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Changing my BMW R18 TC from Miles to KM

  • <i class="fa--xf fal fa-check "><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" role="img" aria-hidden="true" ><use href="/data/local/icons/light.svg?v=1726113578#check"></use></svg></i> Discussion starter Discussion starter Joost R1200CL to R18TC
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I read these threads with interest and amusement. The simplest solution would be for North America to join the rest of the civilized world and use the colour AMBER for turn indicators. Never have a case in Australia where one is confused whether someone is braking or turning (unless they have no tail-lights, or gawd forbid, they drive a 25+yo left hand drive US made car 🤣
 
Anibal said:
I don’t think it would have been an overnight, not on such large scale and if it was, by now a fix would have been done either by recalling the US models or sending some sort of code to be plugged into the machines. I bet it is something else.
In the UK we use ml/h but in mainland Europe it is km/h.
If you are able to change other units like C to F or 24H to 12H on the clock, then why leave one of the most important units out? Safety? Liability? Some absurd law? I think this was done on purpose and not for the sake of making some extra cash.
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Joost R1200CL to R18TC said:
The R18T TC rear lights have have two fields. A center field (used in the US, and red) surrounded by a red ring. (not used in the US). The US version has two pins connected to 4 cables running. (ground plus brake/rear-light/indicator). The European version has the center field in orange, surrounded by a red ring. The EU version has three pins. One ground, one + for the center field, one + for the red ring. This allows the center to function as the amber indicator and the red ring for rear-light/brake light. BMW itself is unable to help here. We are now working on a solution using an adapter module. View attachment 12068

I'll report in if this helps
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FYI, the module did not work. Also, blows itself up if you do not add a resister in the positive lead. So proceed with caution
 
Ulrich said:
... BMW itself is unable to help here ...

That means the Euro models have a completely different wiring ? That one I didn't see coming ...
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Same wiring. Different logic. The rear indicators in the US do not use the exterior ring and only use the center red field for both brake and left/right. The European version uses a red ring for brakes and an amber center for left/right. The weird thing is, the US version has the same wiring as the European. However, the light module is different, so the US version does not use the exterior ring at all but combines the brake and left/right in the centre field. They could have saved themselves a ton of money, and their customers, by just having it the same for both, and maybe just sell different colour lamps in either market. (Which are still $120 each) It is beyond stupid.
 
I was just in Canada on mine and was not happy when I found out I couldn’t just switch over. It really was aggravating that I wasted an hour thinking it was me not knowing how to do it
 
Yes, it is aggravating. The question really is for BMW to answer.... 'Why did you go through the design effort to have different versions that limit your customers in the USA (Your key target market for the R18, right?)'. Is it an oversight? Well, what are your engineers doing all day? Is it intentional? Being evil to your customers leads to bad outcomes..
 
It can be done though. The deal has the 'power' to switch from Miles to KM, just the US version does not allow the user to do it. Funnily enough.... the analog speedometer plays along. Even though the dial is in miles. When you are going at 120km per hour (as per the digital speedometer on the dash) you appear to be doing 120 Mph on the analog dial above. Hilarious. I suppose I will have to get a new speedometer as it tops out at 130Mph... not enough when you are cruising on the Autobahn at 140
 
I know a guy in New York City who bought an R1200C from a man in Canada. There were complications bringing the bike across to the states related to the speedo conversion issue. Ive forgotten details, but then representative Schumer (now senator) was ultimately involved to cut through red tape.

It seems BMW should allow for an easy software swap to fix this problem.
 
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