BMW LED Auxiliary lights

[runnerhiker]

I had my dealer install the BMW LED Auxiliary lights and I am quite pleased with the results: how the lights work, and the installation by the dealer.

First, it was not cheap, $1,100 for parts and $400 for labor. I wanted the BMW integration onto the bike, that is, the on/off switch on the handlebar and the green light symbol on the TFT display. I got a complete parts list, the handlebar switch and its wiring was $175 for parts. By comparison, a Clearwater Darla set would have been $800 parts w/o an on/off switch plus labor.

The on/off switch on the handlebars works as expected, the green symbol on the TFT display is good too, Their light beam is like flood lights, not spotlights, and it lights the road ahead the same forward distance as the low beam. They light up the ditch past the edges of the road on both sides. They act like cornering lights, when leaned over into a curve, they light up the road about two feet to the side of the bike and about 0-20 feet in front of the front wheel.

I really got these light for daytime visibility, and I like the position about halfway up from the ground, making a triangle with the headlight.

Here are some pictures.

   
   
   
   
   

[runnerhiker]

More pictures
   
   
   

[Grumpy Goat]

Very nice, Ron. Best looking light pods available, IMO.

The Clearwater lights approach the cost of the BMW lights to where it makes more sense to get the BMW lights if just to get the good integration and the green lamp icon in the dash. That said, I like how my Denalis are on all the time so no icon is needed on any dash.

These BMW lights ... do they have any user configurability when it comes to variable brightness? Do they go off when the indicators are flashing? One side / both?

On a separate note - did you ever get your iPhone-TFT connectivity issues resolved?

[darrell]

Nice setup Ron. I like how these are integrated in the bikes system and light shows up as active on the TFT. I bit more expensive then Clearwater but looks OEM on the bike like on the RT. Now to find those orange lens covers we iMessaged about. You mention the nice triangle of lights which gives the bike a wider presence to others which the fork mounted Clearwater lacks.

[MrVvrroomm]

These BMW lights ... do they have any user configurability when it comes to variable brightness? Do they go off when the indicators are flashing? One side / both?

These are the exact same lights they put on the GSA and RT. They are great for adding conspicuity. They are either on or off with a push of a button.

[Grumpy Goat]

That’s what I thought. Thanks Bruce.

[runnerhiker]

Very nice, Ron. Best looking light pods available, IMO.

The Clearwater lights approach the cost of the BMW lights to where it makes more sense to get the BMW lights if just to get the good integration and the green lamp icon in the dash. That said, I like how my Denalis are on all the time so no icon is needed on any dash.

These BMW lights ... do they have any user configurability when it comes to variable brightness? Do they go off when the indicators are flashing? One side / both?

On a separate note - did you ever get your iPhone-TFT connectivity issues resolved?

As Bruce mentioned, not configurable, either on or off, no reaction to turn signals, and this part number used on many other BMW's.

One more detail on cost. The mounting bracket was $220, the on/off switch $175, both specific to the RS. Lights, harness, other miscellaneous was $700 and that seems in line with others.

I am looking for amber lens for these lights, but that's not a big deal.

My iPhone TFT stuff is sorted out, the last issue was with the BMW app Connected requiring location use "all the time" and using up my phone battery. It's working ok now.

[Grumpy Goat]

My iPhone TFT stuff is sorted out, the last issue was with the BMW app Connected requiring location use "all the time" and using up my phone battery. It's working ok now.

Good to hear. I saw other videos on YT where people had similar complaints, albeit on different models. One RT owner even went so far as to have a dedicated second phone he was no longer using permanently in the bikes phone cubby.


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[Lee]

I like the mount location and wished we had done that with our Clearwater lights.

On the 1250s I think we'll buy new Clearwater lights and use the Machine Art Moto mount or BMW mount.

[Grumpy Goat]

On the 1250s I think we'll buy new Clearwater lights and use the Machine Art Moto mount or BMW mount.

What about crash bars? Protection and an excellent mount as well. And they needn't be ugly.

[Lee]

What about crash bars? Protection and an excellent mount as well. And they needn't be ugly.

I like the looks of head covers better on the RS and I mainly have them for parking lot tip overs.
In your video I thought you mentioned your lights were too close to the turn signals when mounted on the crash bars.

[Grumpy Goat]

I like the looks of head covers better on the RS and I mainly have them for parking lot tip overs.
In your video I thought you mentioned your lights were too close to the turn signals when mounted on the crash bars.

While I like the MaMo head covers I used to have on the bike, I’ve come to like the SW Motech crash bars more.

The lights could be mounted lower, but no need with the Denali setup. They switch off when the blinkers flash. Newer installations are able to turn off only the flashing side. I don’t believe mine can do that.


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[Pyrrho]

Thanks for the pics; this helps a lot, although I'd like to see what the handlebar-mounted button looks like.

I used to have a set of PIAA 1100x halogens mounted just under the fairing on my RSes which I thought was a slicker look as well as raising the bottom part of the light triangle just that much higher for aid in cars seeing you. They were controlled by a Kisan signalMinder module tied into the bike's turn signaling electronics, so that if I long-pressed on a turn signal button it'd toggle the driving lights on/off and wouldn't need an extra (IMO) ugly as hell PIAA button. The signalMinder also turned the turn signals into running lights and auto-cancelled them when turning. Great little bit of kit, that.

Are there under-fairing lighting options available for the RRS? I remember some people had riding lights attached to the lower front forks but that position never made sense to me. IMO lights like this are as much about you being seen as others seeing you.

[runnerhiker]

Thanks for the pics; this helps a lot, although I'd like to see what the handlebar-mounted button looks like.

Here is the button, blends perfectly onto the handlebar controls.

   

[Pyrrho]

Oh man, that looks great. I can see now how that along with the LED on the TFT work to remove the sting of the asking price. Thanks for the followup pic, too.

[Grumpy Goat]

Here is the button, blends perfectly onto the handlebar controls.

Just above the button for the aux lights looks like a ghosted outline of a spot for another switch of the same shape but oriented "pointing" upward. Maybe a breakout panel. If so that makes it easy to add switches which could be connected to other farkles that one might care to add, for the custom look.

[Grumpy Goat]

... controlled by a Kisan signalMinder module tied into the bike's turn signaling electronics, ...

Having never read of Kisan I had to look them up. They have a couple of products for the RRS but I sent them an email regarding products for my Tracer.

[Pyrrho]

Having never read of Kisan I had to look them up. They have a couple of products for the RRS but I sent them an email regarding products for my Tracer.

I used their signalMinder and tailBlazer products and recommend them highly.

What led me to them was self-evaluation after my first (and only) motorcycle accident. Analyzing the why's afterwards, the primary reason IMO was they couldn't see me. A single halogen headlight during the day wasn't sufficient to set me apart from the rest of the visual noise. My bikes since have all had additional driving lights and had their turn signals modified to be running lights. Bulbs replaced with high-output aftermarkets, brake lights have modulators, helmet and riding suit have 3M hi-viz stripes, etc.

Some farkles are just that. Others are potentially life -- and bike -- saving (RIP R80).

[Grumpy Goat]

Some farkles are just that. Others are potentially life -- and bike -- saving (RIP R80).

Could not agree with you more when it comes to modifying the bike for safety. That is where I always start.

[Lee]

Having never read of Kisan I had to look them up.

Kisan and Piaa used to be big names in the BMW community.
Not sure if Piaa is still around.