Subaru Impreza 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 20-16796-05-9 / RH TYC 20-16795-05-9

Accuracy note: Covers the Subaru Impreza (2017-) 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	Alkar 2769998 (halogen H11/HB3, WY21W, W5W, electric); TYC 20-16796-05-9 (halogen H11/HB3, electric motor); TYC 20-15918-05-2 (halogen H7/HB3, electric motor); Van Wezel 5140961 (halogen H11/HB3, with levelling motor); Van Wezel 5134961 (halogen H7/HB3, levelling, no motor); Abakus 220-1112L-LDEM7 (halogen H7/HB3, electric)
Driver's side (RH / offside) headlight — aftermarket	Alkar 2770998 (halogen H11/HB3, WY21W, W5W, electric); TYC 20-16795-05-9 (halogen H11/HB3, electric motor); TYC 20-15917-05-2 (halogen H7/HB3, electric motor); Van Wezel 5134962 (halogen H7/HB3, levelling, no motor); Abakus 220-1112R-LDEM7 (halogen H7/HB3, electric)
Bulb types	dipped H11 (or H7), main HB3, indicator WY21W, sidelight W5W
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	None quoted in catalogue listings — order genuine units against your VIN
Fitment notes	Only halogen units are listed for this Impreza, with no xenon or LED and no DRL stated; levelling is electric.

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

If your Impreza 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 Impreza Headlights: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: How To Replace Headlight BULBS on 17 20 Subaru Impreza 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

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Headlight bulbs

Subaru Impreza 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 Impreza Headlights: What It Does

Inside the Subaru Impreza's headlight unit sit the main and dipped beam bulbs, or LED/matrix modules on higher trims, precisely angled to light the road ahead without dazzling oncoming drivers. Many current units also fold the daytime running light and front indicator into the same housing, which complicates both the part number and any repair.

Subaru Impreza 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 Impreza 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.