BMW 735i Headlight Bulb Size

BMW 735i high beam headlight bulbs use 9005 or H5001 size, while low beam headlight bulbs use 9006 or H5006 size. The replacement chart covers 1985 through 1992 vehicle 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.

High Beam Headlight

If US Type and EU Type show the same value, a direct cross-reference for this bulb is not available or the data is insufficient.

Years	US Type	EU Type	Shop
1987-1992	9005	HB3	Check Price
1985-1986	H5001	H5001	Check Price

Low Beam Headlight

If US Type and EU Type show the same value, a direct cross-reference for this bulb is not available or the data is insufficient.

Years	US Type	EU Type	Shop
1987-1992	9006	HB4	Check Price
1985-1986	H5006	H5006	Check Price

Bulb Specifications

Description	Type	Shop
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament halogen bulb with P20d base. 12V, 65W.	9005	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). 4-inch square sealed beam unit. Not a replaceable bulb — the entire unit is replaced. 12V.	H5001	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament halogen bulb with P22d base. 12V, 55W.	9006	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). 5.75-inch round sealed beam unit. Not a replaceable bulb — the entire unit is replaced. 12V.	H5006	Check Price

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The BMW 735i uses two distinct headlight systems across its model years. The 1987-1992 model years use replaceable halogen bulbs, while the 1985-1986 model years use sealed beam units in which the entire lens-and-filament assembly is replaced as one piece.
The 9005 bulb serves as the high beam headlight for the BMW 735i from 1987-1992. It is a single-filament halogen type operating at 12V and 65W, fitted with a P20d base, and conforms to ANSI standards applicable in the US and Canada.
The 9006 bulb serves as the low beam headlight for the same 1987-1992 range. It shares the single-filament halogen construction and 12V rating of the 9005 but draws 55W and uses a P22d base rather than a P20d base.
The P20d and P22d base designations on the 9005 and 9006 respectively indicate physically different connectors. These two bulbs are not interchangeable despite their similar appearance and shared voltage rating.
For the 1985-1986 BMW 735i, the high beam position uses the H5001 sealed beam unit. This is a 4-inch square format operating at 12V, and the entire unit is replaced rather than an internal bulb.
The low beam position on the 1985-1986 735i uses the H5006 sealed beam unit, which is a 5.75-inch round format also rated at 12V. Its round shape distinguishes it physically from the square H5001 used in the high beam position, making the two units non-interchangeable.
Both the H5001 and H5006 sealed beam units conform to ANSI standards for the US and Canadian markets, as do the 9005 and 9006 halogen bulbs used in later model years.
The wattage difference between the 9005 (65W) and 9006 (55W) reflects a deliberate design distinction common in halogen headlight systems, where the high beam filament operates at higher power to produce greater light output over a longer forward range.