Lincoln MKX high beam and low beam headlight bulbs utilize sizes D3S, 9012, 9005, and H11 depending on production specifications. A replacement chart covering 2007 to 2018 model years documents the bulb size variations across the vehicle's production range.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
ECE standard (Europe & worldwide). Mercury-free HID (xenon) discharge bulb with PK32d-5 base and integral ignitor, for projector-type housings. 42V, 35W.
The D3S is an HID (xenon) discharge bulb built to ECE standards, operating at 42V and 35W with a PK32d-5 base and an integral ignitor. Its design is specific to projector-type housings, and it is mercury-free. On the Lincoln MKX, the D3S serves as both the high beam and low beam bulb for the 2016-2018 model years, and as the HID headlamp option for the 2011-2015 model years.
The 9012 is an ANSI-standard single-filament halogen bulb rated at 12V and 55W, fitted with a PX22d base. It is classified as an enhanced halogen type and is the designated high and low beam bulb for MKX vehicles from 2011-2015 equipped with halogen capsule headlamps.
The 9005 is an ANSI-standard single-filament halogen bulb with a P20d base, rated at 12V and 65W. It is the high beam bulb for the 2007-2010 MKX, and at 65W it carries a higher wattage than the 9012 and H11 types also found in these specifications.
The H11 is an ECE-standard single-filament halogen bulb with a PGJ19-2 base, rated at 12V and 55W. Though it originates from European standards, it holds US approval as well. It serves as the low beam bulb for the 2007-2010 MKX, pairing with the 9005 high beam during those years.
For the 2011-2015 MKX, headlamp type determines bulb fitment. Vehicles with halogen capsule headlamps use the 9012 for both high and low beams, while those with HID headlamps use the D3S for both positions. Substituting one bulb type for the other is not supported by these specifications, as the two systems are electrically and mechanically incompatible.
The 9012 and 9005 share a single-filament halogen construction and ANSI classification, but they differ in base type and wattage. The 9005 uses a P20d base at 65W, while the 9012 uses a PX22d base at 55W. These differences make the two bulbs non-interchangeable despite their similar appearance and shared standard.
The D3S operates on a fundamentally different electrical principle than the halogen bulbs in these specifications. As a high-intensity discharge bulb, it requires a ballast and the integral ignitor built into its base to strike and sustain an arc, rather than relying on a resistive filament. This makes it incompatible with standard halogen headlamp wiring.
Across the full 2007-2018 MKX range, three distinct high beam bulb types appear: the 9005 for 2007-2010, the 9012 for halogen-equipped 2011-2015 vehicles, and the D3S for HID-equipped 2011-2015 vehicles and all 2016-2018 vehicles. Each of these bulbs has a different base configuration, meaning none of the three is a direct physical substitute for another.