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I have a 1977 R100/7. I took the headlight lens out the other day to clean the dust from the reflector. There is some sort of diffuser or heat shield attached to the reflector which sits in close proximity to the halogen bulb. It snaps into the reflector with two prongs. The microfiche on Max BMW shows it as part of the reflector. It appears to be made of a galvanized steel, and mine is showing signs of oxidation.

My question is this; What is the purpose of this part? I just searched through 35 pages of past postings to get an idea, but came up empty. (However, ME109 says he's running without it). Would painting the part with high-temp aluminum-colored paint give any advantage in terms of increased lumens? Does running without it increase glare to oncoming traffic? Is it supposed to have a galvanized finish, or has mine simply oxidized to that point?

Mine has the same shield (also looking a bit tired) and I have also wondered whether or not to remove it. Could it date from a time when the halogen bulbs didn't have the end blacked out or perhaps they always did ?

Given that headlight bulbs do have the end blacked out and so no light is emitted directly forwards does the shield block that much light ?

When I looked I was surprised to find that my 89 Mercedes headlights also had similar but smaller shields. Maybe it's a German thing.

I use my departed R100LT's headlamp on my Suzuki Bandit.

Last week I found this reflector/defusser had broken and was floating around in my headlamp. So I took it out. I now find that there is a better spread of light coming from the headlamp.

This lighting forum seems to think they are needed even when the end of the lamp is blacked out.


http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/sho ... -reflector

Thanks everybody, for your replies.

Based on the information shown in the light bulb forum, I think I'm going to reinstall the bulb shield.

If a group is passionate enough about a mundane subject to have their own forum, I believe they know more about it than me. Besides, I've noticed newer vehicles with the a similar setup, so it appears the application is still valid.

Slashsevenpig wrote:Thanks everybody, for your replies.

Based on the information shown in the light bulb forum, I think I'm going to reinstall the bulb shield.

If a group is passionate enough about a mundane subject to have their own forum, I believe they know more about it than me. Besides, I've noticed newer vehicles with the a similar setup, so it appears the application is still valid.

There is a light bulb forum?

There is a light bulb forum?

Yup. See the post above by barryh.

Slashsevenpig wrote:

There is a light bulb forum?

Yup. See the post above by barryh.

I am sure its very interesting and they probably have a speakeasy and lots of "inside" jokes about lumens or whatever, but I think hanging out on a lighting forum would be one of the last steps before being put on suicide watch. Not at all cool like us and our old motorcycles.

I went to the bulb forum and tried to read. I think it is too late for suicide watch for me. Geeesh, how arcane can one get?

I am looking forwards to the rally at Ken's so we can discuss arcane stuff.