Subaru Forester 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 20-16518-05-9 / RH TYC 20-16517-05-9

Accuracy note: Covers the Subaru Forester (SJ 2013-2018) 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 20-16518-05-9 (halogen H11/HB3, electric levelling); Abakus 220-1124LMLDEM1 (halogen H11/HB3, WY21W, W5W, motor); Abakus 220-1124LMLEHM1 (xenon, D4R with HB3 and WY21W, motor); Abakus 120-1104LMLDEM2 (LED, WY21W/W5W, electric); Van Wezel 5153961 (halogen H7/HB3, electric); Diederichs 6241081 (halogen HB3/H1, motor)
Driver's side (RH / offside) headlight — aftermarket	TYC 20-16517-05-9 (halogen H11/HB3, electric levelling); Abakus 220-1124RMLDEM1 (halogen H11/HB3, motor); Abakus 220-1124RMLEHM1 (xenon D4R, motor); Abakus 120-1104RMLDEM2 (LED, electric); Alkar 2796998 (LED, electric); Van Wezel 5153962 (halogen H7/HB3, electric)
Bulb types	dipped H11 or H7 with HB3 main (some HB3/H1), indicator WY21W, sidelight W5W; xenon D4R; LED units
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	None quoted in catalogue listings — order genuine units against your VIN
Fitment notes	Halogen H11/HB3 and H7/HB3 versions dominate, with a D4R xenon pair and LED pairs for the better-equipped trims; all levelling listed is electric or motorised, with no manual versions. DRL is not stated for any unit.

A Genuinely Important UK Rule Worth Knowing Before You Buy — Subaru Forester Headlights

If your Forester 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.

Subaru Forester Headlights: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: How to Replace Headlight Bulbs - Subaru Forester (2014-2018)

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SJ headlight bulbs

Subaru Forester Headlights reference plate

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.

Subaru Forester Headlights: What It Does

On the Subaru Forester, the main and dipped beams, whether conventional bulbs or LED/matrix modules on higher trims, sit inside the headlight unit at an angle calculated to illuminate the road without dazzling other drivers. Many modern units also combine the daytime running light and indicator into that same housing, adding a layer of complexity to both part numbers and repairs.

Subaru Forester Headlights: Generations, Derivatives & Headlight Type

Standard trims	Halogen as standard, with LED daytime running lights integrated on many trims
Higher trims/factory option	Genuine factory Xenon HID was offered on some generations — confirmed as a completely different housing design from halogen, not a bulb swap; halogen-specification replacement units explicitly don't fit cars originally built with factory Xenon HID

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Subaru Forester 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 Subaru Headlights

The same part, covered across other Subaru models.