The BMW 230i uses D1S and H15 bulbs for high beam headlights, while low beam headlights require D1S and H7 bulbs of varying sizes. The replacement chart covers 2017-2018 production years with corresponding bulb size specifications.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The BMW 230i (2017-2018) accepts two distinct headlamp system types: HID (xenon) and halogen capsule. These are separate, non-interchangeable systems, and the correct bulb type depends entirely on which headlamp system the vehicle was built with.
The D1S is the bulb used in both high beam and low beam positions when the 230i is equipped with HID headlamps. It operates at 85V and 35W, using a high-voltage discharge arc through xenon gas rather than a heated filament.
The D1S features a PK32d-2 base with an integral ignitor, meaning the ignition component is built directly into the bulb unit. It is designed exclusively for projector-type housings and is not compatible with reflector-style headlamp assemblies.
On halogen-equipped 230i models, the high beam position uses the H15 bulb. The H15 is a dual-filament type with a PGJ23t-1 base, rated at 12V with two filaments drawing 55W and 15W respectively, typically serving main high beam and daytime running light functions within a single bulb.
The low beam position on halogen-equipped models uses the H7, a single-filament bulb rated at 12V and 55W with a PX26d base. Unlike the H15, it serves only one lighting function per bulb.
All three bulb types, D1S, H15, and H7, conform to ECE standards, which govern bulb performance and safety across European and worldwide markets. The H7 additionally carries approval in the United States and Japan, giving it broader regulatory acceptance than the other two types listed.
The H15 and H7 are not interchangeable with each other despite both being 12V halogen types. They use different bases, different filament configurations, and occupy different positions within the headlamp assembly.
The D1S is electrically and physically incompatible with the halogen bulb positions. Its 85V operating requirement and projector-housing design make it specific to the HID system, and it cannot be substituted into a halogen headlamp assembly.