Vintage BMW Motorcycle Owners

I have found a pretty good auto parts store will stock the bulbs needed. If not, they can be ordered on the Internet from a whole lot of places. You don't have to purchase from BMW

To get to the bulb is not difficult, you have to remove the tach cable and speedometer cable from the back of the instrument cluster. Three Philips head bolts or 10mm hex bolts hold the instrument cluster to its bracket. They DO NOT have to be completely removed, just loosened so the cluster slides off the mount towards you.

The biggest pain in removing the instrument cluster is the plug in the back. This plug is held in place by a tiny Philips head screw in the middle. Once that screw is removed, the plug with a bit of wobbling will pull straight out of the socket.

Once you get the cluster on the bench, you can remove the back cover. Inside there are a few screws that hold the cover to the bulb sockets and plate.

The only thing I say is when putting things back together don't over tighten the various screws in the instrument cluster. The threaded barrels in the plastic are easy to twist and break the plastic they are mounted in.

If I get a chance, I will try to shoot some pictures of things and post them. St.

I buy a lot of stuff these days from EME. St.

Here is a photo site of the guts of a /7 speedo...similar to the /6 except that the /6 has a tach cable while the /7 is electronic. The first few panels give an idea of what's there and where the bulbs are located.

https://www.pbase.com/dwerbil/1978_r100 ... ter_repair

Very helpful. Thank you gentleman

Leave it to Kurt to dig up some file from someplace.

Photo three shows the bulb sockets, they gently pull out to change the bulb.

One of the problems over the years with BMW airheads was the "circuit board" the sockets are plugged into. The flexible contacts of the "board" sometime get damaged or corroded and won't make contact. Then the bulb doesn't' light. I have never had this problem myself but other have leading to the invention of the Katdash system. This system eliminates the filament bulbs and replaces them with LEDs.

LOL, I installed two of them in my two airheads after having on my one bike destroyed the housing from so many years of changing bulbs. Those screws don't like being over tightened and LOL, they don't tell you when you are over tightening. them.

Anyway, take one step at a time, I am rambling, check the bulb, the socket and go from there. Hopefully it will only be a bad bulb and you will be on your way. St.

Any update, luck? St.

Waiting on the original bulb to arrive. Fingers crossed all is well soon

Thanks for the update, St.

I will make sure I post picture and results

Nope it’s not the bulb. Replaced with brand new and cleaned points. No indication of Gen light on when bike is on or engine is in.

Anywho here is some pictures and
Link of the job. What’s next ?