The BMW Motorcycle K1200LT headlight bulb specifications include H9 and H3 sizes for high beam and H7 size for low beam applications. The replacement chart covers vehicle production years spanning 1998 to 2009 with corresponding bulb size data.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The BMW Motorcycle K1200LT uses three distinct halogen bulb types across its headlight system: H9 for high beam on later model years, H3 for high beam on earlier model years, and H7 for low beam throughout its entire production run.
All three bulb types, H9, H3, and H7, are single-filament halogen bulbs operating on a 12-volt electrical system, meaning each bulb serves only one lighting function rather than combining high and low beam in a single unit.
The H9 bulb draws 65 watts, while the H3 and H7 bulbs each draw 55 watts. The higher wattage of the H9 is consistent with its role as a dedicated high beam source on 2004-2009 models.
The K1200LT high beam position used the H3 bulb from 1998-2003 and transitioned to the H9 bulb from 2004-2009. These two bulb types are not interchangeable, as the H3 uses a PK22s base and the H9 uses a PGJ19-5 base.
The H7 bulb, which carries a PX26d base, filled the low beam position across all model years from 1998-2009 without change, making it the only bulb type consistent across the full production span covered by these specifications.
All three bulb types conform to ECE standards, which govern lighting equipment across Europe and much of the world. Each type also carries approval for use in the United States, and both the H3 and H7 additionally hold approval in Japan.
Because the H3, H7, and H9 bulbs each use a physically different base design, none of the three types is a drop-in substitute for another, regardless of shared voltage ratings.