I stand by Post #3. I guess I'm just lucky.

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Yup, very similar to an oil thread!

But...if you were truly lucky, you would be riding a School Bus Yellow/Pencil Lead Gray S bike instead of that Pathetic Blue thingy!

<sigh> sorry guys. - yeah it's raining here.

One of these days I'm going to have to go out and actually ride the motorcycle. I guess a little rain wouldn't kill me.

http://www.bears.org/

Osram and Sylvania Silverstars are indeed different. Given the latter's blue coating, it is driven harder to achieve adequate light and consequently has shorter life. Blu coating is just kid stuff, best used on a Neon.

SeabeckS said:

But...if you were truly lucky, you would be riding a School Bus Yellow/Pencil Lead Gray S bike instead of that Pathetic Blue thingy!

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At least you got the colours right.

And to you, sir.

Geez, what an oppionated group, but that's why I asked.
Friday I ordered the Osram bulbs from Wunderlich along with the Micro-Flooter for the R1100S.
Guess I should have responded earlier but I was busy RIDING!
Oh, BTW, this is my 4th BMW which sits along side my '82 RS.

lkchris said:

There are Sylvania Silverstars--which are PepBoys junk--and Osram Silverstars and they're not the same thing. The latter aren't blue for one thing and their life is normal.

They're a good choice, as are Phillips products. PIAA anything are not, as they are all hype.

HID are illegal and unsuitable with optics designed for halogen bulbs, projector or not. They are totally unsuitable as replacements for high beams, as they don't come to brightness soon enough to be used as flashers. Light units actually designed for HID still use halogen bulbs for flashers.

The (fairly) new "+" halogens are new technology compared to original halogens and are the best you can do with that technology and optics designed for it. Like anything for credible German vehicles, they're not sold at PepBoys and just as you've expanded your horizons owning a BMW, you need to expand your parts sourcing as well. The thing to know is that in things automotive the USA is a 3rd world country and PepBoys, NAPA, etc., are dime stores selling ticky tacky.

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Many "upgrades" we do to our bikes are illegal.

They do make an HID that can work as a high beam and flash, they are Bi-Xenon units.

I replaced the projector in my Ducati with one of these.

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/product_info.php?products_id=3181

I was very happy with the performance of the unit.
But it's also not an HID bulb in a Halogen fixture.

I may keep looking for space for relays and balasts to fit one of these to my S as well

The optics on the R11S are perfectly suited for HID lighting.
To the best of my knowledge, bi-xenons are not a viable option on the 11S.

bikerfish1100 said:

The optics on the R11S are perfectly suited for HID lighting.
To the best of my knowledge, bi-xenons are not a viable option on the 11S.

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They are viable on almost anything with a little work.

Since the 11S already has a projector beam, it is relatively easy to replace.

I just had to make an adapter plate for the Duck when I did it.

bikerfish1100 said:

The optics on the R11S are perfectly suited for HID lighting.
To the best of my knowledge, bi-xenons are not a viable option on the 11S.

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I am hoping they are for the RT as well. I just picked up a set and hope to install them when I come up for air. The ones I got only come in pairs so I have spare parts as a bonus.

bikerfish1100 said:

Seriously, if you want BRIGHT light, that is incredibly reliable, go with a quality HID unit and just forget about any lighting hassles at all. I went with Polarion units from XenonDepot about 9 years ago. In ~90,000 miles I have replaced not one item in the system, and have an incredible amount of light output (approx. 200 Wts per bulb, drawing only 35 wts current).
The R11S lens is ideally suited for HID bulbs (not all are), and seems to actually be designed to run HIDs.
I think they're running about $280 for a set of hi & lo right now.

Just do it, you will be ecstatically happy that you did so. Certainly one of the best items I've bought for my bike.

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I bought those same lights about 9 years through a group buy on Pelican Parts,still work fine and whoever said HID hi-beams don't work can stand in front of me but wear your shades.
I got a 4300k low and a 5000k high and they are killer.