BMW X3 Headlights: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

Bulb type, unit part numbers, and the faults that actually cause that flickering or dim light you've noticed.

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OEM Part Number: confirm via VIN — aftermarket LH TYC 20-12848-05-2 / RH TYC 20-0535-15-2

Accuracy note: Covers the BMW X3 (G01 2018 on) as listed in the UK aftermarket catalogues. Headlights are sold by side (passenger / nearside = LH, driver's / offside = RH on a UK car) and by lamp type — halogen, xenon (D1S / D3S) and LED or full-LED units are not interchangeable, and DRL, cornering and levelling options change the part number again. The references below are UK aftermarket catalogue listings for this generation, labelled by brand; genuine numbers are shown only where a listing quotes one. Check the lamp type and traffic side (UK right-hand-traffic units, not LHD) against your VIN, and expect xenon / LED and adaptive units to need levelling adjustment or coding after fitting.

Passenger side (LH / nearside) headlight — aftermarket	TYC 20-12848-05-2 (halogen H7, electric motor); Diederichs 1275083 (halogen H7, electric motor); Johns 20 86 09 (halogen, LED DRL, motor); TYC 20-16558-06-9 (LED, DRL, electric motor); Diederichs 1277083 (LED, LED DRL, motor); Alkar 2779831 (LED, PY24W, H7, electric motor)
Driver's side (RH / offside) headlight — aftermarket	TYC 20-0535-15-2 (halogen H7, electric motor); Diederichs 1275082 (halogen H7, electric motor); Johns 20 71 10-2 (halogen H7, motor); TYC 20-16557-06-9 (LED, DRL, electric motor); Diederichs 1277082 (LED, LED DRL, motor); Van Wezel 0691986 (bi-xenon D1S, LED DRL, automatic levelling)
Bulb types	dipped H7, indicator PY21W, W21W, sidelight W5W; D1S on xenon units; sockets PX26d and BAU15s
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	None quoted in catalogue listings — order genuine units against your VIN
Fitment notes	Halogen H7, LED and a few D1S xenon units are offered; Abakus halogen units are sold without bulbs.

A Genuinely Important UK Rule Worth Knowing Before You Buy — BMW X3 Headlights

If your X3 has factory-fitted halogen headlamp housings, converting them to fit LED bulbs is treated as a definite MOT failure under the current inspection manual — this isn't a grey area or a minor advisory, since a housing designed for halogen doesn't distribute an LED bulb's light output correctly, which can genuinely dazzle oncoming drivers. If you want a genuine LED upgrade, the correct route is a complete headlight unit designed for LED from the factory, not a bulb swap into an existing halogen housing.

Before you buy: matrix LED, adaptive, and cornering headlight systems often require electronic coding to the car after a unit swap, even for a genuine like-for-like replacement — a headlight that isn't recognised by the car's electronics can trigger warning lights or fail to auto-level correctly. Check whether your specific trim has one of these systems before assuming a straightforward bulb-in, bulb-out job.

BMW X3 Headlights: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: DIY 2022 BMW x3 how to remove the front bumper and headlight

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G01 LCI headlight removal; also VLH5AyAKVqk (2018-2020 OEM LED headlight teardown)

BMW X3 Headlights: What It Does

The BMW X3's headlight unit job is positioning the main and dipped beam bulbs (or LED/matrix modules on higher trims) to light the road without dazzling oncoming drivers. That housing frequently also contains the daytime running light and front indicator, which is exactly why part numbers and repairs here can get complicated.

BMW X3 Headlights: Generations, Derivatives & Headlight Type

Entry-level trims	Halogen main headlight paired with LED daytime running lights
Mid trims	Standard LED — a simple LED projector per headlight with no adaptive function
Higher trims/M Sport	Adaptive LED with BMW Selective Beam anti-dazzle high-beam function, genuinely different from standard LED in actively responding to road conditions and oncoming traffic
X3 M	Adaptive LED comes as standard equipment on this performance trim, with Laser Light offered as a further option on some model years

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BMW X3 Headlights: Common Faults, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Headlights Guide for the four bulb technologies and how they differ, UK law on aim and modifications, common faults to check for, how difficult this job is to DIY, and confirming fitment against your VIN.

More BMW Headlights

The same part, covered across other BMW models.