Ford S-Max Headlights: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

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

Illustration for editorial purposes

Opens live listings in a new tab.

OEM Part Number: confirm via VIN — aftermarket LH Valeo 046674 / RH Hella 1LJ 009 250-781

Accuracy note: Covers the Ford S-Max (2015-) 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	Van Wezel 1889961 (halogen H15/H7, DRL, electric levelling); Valeo 046674 (original part, halogen H7, HY21W, DRL); Hella 1LJ 009 250-771 (halogen H7/H1, electric levelling); Hella 1EJ 009 250-731 (halogen H7/H1); Hella 1ZS 009 250-791 (bi-xenon D1S/H1); Diederichs 1491085 (bi-xenon D1S, dynamic bending light)
Driver's side (RH / offside) headlight — aftermarket	Van Wezel 1889962 (halogen H15/H7, DRL, electric levelling); Hella 1LJ 009 250-781 (halogen H7/H1, electric levelling); Hella 1EJ 009 250-741 (halogen H7/H1); Diederichs 1491980 (halogen H7/H1, electric levelling motor); Abakus 431-11ACRMLD-EM (halogen H7/H15, electric levelling); Prasco FD7304903 (halogen H1/H7)
Bulb types	dipped H7, main H1, DRL H15, bi-xenon D1S, indicator PY21W or PWY24W, sidelight W5W
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	None quoted in catalogue listings — order genuine units against your VIN
Fitment notes	Halogen as standard, with bi-xenon D1S units for xenon cars and dynamic bending light on some; no LED units listed.

A Genuinely Important UK Rule Worth Knowing Before You Buy — Ford S-Max Headlights

If your S-Max 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.

Ford S-Max Headlights: What It Does

Precise beam angling to light the road without dazzling oncoming traffic is the Ford S-Max's headlight unit's core job, housing the main and dipped beams — or LED/matrix modules on higher trims. Because it often also integrates the daytime running light and front indicator, both the part number and repair complexity increase accordingly.

Ford S-Max Headlights: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: Ford S-MAX and Galaxy (2006 - 2015) - Replace the headlight bulbs (older gen)

Watch on YouTube ↗

Mk1 S-Max; no Mk2 (2015-) bulb video found in 3 searches.

Ford S-Max Headlights: Generations & Headlight Type

All generations	Halogen as standard, with LED daytime running lights and higher-spec bulb options available on some trims and model years

Find Ford S-Max Headlights Here!

Opens live listings in a new tab.

Ford S-Max 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 Ford Headlights

The same part, covered across other Ford models.