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Valiant_duke
| | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2008 - 02:30 pm: | 
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just got the new assemblies, they are Noticeably clearer and the light pattern is a bit different then the old set,
that is when you shine it on a wall...
I havent gone out at night so no details to report on there.
Just as a side note, I hope your dealer treats your bike better then mine did.
I hate other people touching my bike, it came back to me covered in grease, all over the tank, instrument cluster, the quarter fairing is half black, and the fender was covered in gook. I am not sure I trust the ignorant people that get to work on buells down at the local HD shop!
Alex |
Vortec57
| | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 01:31 pm: |
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Took mine in and got my new setup on too.
They asked if I wanted my HID removed, but I assured them I didn't.
A little over an hour later my bike came back out nice and clean with new headlight buckets and lenses. Have yet to try it at night but they look better already. |
Mr2shim
| | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 02:41 pm: |
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They didn't care about the fact that you had HID conversion? Maybe I shouldn't have spent the past hour removing the reflective tape. 
I just test fitted my HID's today, WOW. Amazing, and they burn soo much cooler.
(Message edited by mr2shim on July 25, 2008) |
Deadduck
| | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 03:53 pm: |
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Had my new lamps installed yesterday morning.
Before I go any further with this I want to say Thank You to everyone at Buell for the efforts to repair this problem.
Now, I rode to work last night and was very impressed with the clarity of the lenses and the new rings on the front of them. The light was somewhat lacking, but something I can work with. This brings up question Number 1:
What wattage bulb is supposed to be in these housings?
Now the Dealer side of it.
For the most part, a pleasant atmosphere, and good popcorn. After getting home I pulled into the garage so that I could thoroughly inspect the craftsmanship of the headlamps, as well as the installation of the new lamps. I shined a flashlight into the lens so that I could see the clarity of the lens as well as the reflection from what was beneath. What I saw were greasy finger prints on the inside of the lens, so now I've got a perfect thumbprint of the tech that worked on my bike. Next I checked for tightness of everything that I hadn't checked before leaving the dealer. Everything, but 1 very important thing is tight, the low beam lamp assembly shakes around worse than a 50's hard tail.
So now, I guess I'll go do what everybody loves to do on a Friday night, take the fairing off, and tighten things that the tech didn't. I recon while I'm in there I'll go ahead and take the lens off and clean the thumb print off too. |
Midknyte
| | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 05:12 pm: |
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What I saw were greasy finger prints on the inside of the lens,
The lens housings are fully assembled and simply bolt in.
The is NO REASON for fingerprints inside the lens unless
he as was curious we are to open them up to look for changes,
which I doubt, but who knows... |
Midknyte
| | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 05:15 pm: |
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oh, er, to your question there. the regular bulbs are 55 watt halogen.
you can get direct replacement (same wattage) Siverstars for better/whiter
light output, but they will run just as hot. $14 at Walmart |
Ducxl
| | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 06:23 pm: |
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I saw a boxed set last night(thanks pal).Different spoons.Spoons in BOTH housings.Not much else different.different optic in the glass cover.Maybe different quality parameters on the reflective coating? |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2008 - 01:39 am: |
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Got mine in today!
The guys at San Diego H-D/Buell did my bike this afternoon. It was their first retro-fit
so it took a little while, but Eric (the service writer (manager?) and Stephan(?)who
turned the wrenches (owns an M2) were absolutely stellar.
You will be able to tell at a glance if someone has the retro-fit done by the tell-tale
Bulls-eye diffuser in the center of the lens, and the heavier duty lens ring. I was not
able to get a look at the interior of the housing yet so that will have to wait.
A picture is worth a thousand words though, so here we go....
and, this one is a little out of focus....
 |
Retrittion
| | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 08:11 pm: |
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Great news that Buell is taking care of the problem. It is a sign that Buell has listened to it's customer base and that is a good thing. So kudos to Buell, I mean it.
That said, I am really irked that my '07 is not included in this swap. I know that is selfish considering we have waited a long time (most of you longer than I) for Buell to fix this major safety issue. My low has never been decent (compared to other bikes, say my buddy's SV1000S for example) and I have run this entire summer with my high beam switch on with no flashes from oncoming and finally some decent light. This isn't a fix for me because the low keeps dimming and the high will go eventually as well -- and I shouldn't have to fix their flawed design.
Buell, help out the rest of the R owners like me -- it looks like you have fixed the design now do what's right and put the rest of the R bikes on the list.
So, yeah, I'm done -- and I hope that this is just a test run, and once it proves a solid replacement they will roll out a full swap for all Rs. As skeptical I have been feeling about Buell's commitment to fixing this (they have yet to post an official "sorry, our bad" memo) I have held out some small amount of hope that Buell would be the company that still cares about it's customers and will do what's ethical in the end.
Here's hoping we can all get new eyes soon. 
Ride safe,
Ret |
Wantxbr
| | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 10:50 pm: |
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Getting mine done on thursday at Biggs San Marcos  .
I wish I can do this myself but they wont let me so I have to let them put their hands on my bike. |
Cmmfiremedic
| | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 11:02 pm: |
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I was wondering what problems all of you were having with your lights. I have a 2003 XB9 and having alot of issues with my lights. |
Krassh
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 02:31 am: |
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Maybe the '07's and up were not included because they are still under warranty? Do you think if you took yours in they would warranty replace with the new parts? |
Retrittion
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - 12:20 pm: |
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Hrmm, good point Krassh! I'll ask while the stator plug is getting sussed (today I hope). Still, I would prefer to just get the upgrade (seems they are an upgrade) so I can have some improved lights and thus improved ability to see!
Thanks for the suggestion! |
Randomchaos
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - 02:07 pm: |
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Im setup for the replacements to be put on Thursday at 10  |
Darthane
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - 06:49 pm: |
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I had mine done 'while you wait' today. Took them two hours, and they didn't know that you have to have the kill switch in the run position for the light to come on. O_o
...those of you that have had this done, are the low and high beams noticably different colors? They insist they put two brand new bulbs in, but the low is very yellow while the bright is very white (which is precisely what they were before, since I had long ago replaced my high beam with a different brand of bulb). |
Krassh
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - 07:06 pm: |
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This is just me assuming but if you bring it in for warranty and they replace them I would assume the system has already been upgraded so the new part #'s supersede the old. You can always ask to make sure you are getting the new parts. |
Gowindward
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - 08:57 pm: |
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New bulbs did not come in the recall kit. |
Darthane
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 06:32 am: |
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New bulbs did not come in the recall kit.
...kinda what I figured. Seriously, why lie? |
Randomchaos
| | Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 07:42 pm: |
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Got mine done today. I like them alot. I can see my headlight on the back of cars now at stoplights in the day time 
Here are the pictures I took of them
The diffuser on the lense is actually cut into the outside of the lens. I expected them to be cut on the inside to keep the outside smooth. |
Retrittion
| | Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 09:50 pm: |
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Very Nice! |
Valiant_duke
| | Posted on Friday, August 01, 2008 - 02:49 am: |
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Ok, i have mine done as well, and I went to check them today, (hating the dealer) and my low beam is loose and can be jiggled around a lot, where as the high is rock solid.
Anyone else have one loose?
thanks |
Deadduck
| | Posted on Friday, August 01, 2008 - 12:06 pm: |
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yep mine was left loose too |
03worc9r
| | Posted on Saturday, August 02, 2008 - 06:42 am: |
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My high beam was loose and low was tight. |
Jandj_davis
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 - 01:08 pm: |
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I am scheduled to get mine replaced next Tuesday. However, since the kit does not come with new bulbs, I am wondering if I should go ahead and get some new ones and have them put in. Recommendations?
Also, I am wondering if I should go with standard H3 halogens or if I should get some "trick" bulbs like Sylvania SilverStars (haven't heard good things about road life), PIAA's, Hella's, or the like? Comments suggestions? Thanks all! |
Sparky
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 - 10:18 pm: |
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Ret, the letter that eligible Buell owners got also says, in effect, if you replaced your headlights because of reflector degradation, you may be entitled for reimbursement.
But, if you haven't replaced them and the light output appears low, I'd call Buell at 1-414-343-8400 to get the straight info for your bike's VIN. Yours might be covered by the factory warranty and who knows, they may authorize the kit in the interests of safety, knowing that this condition affects the assemblies made by that supplier.
For those with loose headlights after the install, here's an FYI. My dealer put a ty-rap through the mounting hole around the headlight adjuster screw, tightening things up nicely. |
Sparky
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 05:47 pm: |
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OK, here's a followup series of pics showing the effectiveness of the new light setup as compared to the degraded old ones.
Low beams:
High beams:
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Jandj_davis
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - 12:22 am: |
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My high beam is loose too. I am wondering, is there anything that can be done about that, perhaps using the adjuster screws? Did any of you that had a loose light find a way to fix it? I was told at the dealership that it was an assembly from the factory and that there was no adjustment to it. I would hate for my new bulbs to rattle themselves to death.
On another note, I REALLY like the 04+ mirrors. I just replaced my 03 mirrors with the longer stalk mirrors, and they are MUCH better. |
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