BMW M3 Map Light Bulb Size

The BMW M3 map light utilizes bulb sizes 12961, DE3423, and 6411 across various production versions. Available data covers the span from 1995 through 2013 for the specified lighting components.

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

Bulb Size by Year Range

Years	Bulb Size
2009-2013	12961
2006	12961
2005	DE3423
2002-2004	12961
2001	DE3423
1997-1999	DE3423 (Rear)
1995-1996	6411

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
Philips part number. Miniature wedge bulb (T10) with W2.1x9.5d base. 12V, 5W.	12961
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Festoon bulb, 41mm length, end-cap contacts. 12V.	DE3423
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Festoon bulb, 36mm length, SV8.5 base. 12V, 5W.	6411

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The BMW M3 map light specifications span model years 1995 through 2013, covering three distinct bulb types across that range.
The 12961 is a Philips part number designating a T10 miniature wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W. It is the most frequently specified bulb across the BMW M3 map light data, appearing in model years 2002-2006 and 2009-2013.
The wedge base design of the 12961 means it is retained by friction rather than a bayonet or screw mechanism, which makes it physically incompatible with festoon-style sockets used by the other bulb types in these specifications.
The DE3423 follows the ANSI standard recognized in the US and Canada. It is a festoon-type bulb measuring 41mm in length, with end-cap contacts at each end, and is rated at 12V.
The 6411 is also an ANSI-standard festoon bulb, rated at 12V and 5W, but its 36mm length and SV8.5 base distinguish it from the DE3423. The two festoon types are not interchangeable due to the difference in length and base specification.
For the BMW M3, the DE3423 is specified for model years 2001 and 2005, as well as for the rear map light position in 1997-1999.
The 6411 is specified exclusively for model years 1995 and 1996, making it the earliest bulb type recorded in these specifications for the M3 map light.
The rear position notation associated with the DE3423 in 1997-1999 indicates a positional distinction within the map light assembly for those model years, which is not noted for other years in the specifications.
The shift from the 6411 to the DE3423 between the 1996 and 1997 model years reflects a change in festoon bulb length, from 36mm to 41mm, within the same 12V festoon socket category.
Because the 12961 uses a wedge base and the DE3423 and 6411 use festoon end-cap contacts, substituting one type for another across these groups would require socket compatibility, which the specifications do not support.