Used BMW 3 Series headlight: how to buy the right one
To buy the right used BMW 3 Series headlight, match four things: the generation and whether your car is pre or post LCI facelift, the lighting type it was built with (halogen, xenon or LED), the side you need, and the BMW part number on the back of the old unit. Get those right and a used genuine headlight bolts on and works like the original. A new BMW headlight is one of the most expensive single parts on the car, so a used one from a known donor car is a sensible buy as long as the spec is right.
Which generation of 3 Series do I have?
Three generations are common on UK roads and none of their headlights swap. The E90 saloon and E91 Touring ran from 2005 to 2012, with the E92 Coupe and E93 Convertible alongside them and using their own, different headlights. The F30 saloon and F31 Touring ran from 2012 to 2019, and the G20 arrived in 2019. Within each generation BMW ran a mid life update it calls LCI (Life Cycle Impulse), and the LCI changed the headlights every time: the E90 and E91 in late 2008, the E92 and E93 in 2010, and the F30 and F31 in 2015. A pre LCI headlight will not fit an LCI car and vice versa, because the shape, the fixings and often the connectors differ. Your registration gives us the exact build date.
| Body | Years | LCI facelift | Lighting fitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| E90 saloon, E91 Touring | 2005 to 2012 | Late 2008 | Halogen, bi-xenon optional |
| E92 Coupe, E93 Convertible | 2006 to 2013 | 2010 | Halogen, bi-xenon optional, own headlight design |
| F30 saloon, F31 Touring | 2012 to 2019 | 2015 | Halogen, bi-xenon, adaptive xenon, LED from LCI |
| G20 | 2019 on | LED standard, adaptive LED optional |
Do I need a halogen, xenon or LED 3 Series headlight?
This is the step buyers most often get wrong. The E90 and F30 were both sold with halogen headlights as standard and bi-xenon as an option, and the F30 added adaptive xenon with cornering lights and, from the 2015 LCI, full LED. None of these interchange: the wiring, connectors, ballasts or LED modules and the automatic levelling all differ, and a mismatched unit either will not light or throws warnings on the dash. Look at your existing light. A halogen unit has a visible replaceable bulb behind the lens. A xenon unit has a projector lens and a ballast box on the underside. An LED unit has no bulb and a distinctive flat light bar. Buy exactly the type your car was built with.
How do I confirm the exact part number?
BMW part numbers are seven digits, and on headlights they are often shown with the group prefix 63 11, so you may see 63 11 7 xxx xxx on the label or just the last seven digits. The label is on the back of the housing, and our listing titles carry the same number copied from the unit. Match the full number and the fit is confirmed, including the side, the lighting type and whether the unit is pre or post LCI. If the label has gone, send us your registration and we will identify the headlight your car left the factory with. Our post on OE part numbers explains how to read them.
Which side do I need, nearside or offside?
Headlights are handed, so decide which side you are replacing before you shop. In the UK, nearside is the passenger side, the left of the car as you sit in the driver's seat, and offside is the driver's side on the right. BMW listings often use LH and RH, or passenger and driver, which mean the same thing on a right hand drive car. One trap to avoid: a headlight from a left hand drive 3 Series imported from Europe has a beam that dips the wrong way and will fail an MOT, so stick to UK donors. Our post on nearside or offside covers the terms in detail.
Will a used BMW xenon or LED headlight need coding?
A halogen headlight is plug and play on every generation. Bi-xenon and adaptive xenon units carry a control module and a ballast that are matched to the lamp, so keep the module and ballast that come with the used unit rather than swapping your old ones across, and check the listing photos show them attached. On the F30 in particular, adaptive headlights talk to the footwell module and may need a calibration with BMW diagnostic software after fitting to clear a levelling or cornering light fault. Budget for an hour at a BMW specialist if you are fitting xenon or LED.
What should I inspect on a used 3 Series headlight?
Look at the lens for cracks, chips and deep scuffs. Light haze polishes out, but a crack lets water in and will fail the MOT if it affects the beam. Look inside for condensation or tide marks, which mean the seal has failed. Check the mounting points and the plastic arm brackets, because a snapped bracket means the lamp will never align with the bumper and bonnet. On xenon units, confirm the ballast, igniter and levelling motor are present and the connectors are undamaged; on LED units confirm the driver module is attached. We photograph every headlight front and back, inspect each one before listing and test where possible, so you see the real unit before you buy.
What we usually have in stock for the BMW 3 Series
Complete 3 Series headlights sell quickly, so check the used BMW 3 Series parts collection and the wider lighting collection for what is live today. Stock changes daily. Recent 3 Series lighting and front end items include:
- E90 E91 headlight mounting bracket, right, 7138402
- E90 E91 LCI headlight mounting bracket, left, 7138401
- E90 E91 E92 headlamp switch, 6932796
- F30 headlight control switch, 9393949
- E90 E91 LCI 318d 320d N47N turbocharger, 741785
- 320d N47D20C E90 LCI engine wiring loom, 851546501
- E90 320d N47 timing chain cover, 7797488
- F30 320i N20 alternator, 7605478
- F30 gearbox oil cooler pipes, 8511456
If the headlight you need is not listed, send us your registration and the lighting type and we will tell you what is on the shelf or coming in. Fitting a door as well? Our 3 Series door guide follows the same logic.
Buy with confidence
Every part we sell comes off a known donor car at our Doncaster yard, is inspected before listing and is photographed so you see the actual item rather than a stock image. Tracked UK delivery is included on every order and is free on most parts; panels, engines and gearboxes carry a charge shown on the product page. Order before 2pm on a working day for same day dispatch. If a part is not right, you have 30 day returns. Send us your registration and the part you need and we will confirm fitment before you buy. Parts worth your trust.
Frequently asked questions
Will a headlight from a different 3 Series fit?
Not across generations and not across the LCI facelift. The E90 and E91 (2005 to 2012), F30 and F31 (2012 to 2019) and G20 (2019 on) use different headlights, the E92 and E93 have their own design, and each LCI changed the unit again. Match the body, the facelift and the BMW part number, confirmed by your registration.
How do I know if I need halogen, xenon or LED?
Look at your existing light. A halogen unit has a visible replaceable bulb, a xenon unit has a projector lens and a ballast box underneath, and an LED unit has no bulb and a flat light bar. The types are not interchangeable because the wiring, modules and levelling differ, so buy exactly the type your car was built with.
Does a used BMW headlight need coding?
Halogen units are plug and play. Xenon and adaptive xenon units usually work once connected but may need a calibration with BMW diagnostics to clear a levelling or cornering light fault, so allow for that. Keep the ballast and module that come with the used unit, because they are matched to the lamp.
What should I check on a used 3 Series headlight?
Check the lens for cracks and fogging, look inside for condensation, and confirm the mounting points and arm brackets are intact. On xenon units make sure the ballast, igniter and levelling motor are present, and on LED units that the driver module is attached. We photograph the front and back of every unit so you can check before ordering.
What if the headlight does not fit my car?
You have 30 day returns on every part we sell. To avoid the problem altogether, send us your registration and the part you need before you order and we will confirm fitment against the BMW part number for your exact car.