BMW Motorcycle R1200RT headlight bulbs utilize H1 and H7 sizes, with the high beam bulb available in both H1 and H7 configurations while the low beam bulb uses H7 size. The replacement chart covers 2005 through 2018 production years and details bulb size specifications for each model year.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The H7 bulb is the most widely used type across the BMW Motorcycle R1200RT specifications, appearing in the low beam position across all listed years (2005-2018) and in the high beam position from 2005-2013.
The H1 bulb operates on a single filament with a P14.5s base at 12V and 55W, conforming to ECE standards with approval also granted in the United States and Japan.
The H7 bulb shares the same 12V, 55W electrical rating as the H1 but uses a PX26d base, which is a physically distinct connector type incompatible with the P14.5s socket used by the H1.
The BMW Motorcycle R1200RT high beam position shifted from H7 to H1 between the 2013 and 2014 model years, meaning these two bulb types are not interchangeable despite sharing identical wattage and voltage ratings.
The low beam position on the R1200RT uses the H7 bulb consistently across the full 2005-2018 model year range, while the high beam position uses two different bulb types depending on the year.
Because the H1 and H7 bulbs carry different base designations (P14.5s versus PX26d respectively), a bulb intended for the 2014-2018 high beam housing cannot be physically fitted into the 2005-2013 high beam housing, and vice versa.
Both the H1 and H7 are single-filament halogen bulbs, meaning each unit controls only one lighting function and a separate bulb is required for each beam position.