The BMW 745Li high beam headlight uses an H7 bulb size while the low beam headlight requires a D2S bulb size. The replacement chart covers vehicle production years spanning 2002 to 2005 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 745Li uses the H7 bulb for high beam headlights across the 2002-2005 model years. The H7 is a single-filament halogen bulb rated at 12V and 55W, fitted with a PX26d base, and certified under ECE standards with approval also extended to the US and Japan.
Low beam headlights on the 2002-2005 BMW 745Li take the D2S bulb, an HID (xenon) gas-discharge type rated at 85V and 35W, fitted with a P32d-2 base. The higher operating voltage relative to the H7 reflects the fundamentally different ignition and arc-discharge technology involved.
The D2S bulb is designed exclusively for projector-type housings. Installing it in a reflector housing would produce improper light distribution, making housing compatibility a critical fitment consideration.
Because the D2S operates as a discharge bulb, it requires a separate external ignitor to initiate the high-voltage arc that produces light. This makes it non-interchangeable with standard halogen sockets, which supply no such ignition component.
The H7 and D2S bulbs serve entirely different circuits on the 745Li and are not interchangeable with each other. Their base types, PX26d and P32d-2 respectively, are physically distinct and prevent cross-installation.
Both the H7 and D2S carry ECE certification, meaning they conform to European and international photometric and safety standards. This certification governs beam pattern, intensity limits, and color temperature thresholds.
The H7 operates at 55W on a 12V vehicle circuit, a standard halogen power draw compatible with conventional automotive wiring. The D2S draws only 35W at steady state despite its 85V operating voltage, as the high voltage is required for arc initiation rather than sustained power consumption.
When sourcing a replacement D2S bulb for the 745Li, the P32d-2 base specification is a precise fitment requirement. D2S bulbs share a similar appearance with other HID types such as D2R, but the internal shield and base configuration differ in ways that affect both fit and beam output.