E39 (2001 on) Headlight Reference
There are a total of eight different official BMW (Hella OEM) headlight assemblies for E39 (2001 on). First, a few definitions:
- "Clear blinker" denotes the textured, opaque clear/white blinker lens. This blinker looks amber when an amber bulb is inside, but looks clear/white when a clear or Silvervision bulb is inside. This blinker uses a standard wedge-base 3457NA (amber, 63 12 6 902 447) or 3457 (clear, 63 12 8 369 220, not legal) replacement bulb.
- "Amber blinker" denotes the smooth transluscent amber blinker lens. The lens itself is actually amber in color. This blinker uses a special miniature halogen bulb (BMW 63 12 6 904 048).
- "Lit amber corner" is the standard US corner, lit with a lightguide by the same halogen bulb that lights the halos.
- "Unlit amber corner" and "unlit clear corner" are the smaller european unlit corners. The clear one is the one people will commonly have when they go clear all around the car.
US DOT assemblies:
Halogen, clear blinker, lit amber corner (stock on all US E39 with halogen):
- 63 12 6 902 517 (driver)
- 63 12 6 902 518 (passenger)
Halogen, amber blinker, lit amber corner:
- 63 12 6 900 199 (driver)
- 63 12 6 900 200 (passenger)
(Note: the halogen clear blinker version is $100-$150 more PER SIDE than the amber blinker.)
Xenon, clear blinker, lit amber corner (stock on all US E39 with xenon):
- 63 12 6 912 439 (driver)
- 63 12 6 912 440 (passenger)
Xenon, amber blinker, lit amber corner:
- 63 12 6 912 433 (driver)
- 63 12 6 912 434 (passenger)
(Note: even though the clear and amber blinker halogens have a huge price difference, for some reason the clear and amber blinker xenons are all the same price.)
European assemblies:
Halogen, clear blinker, unlit clear corner:
- 63 12 6 902 425 (driver)
- 63 12 6 902 426 (passenger)
Halogen, amber blinker, unlit amber corner:
- 63 12 6 900 197 (driver)
- 63 12 6 900 198 (passenger)
Xenon, clear blinker, unlit clear corner:
- 63 12 6 912 435 (driver)
- 63 12 6 912 436 (passenger)
Xenon, amber blinker, unlit amber corner:
- 63 12 6 912 429 (driver)
- 63 12 6 912 430 (passenger)
I still don't know where the amber blinker version is used in the US, or why it's so much cheaper. If you like amber, though, it is a much cleaner look than the normal "fogged"/opaque clear lens.
Connectors/Adapters:
For those thinking of doing the AE upgrade, you also need to get the right connectors and adapters together to make the switch by getting:
- Two 63 12 0 025 497 (adapter)
- Two 63 12 0 025 499 (adapter)
Hope this helps!
Original stock xenon with clear blinker and lit amber corner (63 12 6 912 439)
Xenon, amber blinker, lit amber corner (63 12 6 912 434). Be careful
if you need to replace yours so you get the right one!
Passenger-side halogen with amber blinger and lit corner (63 12
6 900 200). Photo courtesy of Das.
Headlight label. Part number is next to BMW logo (6 912
434).