Bulb codes Plz?

[tingzilla]

Hi, can you guys help me with the correct bulb sizes for Front/Side/Rear signal bulbs (e46 330I)? What are the bulbs used in Sports package Foglights~9006?? I don't need to know the interior bulbs sizes, but I'm sure it'll benefit someone if you guys would kindly post it here too if you knew. Thanks!

[MarvelPhx]

I believe the turn signals are P21Y and the fogs are 9006...

[tingzilla]

hi Marvel,

I don't quite understand what's P21Y for signal light bulbs. I only heard of 1156 or 1157. How about the rear signal bulbs, are they the same as the front? thanks

[MarvelPhx]

Front and rear are the same...

Hmmm, maybe I am thinking of the wattage...

[wedgehead98]

Just received my entire clear set from Bekkers for my 2003 330i that I picked up on Saturday. Here's the deal with the bulbs:

Fogs for the 2003 330i sport bumper are 9006 (same thing as HB4). This may have been a recent change because someone else mentioned they installed H11's - I ordered Advanced Optik lamps from http://www.europeanautosport.com. Funny thing is I originally ordered and received H11's (9005's) based on a recommendation from a forum - Gary at europeanautosport is exchanging the H11's for free (I pay freight back).

BMW OEM Front clear corner lenses come with new bulb holders that accomodate the PY21W (euro) bulb that has nubs at the 12 and 4 o'clock positions - great if you are ordering Philips SilverVisions because they have that nub configuration. The 2003 330i comes standard with bulb holders that accomodate nubs at 12 and 6 (1156) and you can use either bulb holder with the existing wire harness.

OEM Rear clear corner lenses don't come with new bulb holders and the domestic bulb holders only accomodate bulbs with nubs at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions (also known as 1156 in the US).

So - what do you do? The PY21W (or P21W for that matter) is the same size and wattage as the 1156 - just a different nub configuration. So, you shave off one nub of the PY21W (like Philips Silver Visions) for the rear corners and use the new bulb holders for the front corners....or DIY your own set of 1156 bulbs with Silver high temp paint and use the front corner bulb holders that came with your car.

OEM Clear sidemarker lenses also come with new bulb holder (and an amber bulb) that holds W5W bulbs (although the amber bulb says WY5W - same thing exactly).

Now I'm on the hunt for silvered W5W's...may end up DIY'ing my own.

Hope this helps...I know I was confused for a couple weeks.

[tingzilla]

thanks wedge, I got the correct bulbs.

[wedgehead98]

Your Welcome Tingzilla! Enjoy!

By the way, I ended up buying ClearVisions from LordAlex@attbi.net, instead of DIY. More money than time, right now!