BMW 2002 License Plate Bulb Size

The BMW 2002 license plate component utilizes unique bulb sizes 6428, DE3021, and 13050 depending on the specific production period. Data for the mentioned vehicle covers the range from 1966 through 1976.

The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.

Bulb Size by Year Range

Years	Bulb Size
1974-1976	6428
1973	DE3021
1972	13050
1970-1971	6428
1969	13050
1968	6428
1966-1967	13050

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Festoon bulb, 36mm length, SV8.5 base. 12V, 5W.	6428
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Festoon bulb, 31mm length, end-cap contacts. 12V.	DE3021
OEM/Wagner part number. Halogen bulb, specialty application. 12V.	13050

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The BMW 2002 license plate bulb specifications cover the 1966-1976 model years, with three distinct bulb types appearing across that span: the 6428, DE3021, and 13050.
The 6428 is the most frequently specified bulb in the BMW 2002 license plate application, appearing in the 1968, 1970-1971, and 1974-1976 model years.
The 6428 is an ANSI-standard festoon bulb rated at 12V and 5W, with a 36mm length and an SV8.5 base, meaning it seats via a cylindrical barrel rather than end-cap contacts.
The 13050 is an OEM/Wagner part number for a 12V halogen bulb intended for specialty applications, and it is specified for the BMW 2002 in the 1966-1967, 1969, and 1972 model years.
The DE3021 is an ANSI-standard festoon bulb rated at 12V, with a 31mm length and end-cap contacts, and it is specified solely for the 1973 BMW 2002.
The 6428 and DE3021 are both festoon-type bulbs, but they differ in length (36mm versus 31mm) and base design (SV8.5 barrel versus end-cap contacts), making them non-interchangeable despite their physical similarity.
The SV8.5 base of the 6428 requires a holder designed for a barrel-seated festoon, while the end-cap contacts of the DE3021 require a spring-clip or socket-type holder, so housing compatibility is a relevant fitment consideration.
The 13050 is classified as a halogen bulb, which operates at a higher filament temperature than standard incandescent festoon bulbs, and substituting a non-halogen festoon type in its place would not replicate its original output characteristics.
Because the 1972 and 1973 model years call for different bulb types (13050 and DE3021 respectively), year-specific verification is relevant when sourcing a replacement for BMW 2002 models from that period.
All three bulb types share a 12V operating voltage, consistent with the 12-volt electrical systems standard in automotive applications of that era.