The Toyota MR2 Spyder headlight bulb specifications include 9005 and 9003 sizes for high beam applications, along with H7 and 9003 options for low beam functions. The replacement chart documents bulb size data spanning 2000 to 2005 model years.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The 9003 bulb, used in the Toyota MR2 Spyder for both high and low beam functions on 2000-2001 models and early 2002 production, is a dual-filament halogen type rated at 12V with a 60W filament for high beam and a 55W filament for low beam. Its dual-filament design allows a single bulb to serve both lighting functions from one housing position.
The 9005 is a single-filament halogen bulb rated at 12V and 65W, built to the ANSI standard applicable in the US and Canada. Because it carries only one filament, it is dedicated exclusively to the high beam function and cannot replace a dual-filament 9003 in applications where both beams are drawn from one bulb.
The H7 is a single-filament halogen bulb rated at 12V and 55W, governed by the ECE standard used in Europe and worldwide, though it also holds approval in the US and Japan. It uses a PX26d base, which is physically distinct from the P43t base of the 9003 and the P20d base of the 9005, making cross-substitution between these types impossible without an adapter.
From August 2002, the Toyota MR2 Spyder transitioned its headlight system from the dual-filament 9003 to a split arrangement using the 9005 for high beam and the H7 for low beam. This change separated the two beam functions into dedicated single-filament bulbs rather than combining them in one unit.
The 9003 and H7 bulbs share the same 55W rating on their respective low beam or single filaments, but their base types differ entirely. The 9003 uses a P43t base while the H7 uses a PX26d base, so the two are not interchangeable despite the matching wattage.
Pre-August 2002 MR2 Spyder models used the 9003 for both the high beam and low beam positions, meaning one bulb type covered the full headlight system. Post-August 2002 models require two distinct bulb types to cover the same functions.