BMW 3 Series F30 bulb types

Dipped: H7 · Main: H7 · Indicators: PY21W · Brake/tail: P21W

2012–2019. UK specification. Halogen base spec unless a row says otherwise — cars with factory xenon or LED headlamps use sealed units for those positions.

BMW 3 Series F30

2012–2019 · bulbsAll 10 verified

Base halogen spec; many have xenon/LED

Sources · last checked 4 Sept 2026
  • Two independent sources agree: bulb-finder.com F30/F80 low beam bulb type; Turner Motorsport BMW F30 lighting parts (Dip beam (low))
  • Two independent sources agree: birnen-typ.de 3er F30/F31 list; autodoc.co.uk F30 headlight bulb page (Main beam (high))
  • Two independent sources agree: birnen-typ.de 3er F30/F31 list; autodoc.co.uk F30 fog bulb page (Front fog)
  • Two independent sources agree: birnen-typ.de F30 bulb list; mk-led.hr BMW 3 F30/F31 conversions page; youcanic.com BMW bulb chart (Sidelight / DRL)
  • Two independent sources agree: birnen-typ.de 3er F30/F31 list; autodoc.co.uk F30 indicator bulb page (Front indicator, Rear indicator)
  • Two independent sources agree: birnen-typ.de F30 bulb list; autodoc.co.uk F30 rear light unit listings; youcanic.com BMW bulb chart (Brake / tail)
  • Two independent sources agree: birnen-typ.de 3er F30/F31 list; autodoc.co.uk F30 reverse bulb page (Reverse)
  • Two independent sources agree: birnen-typ.de 3er F30/F31 list; autodoc.co.uk F30 reverse/rear-fog bulb page (Rear fog)
  • Two independent sources agree: birnen-typ.de F30 bulb list; youcanic.com BMW bulb chart; autodoc.co.uk F30 rear light unit listings (Number plate)

Checked by FitsMyCar against the sources above · how we check

BMW's handbooks (VIN required) ↗

Can you fit LED bulbs to the 3 Series F30?

Most trims of this car have halogen headlamps. In the UK, a halogen headlamp unit on a car first used on or after 1 April 1986 must not be converted to LED or HID bulbs: the MOT inspection manual (§4.1.4) treats a converted unit as a fail, however bright or well aimed it is. “Retrofit LED H7” bulbs sold for these cars are for off-road use. Halogen upgrade bulbs (+150% and similar) are legal because the unit is unchanged. Sidelights, indicators and number-plate LEDs are a separate question — E-marked LED versions of those are road legal.

Source: MOT inspection manual, section 4 — lamps ↗. Headlamp technology recorded as halogen on most trims, xenon or LED on some — how we check.

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H7
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H8
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H6W
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PY21W
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P21W
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H21W
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LED (non-replaceable)
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Questions people ask

What dipped beam bulb does the BMW 3 Series F30 take?

H7. Base halogen headlamp variant. Bi-xenon-equipped cars use D1S instead.. Verified — the source is shown on the card above.

Is the main beam the same bulb as the dipped beam?

Yes — one H7 does both on this car. Base halogen headlamp uses H7 for both dip and main beam; xenon/D1S only on optional adaptive headlight variant..

Did the 3 Series F30 change bulbs at the facelift?

Brake / tail: P21W. Single-filament P21W (UK 382) brake; tail is an LED strip in the cluster. Autodoc rear-lamp UNIT specs list LED + P21W + H21W (H21W = rear fog, pre-LCI) only; P21/5W and P21/4W come from autodoc's catch-all bulb category, not the lamp spec. youcanic lists 1156 (=P21W).

What if my 3 Series has xenon headlamps?

Cars with factory xenon use a sealed D-series capsule for dipped beam, not the halogen fitting above. Check the printing on the back of the headlamp unit or the handbook page for “D1S/D2S/D3S”.

Can I put LED bulbs in the 3 Series's headlamps?

Not legally in a halogen unit — the MOT inspection manual treats a converted headlamp as a fail. Halogen upgrade bulbs are fine. Details in the legality section above.

What brake and tail light bulb does the BMW 3 Series F30 use?

P21W. Single-filament P21W (UK 382) brake; tail is an LED strip in the cluster. Autodoc rear-lamp UNIT specs list LED + P21W + H21W (H21W = rear fog, pre-LCI) only; P21/5W and P21/4W come from autodoc's catch-all bulb category, not the lamp spec. youcanic lists 1156 (=P21W).. Separate bulbs on this car.

Other cars that use H7 dipped beam

27 other cars on this site share this fitting — the rest of the cluster usually differs, so check each car's own page.

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