E39 headlight bulb removal/replacement?

[cliffdunedin 8]

Bit of a noob Q and i've had a search but i can't seem to figure out, if i need to replace the whole bulb housing or if an aftermarket H7 will plug straight into the connector,

Please help, feeling very special

[M5V8 337]

plug n play mate

[cliffdunedin 8]

Cheers, any idea if repco or supercheap stock them or do i need to swing by the dealers?

[M5V8 337]

they are standard so if you ask for / find an H7 that's what you get.

There are better manufacturers tho, I think repco does phillips? they are good.

I also picked up some from supercheap.

[curryinahurry 39]

The bulb shown is not H7. It looks likely to be a 9006 (also known as HB4), I assume this came out of your fog light?

[Lucan 196]

Could be a 9005 from highbeam - used in PFL e39 I think?

Either way unscrew housing from headlight, take into any auto shop and replace. Easy.

[elmarco 56]

The bulb shown is not H7. It looks likely to be a 9006 (also known as HB4), I assume this came out of your fog light?

Yep - either HB3 or HB4. Most definitely not an H7. The housing in the pic is part of that particular bulb type & can't be separated/removed.

When replacing the bulb make sure you put it in the right way (filament position is critical) & don't touch the glass....

[hotwire 352]

Pre F/L E39 lamps use HB3 & 4 bulbs in low & high beam. Fogs, from memory are H7

[Ultrarandom 3]

That one there is an HB3, can tell usually by the fact it doesn't have the weird ceramic part on the tip of the bulb. The connector there is attached to the bulb and can't be removed from the bulb, and yes Supercheap definitely stock them.

[cliffdunedin 8]

Thanks for the help team, was a HB3.

I thought the bulb part could actually be removed from the plastic as i've never seen a bulb like this before

[yng_750 247]

so much easier to install with the quick turn.

hb3 and hb4 have slightly different tabs so cant interchange.

also one has a single notch inside the plug the other has 2.

similar bulbs just slightly different light diffusion for different reflector types.