light code

Hi every one. I seem to be having a problem with a recent purchase of a used 08 r1200gs with 46000 miles on it. I bought it last week and the headlight was only working on high beam on the left side. I thought it would just be the bulbs so I installed new bulbs even though the old ones looked ok to me. The same thing was going on when I turned the key on. The smaller left light would go on the high beam only. I tested the wires on both sides and only the left side had on conection with power.

Later in the week I came across a post on this forum that said to start the engine. I was only turning the key to on. So this morning I did start the engine and when I fist turned the ket to on the left side high beam lit up but when the bike started the right low beam was working. No high beam on either left or right but low beam on the right. https://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php?26767-R-1200-GS-Headlight-malfunction

Before I start taking everything apart I was wondering what might be happening and if one of you might know the fix.

Any help appreciated.

Bill

Hi Bill - welcome to the forum.

So you should have 3 bulbs: High, low, and parking.
Both high and low are H7 bulbs, with the high beam being held in the smaller reflector housing (right side as the bike is coming towards you). The parking bulb is very small and throws as much light as a candle.

Turning the key on (engine off), should illuminate the parking bulb

Turning the key on (engine off) with headlight switch in "high", should illuminate the parking bulb and the high beam

Turing the key on (with engine on, and headlight in "low") should illuminate the parking bulb and the low beam

Turing the key on (with engine on, and headlight in "high") should illuminate the parking bulb, the low beam, and the high beam

I tryed everything easy. I wonder if it is the switch.

It seems like now only the low beam on the right side goes on with the parking light on the left when I start the engine. I'm still getting the code " lightf!" . Now there is an exclamation mark after the f. Everything else seems to be working fine.

Bill