BMW X5 Dome Light Bulb Size

The BMW X5 dome light uses bulb sizes 12961 and DE3423 depending on the specific version of the vehicle. Available data for the interior lighting components covers the range from 2000 to 2013.

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
2007-2013	12961
2006	DE3423
2004-2005	12961
2003	DE3423
2001-2002	12961
2000	DE3423

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

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The BMW X5 dome light uses two distinct bulb types across its model years: the 12961 and the DE3423. These two types are not interchangeable, as they differ in base design, physical form, and contact configuration.
The 12961 is a Philips part number designating a T10 miniature wedge bulb. It operates at 12 volts with a 5-watt output and uses a W2.1x9.5d wedge base, which seats by friction rather than by end-cap contacts.
The DE3423 is an ANSI-standard festoon bulb recognized in the United States and Canada. It measures 41mm in length and makes electrical contact through metal caps at each end, a configuration physically incompatible with a wedge-style socket.
The 12961 bulb is the more frequently specified type for the BMW X5 dome light, appearing across the 2001-2002, 2004-2013 model years.
The DE3423 festoon bulb is specified for the 2000, 2003, and 2006 model years of the BMW X5.
The T10 wedge form factor of the 12961 is a widely used miniature bulb standard, commonly found in interior lighting applications across many vehicle makes.
Because the 12961 and DE3423 use fundamentally different base and contact systems, the socket type present in the vehicle determines which bulb is physically compatible, regardless of voltage similarity.
Both bulb types share a 12-volt operating voltage, which is standard for automotive interior lighting powered by a typical lead-acid vehicle electrical system.