BMW M6 Dome Light Bulb Size

The BMW M6 dome light uses bulb size 12961 or 6411 depending on the specific application. Data for the lighting components covers the period from 1987 through 2010.

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
2006-2010	12961
1987-1988	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, 36mm length, SV8.5 base. 12V, 5W.	6411

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The BMW M6 dome light uses two distinct bulb types across its model years: the 12961 for the 2006-2010 models and the 6411 for the 1987-1988 models.
The 12961 is a Philips part number designation for a miniature wedge bulb in the T10 form factor, fitted with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W.
The T10 wedge base on the 12961 is a push-in style connector, meaning the bulb is held in place by tension from the socket walls rather than by a bayonet or screw mechanism.
The 6411 follows the ANSI standard recognized in the United States and Canada, classifying it as a festoon bulb with a 36mm length and an SV8.5 base, also rated at 12V and 5W.
A festoon bulb with an SV8.5 base is a cylindrical lamp that seats at both ends within a spring-clip holder, a mounting style physically incompatible with the wedge socket used by the 12961.
Although both bulb types share identical voltage and wattage ratings of 12V and 5W, their base types are not interchangeable due to fundamentally different socket designs.
The W2.1x9.5d base designation on the 12961 refers to a specific wedge base standard defined by the IEC, where the numbers describe the contact wire width and the overall body length of the base.