The BMW 533i high beam headlight uses an H5001 bulb size while the low beam headlight requires an H5006 bulb size. The replacement chart covers 1983 to 1984 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 533i uses two distinct sealed beam types across its headlight system: the H5001 for high beam and the H5006 for low beam, both conforming to ANSI standards applicable in the US and Canada.
The H5001 is a 4-inch square sealed beam unit operating at 12V. Because the light source is fused with the lens and reflector into a single assembly, the entire unit requires replacement when the bulb fails rather than just an internal component.
The H5006 is a 5.75-inch round sealed beam unit, also rated at 12V and constructed on the same sealed, non-serviceable principle as the H5001.
Both the H5001 and H5006 were used across the 1983-1984 model years of the 533i without variation, indicating no mid-cycle change in headlight specification during that period.
The square format of the H5001 and the round format of the H5006 are physically incompatible with each other, meaning the two types are not interchangeable between the high beam and low beam positions.
ANSI standardization of both bulb types means equivalent sealed beam units from different manufacturers sharing the same designation are generally cross-compatible, provided the format and voltage rating match.