The Volkswagen CC high beam headlight uses D3S or H7 bulb sizes, while low beam headlight applications accommodate D3S, H7, or D1S bulb sizes depending on vehicle configuration. A replacement chart covering 2009 to 2013 model years documents the specific bulb size specifications for each production year.
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 H7 is a single-filament halogen bulb operating at 12V and 55W, fitted with a PX26d base. It carries ECE certification and is also approved for use in the United States and Japan, making it one of the more broadly accepted bulb standards across international markets.
The D1S and D3S are both HID (xenon) discharge bulbs rated at 35W and designed for projector-type housings, each with an integral ignitor built into the base. The D1S operates at 85V with a PK32d-2 base, while the D3S operates at 42V with a PK32d-5 base. These two types are not interchangeable despite their shared wattage and housing compatibility requirements.
The D3S is a mercury-free formulation, which distinguishes it from earlier HID standards such as the D1S. This difference reflects a design change in the discharge arc tube chemistry rather than a change in light output category or housing type.
On the Volkswagen CC, the 2009-2012 model years offered two distinct low beam configurations: an H7 halogen setup and a D1S HID setup. The correct bulb depends entirely on which headlamp system the vehicle was built with, as the two systems are not cross-compatible.
The 2013 Volkswagen CC uses the D3S for both the high beam and low beam positions. This differs from the 2009-2012 high beam configuration, which used the H7 across all four of those years.
Because the D1S and D3S each require a specific base type and ignitor design, substituting one for the other is not supported by the specifications. Projector housing compatibility alone does not make these bulbs interchangeable.
The H7 bulb was the sole high beam option for the Volkswagen CC across the 2009-2012 model years, regardless of whether the vehicle was equipped with halogen or HID low beams during that same period.