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Fitment Guaranteed for 2005 BMW 745i

What Size Bulbs Does a 2005 BMW 745i Use?

Correct headlight, fog light, and tail light bulb sizes. Sourced from OEM catalog data.

Installation Difficulty

Hard (Tight clearances)

Est. Replacement Cost

$50 - $150 (HID System)

What Lighting System Does the 2005 BMW 745i Have?

The 2005 BMW 745i features an extensive lighting system with 11 bulb positions. It uses factory HID/Xenon technology with D2S projector headlights. The 745i has been available from 2003 to 2005, and the 2005 model falls in the late-generation years. As a BMW vehicle, it uses a CANbus electrical system that monitors bulb status.

Can You Put LED Bulbs in a 2005 BMW 745i?

The 2005 BMW 745i comes equipped with factory D2S HID/Xenon headlights. These already produce significantly more light than halogen bulbs, so upgrading is generally unnecessary. When your HID bulbs burn out, replace them with OEM-spec D2S HID bulbs to maintain the correct color temperature and beam pattern. Avoid cheap aftermarket HID bulbs as they can produce incorrect beam patterns and blind oncoming drivers. Your fog lights use a H3 LED halogen bulb, which can be upgraded to LED for a whiter color match with your HID headlights.

How to Replace Bulbs on a 2005 BMW 745i

To remove the headlight bulb, disconnect the wiring harness, then twist the bulb counter-clockwise and pull it straight out of the housing. BMW vehicles are known for tight engine bay clearances around the headlight assembly. You may need to remove the air intake duct, battery cover, or wheel well liner to access the bulbs. Budget 30 to 45 minutes per side for your first replacement. HID headlights operate at high voltage. Always disconnect the battery before working on the headlight assembly. Never touch the HID ballast while the headlights are on, and handle the D2S capsule with gloves to avoid oil contamination. The fog lights are accessed from underneath the front bumper. You may need to remove a few plastic clips or screws from the fender liner to reach the H3 LED fog light socket.

Full Upgrade Bundle

Upgrade All 11 Positions at Once

Low Beam: HID-D2S LEDHigh Beam: H7 LEDFog Light: H3 LEDBrake Light: LED BulbTurn Signal Front: 2827 LEDTurn Signal Rear: 7506 LED or 12496 LEDLicense Plate: 2825Map Light: 2886XParking Light: 3457NAReverse Light: 921Trunk Light: 6411
Shop Complete LED Kit

2005 BMW 745i Complete Bulb Size Chart

PositionBulb SizeShop
Low Beam
HID-D2S LEDBuy HID-D2S LED
High Beam
H7 LEDBuy H7 LED
Fog Light
H3 LEDBuy H3 LED
Brake Light
LED BulbBuy LED Bulb
Turn Signal Front
2827 LEDBuy 2827 LED
Turn Signal Rear
7506 LED or 12496 LEDBuy 7506 LED or 12496 LED
License Plate
2825Buy 2825
Map Light
2886XBuy 2886X
Parking Light
3457NABuy 3457NA
Reverse Light
921Buy 921
Trunk Light
6411Buy 6411

Want to upgrade everything at once?

Shop Complete LED Kit for 2005 BMW 745i
Installation Guide
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How Long Do 2005 BMW 745i Headlight Bulbs Last?

HID/Xenon headlights on the 2005 BMW 745i typically last 2,000 to 3,000 hours, or about 4 to 6 years of regular driving. As HID bulbs age, they shift color toward pink or purple, which is a clear sign that replacement is needed. Flickering on startup also indicates a worn bulb or failing ballast. At 21 years old, the original bulbs on your 745i are likely overdue for replacement. Even if they still illuminate, reduced brightness significantly impacts nighttime safety. When one headlight burns out, replace both sides at the same time. Bulbs from the same batch age at similar rates, and mismatched brightness is distracting to oncoming drivers.

What Bulbs Are Compatible with the 2005 BMW 745i?

Using the wrong bulb size can cause improper beam patterns that reduce your visibility and blind other drivers. It can also cause overheating inside the headlight housing, potentially warping the plastic lens or reflector. Always verify the bulb number before purchasing.

2005 BMW 745i Headlight FAQ

The 2005 BMW 745i uses a HID-D2S LED bulb for the low beam headlights. We recommend upgrading to LED for better visibility.

The high beam bulb size for the 2005 BMW 745i is H7 LED.

The 2005 BMW 745i uses a dual bulb headlight system. This means you have separate bulbs for high and low beams.

Yes, the 2005 BMW 745i comes with standard halogen bulbs from the factory, but they can be upgraded to LED. You will need a HID-D2S LED LED conversion kit for the low beams.

Yes, the 2005 BMW 745i takes a H3 LED bulb for the fog light position.

Turn off the vehicle and open the hood. Locate the headlight assembly from behind, remove the dust cover or retaining clip, disconnect the wiring harness, twist the old HID-D2S LED bulb counter-clockwise to remove it, then insert the new bulb and reassemble. Note: BMW vehicles use a CANbus system, so LED replacements may need an anti-flicker decoder. The whole process typically takes 10 to 30 minutes per side depending on accessibility.

LED bulbs used off-road or in auxiliary lights are legal everywhere. For on-road headlight use, legality varies by state. Many states allow LED retrofits as long as the beam pattern meets DOT standards. For the best legal compliance, choose a DOT-approved HID-D2S LED LED kit that is designed as a direct replacement and produces a proper cutoff pattern without excessive glare.

A pair of HID HID-D2S LED bulbs costs $50 to $150. If you have a shop do the work, expect an additional $20 to $50 in labor per bulb. Replacing them yourself at home saves the labor cost and usually takes under 30 minutes.

Halogen bulbs produce a warm yellow light (around 3200K), last 500 to 1000 hours, and draw more power. LED bulbs emit a brighter white light (5000-6000K), last 25,000+ hours, and use less energy. LED upgrades for the HID-D2S LED position are available as direct plug-and-play replacements. Since the BMW uses CANbus monitoring, choose a CANbus-compatible LED kit to avoid dashboard errors.

Did BMW 745i Bulb Sizes Change Over the Years?

The BMW 745i has maintained consistent bulb sizes across all model years from 2003 to 2005. The low beam has used a HID-D2S LED bulb throughout, which means replacement parts and LED upgrade kits are widely available and well-tested for this model. If you find a deal on bulbs for any 745i year in this range, they will fit your 2005 model.

Other 745i Years

20042003
128i135i228i228i xDrive230i230i xDrive318i318is

Other Vehicles That Use HID-D2S LED Bulbs

These vehicles from other makes also use a HID-D2S LED low beam bulb:

2019 Infiniti QX602019 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport2019 Mitsubishi RVR2019 Nissan 370Z2018 Honda Odyssey2017 Infiniti QX50