BMW 230i Fog Light Bulb Size

The BMW 230i fog light requires a specific H8 bulb size for proper installation and operation within the front lighting assembly. Data for the specified component covers the period from 2017 through 2019.

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

Front Fog Light

Years	Bulb Size
2019-2020	H8
2018	H11
2018	H8
2017	H11
2017	H8 (For vehicle without M Aerodynamics package)

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ECE standard (Europe & worldwide). Single-filament halogen bulb with PGJ19-1 base. Also approved in the US. 12V, 35W.	H8
ECE standard (Europe & worldwide). Single-filament halogen bulb with PGJ19-2 base. Also approved in the US. 12V, 55W.	H11

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The H8 and H11 are both ECE-standard single-filament halogen bulbs approved for use in Europe, worldwide, and the United States. Despite sharing a similar physical appearance and the PGJ19 base family, they are not interchangeable. The H8 uses a PGJ19-1 base, while the H11 uses a PGJ19-2 base, and the two differ in wattage as well.
The H8 operates at 12V and 35W, making it a lower-wattage option than the H11, which operates at 12V and 55W. This wattage difference means the two bulbs draw different amounts of current and produce different levels of output.
The BMW 230i (2019-2020) uses the H8 bulb exclusively for the front fog light position.
The 2018 model year lists both H8 and H11 as front fog light bulb sizes, indicating that two distinct front fog light configurations existed for that year.
The 2017 BMW 230i also carried two front fog light bulb sizes. The H8 fitment applied specifically to vehicles without the M Aerodynamics package, while the H11 fitment corresponded to a separate configuration, suggesting the M Aerodynamics package influenced the fog light assembly used.
Because the PGJ19-1 and PGJ19-2 bases differ in their locking tab positions, physically installing an H8 in a socket designed for an H11, or vice versa, is not a straightforward substitution and risks improper seating or electrical mismatch.