Collection: H8 / H9 Bulbs

H8, H9, H16: The PGJ19 Family Explained

These three bases, along with the H11, all belong to the PGJ19 family: they have the same physical connector, but different electrical power ratings. Confusion is very common — hence the importance of correctly identifying the reference before replacement.

• H8 (35W) — mainly equips the front fog lights of premium vehicles. Found on BMW 3 Series E90, Mini Cooper R56, and some Mercedes models.
• H9 (65W) — used for high-power high beams. Found on premium vehicles requiring intense long-distance lighting.
• H11 (55W) — modern low beams, see our H11 range.
• H16 (19W) — low-consumption fog lights, found on Toyota, some recent Citroën and Peugeot models.

Can H8 and H11 be interchanged?

A frequent question — and the answer is NO, never:

• Physically: yes, the base is the same PGJ19 — an H11 fits into an H8 housing.
• Electrically: no — the H8 operates at 35W, the H11 at 55W. Installing an H11 in place of an H8 circulates 57% more power than the circuit is designed for (35W). This risks overheating the wiring harness, causing dashboard error messages, or even failure of the lighting control unit.

Absolute rule: always replace with the same base AND the same power rating as the original bulb. The exact reference is engraved on the plastic base ("H8 PGJ19-1 35W 12V").

H8, H9, H16 in LED

LED kits for the PGJ19 family exist and offer a significant gain in brightness and whiteness. Precautions:

• For low beams (H11): CE approval is mandatory (marked "E") since 2023, otherwise the vehicle may fail inspection.
• For fog lights only (H8, H16): regulations are less strict, but check the beam dispersion — a poorly designed LED kit can dazzle other drivers.
• For high beams (H9): approval is also recommended to remain compliant with technical inspection.

Identifying your bulb

Three reliable sources:

• The plastic base of the original bulb — the exact reference (H8, H9, H11, or H16) is engraved on it.
• The vehicle manual — a table of bulbs by light function.
• License plate search websites — provide manufacturer references.