Audi Q5 Bulb Size Guide: Full Lighting Breakdown for Every Generation (2009–2024)
Last Updated on 2025-12-16
Why the Audi Q5 bulb size actually matters
If you own an Audi Q5, you already know it is a pretty capable daily tool: family hauler, road-trip machine, winter tank. The weak link many owners hit sooner than they expect is lighting. When a headlight or taillight burns out, and you start googling Audi Q5 bulb size, the rabbit hole gets real fast. Halogen, HID, LED modules, different trims, different years, “premium” vs “non-premium” headlights… the whole thing can feel like a mini MBA in automotive electrics.
The good news: most of the time, you don’t need that full MBA. You need a clear, practical map of which bulb goes where, for your exact generation. That’s what this guide aims to give you. If you get the bulb size right, you avoid returns, wiring hacks, and random warning lights. You also unlock better lighting performance and, in many cases, a tidy little “value discrepancy” between what you paid and how much more usable the car feels at night.
I’ll walk through the Audi Q5 bulb size story generation by generation, then talk about common issues, LED upgrades, and where DIY stops being fun and starts risking expensive headlight assemblies. If you’re hunting for the dream outcome – brighter lights, less drama, no egregious amounts of money wasted – keep reading.
Quick high-level snapshot of the Q5 lighting story
Before diving into all the tables, it helps to zoom out. Across the years, the Audi Q5 bulb size landscape moves through three big phases: early halogen and xenon setups, a mid-cycle mix with more LEDs, and finally the newer generations with headlamps and tails that run on sealed LED modules.
The early years (2009-2012) are straightforward: H7 halogen or D3S xenon in the front, traditional bulbs everywhere else. Around 2013-2017, things get more differentiated: some trims stay halogen, some get xenon with LED accents, some tails move closer to full LED. Then the second generation ramps up LED usage, which is great for reliability, but not so great if you hoped to swap every single bulb yourself.
If your goal is to extract maximum value, you treat your Audi Q5 bulb size information like a little inventory: headlights, fogs, DRL, signals, tails, reverse, license, and interior. Once you know the sizes, you can decide where an LED upgrade makes sense and where the factory LEDs already give you the dream outcome.
- Generation 1 (2009-2012): mostly H7 / H11 / 1156 / 1157 / T10 / T15 bulbs, easy to swap.
- Gen 1 facelift (2013-2017): halogen or D3S xenon headlights, more LED accents, still many serviceable bulbs.
- Gen 2 pre-facelift (2018-2020): LED or D5S/D3S headlamps plus traditional bulbs for reverse, plates, and interior.
- Gen 2 facelift (2021-2024): almost all exterior lighting in LED modules, only a few classic bulbs left.
Now let’s go generation by generation and put real numbers on all this.
First generation 2009–2012: classic halogen and xenon setup
Early Audi Q5 models are the most approachable from a DIY lighting angle. If you daily older 2.0T or 3.2 from 2009-2012, your Audi Q5 bulb size list looks reassuringly old school. You either have halogen H7 headlights or factory xenon D3S projectors with H7 high beams. Fog lights sit down low with H11 bulbs, and the rear of the car uses standard 1156/1157 style bulbs for braking and signaling.
Factory daytime running lights in these years depend on trim. Many halogen-headlight cars use standard P21W / 1156-type bulbs, while xenon cars often combine DRL and parking functions in the same housing. Reverse lights and some interior lamps use T15/921-style wedges, and smaller T10/194 bulbs handle license plates and map lights.
Here’s a practical table that captures the main Audi Q5 bulb size information for 2009-2012. This covers the usual OEM configurations; if someone installed aftermarket headlights, all bets are off, and you need to check the housing directly.
| Position | Bulb type (with link) | Notes |
| Low beam headlight – halogen | H7 halogen | Standard reflector low beam on non-xenon cars |
| Low beam headlight – xenon | D3S HID | Factory xenon projector, often with auto-leveling |
| High beam headlight | H7 halogen | Separate high beam reflector or bi-xenon shutter support |
| Front fog light | H11 | Round fog housings in lower bumper |
| Front DRL / front parking (bulb type cars) | 1156 | On many halogen setups, shared DRL & position function |
| Front side/parking light (small wedge) | T10 / 194 | Small wedge bulb in headlamp corner or side marker |
| Front turn signal | 1156 amber | Single-filament amber indicator in front cluster |
| Rear brake light | 1156 | Main brake filament in rear lamp, non-LED tails |
| Rear tail / running light | 1157 | Dual-filament bulb combining tail and extra function on some trims |
| Rear turn signal | 1156 amber | Standard rear indicator in most early Q5s |
| Reverse / backup light | T15 / 921 / 912 | White wedge bulb in the tailgate or rear lamp |
| Rear fog (where equipped) | W16W | Single intense red lamp on one side of the rear |
| License plate light | T10 / 194 | Two small wedge bulbs above the plate |
| Front map / reading lights | T10 / 194 | Overhead console, easy LED upgrade with huge perceived value |
| Dome / rear interior light | C5W 36mm | Festoon-style bulb in cabin ceiling |
| Cargo / trunk light | T10 / 194 | Side panel in trunk, strong candidate for LED upgrade |
If your 2009-2012 car has factory xenon, the Audi Q5 bulb size list above still holds – you simply ignore the H7 low beam line and follow the D3S line instead. Headlight housings are sensitive to moisture and ballast failures, so be careful with seals when swapping those.
First-generation facelift 2013–2017: more xenon, more LED accents
The 2013-2017 facelift keeps the same basic platform but changes how light is delivered. The headlights become more upmarket, with more cars running xenon D3S projectors and signature LED strips. Some markets still see H7 halogen headlights on lower trims, while the premium packages go fully xenon with bi-function projectors.
On the rear, more versions move towards LED tails, although many cars still carry 1156/1157 bulbs behind those lenses. DRL and turn signal logic in the front can involve 7440/7443 type bulbs in some trims, so the Audi Q5 bulb size story in this era gets a bit more intertwined. The good part: almost every position still uses a replaceable bulb, so you can optimize value with LED swaps where it makes sense.
Here is a consolidated table for 2013-2017 that covers the common factory setups – both halogen and xenon. Think of it as a menu; you pick the line that matches what you see in your headlamp housing.
| Position | Bulb type (with link) | Notes |
| Low beam headlight – halogen trims | H7 halogen | Base headlight on some 2013-2014 models |
| Low beam headlight – xenon trims | D3S HID | Bi-xenon projector, often with LED DRL strip |
| High beam headlight (all non-matrix) | H7 halogen | Separate reflector high beam or part of bi-xenon unit |
| Front fog light | H11 | Round fogs integrated into bumper, similar to early cars |
| Front DRL / front turn (bulb-type DRL trims) | 7440 / 7443 | Some models combine DRL and indicator in 7440/7443 socket |
| Front side/parking light | T10 / 194 | Still a small wedge bulb in many facelifts |
| Rear brake light (non-full-LED tails) | 1156 | Standard bulb behind the red lens in base tails |
| Rear tail / running light | 1157 | Some trims use dual-filament bulbs for running lights |
| Rear turn signal | 1156 amber | Amber indicator unless tail is full LED |
| Reverse / backup light | 7440 / T15 / 921 | Varies slightly by year; LED upgrade gives a huge visibility bonus |
| Rear fog light | W16W | Still a single red lamp on one side for poor weather |
| License plate light (bulb type) | T10 / 194 | Many facelifts use LED, but some markets retain bulbs |
| Front map / reading lights | T10 / 194 | Simple wedge bulbs, easy LED swap |
| Dome / rear interior | C5W 36mm | Festoon bulbs in center and rear ceilings |
| Cargo / trunk lamp | T10 / 194 | Same story as earlier cars, highly recommended LED move |
On some higher trims, tails and DRLs are true LED modules. In that case, your effective Audi Q5 bulb size for that position becomes “LED module, non-serviceable.” You don’t pick a part number; you replace the whole lamp if it fails. That’s a hit to profit margins if you mess up the wiring, so avoid splicing anything into those circuits.
Second generation 2018–2020: led headlamps, xenon options, fewer bulbs
When the second-generation Q5 arrives, everything feels more digital: the interior, the screens, and the lighting. Many 2018-2020 cars ship with full LED headlamps using sealed modules. Some trims and markets still use D5S or D3S xenon projectors with H8 high beams and separate H11 fogs, but the trend is clear: fewer traditional bulbs, more LED strips and arrays.
This is where the Audi Q5 bulb size conversation shifts. The front of the car turns into a high-tech light bar where you don’t change individual bulbs. You only service high beam H8 bulbs on some trims, fog light H11 bulbs where fogs exist, and the rest of your DIY focus moves to the back of the car and the cabin.
Reverse lights stay in the T15/921 family, license plate lamps often come as small LED modules, and interior lighting is a mix of T10 wedges and festoon-style units. On cars with factory LED interior lights, you focus more on replacing failed modules than upgrading them.
| Position | Bulb type (with link) | Notes |
| Low / high beam headlamp – LED package | LED module | Sealed LED unit, no conventional bulb to swap |
| Low / high beam headlamp – xenon trims | D5S / D3S | Applies to some 2018-2019 builds with HID projectors |
| High beam (separate bulb on some trims) | H8 | Supplemental high beam in certain non-matrix headlamps |
| Front fog light (where equipped) | H11 | Some markets use fogs, others rely on cornering functions in the headlamp |
| Front DRL / front position light | LED module | Signature daytime light strip, part of headlamp assembly |
| Front turn signal | LED module | Dynamic indicator on many trims, no separate bulb |
| Rear tail / brake lights | LED module | Outer lamps are full LED on most Gen 2 cars |
| Rear turn signal | LED module | Often integrated with tail lamp, dynamic sweep effect |
| Reverse / backup light | T15 / 921 / 912 | Still a swappable bulb, prime LED upgrade candidate |
| License plate light | T10 / 194 or LED module | Bulb-type on some cars, sealed LED on others |
| Front map lights | T10 / 194 | Usually small wedges even when ambient lighting is LED |
| Dome / rear interior lights | C5W 36mm | Festoon units remain common in the ceiling |
| Cargo / trunk lamp | T10 / 194 | Still a straightforward upgrade for night usability |
In these years, the phrase Audi Q5 bulb size has almost become misleading for the front of the car, because the lamps behave more like consumer electronics than classic bulbs. The smart move is to focus your DIY energy where normal bulbs still exist: reverse, plate, and interior. Those areas give you high perceived value with low risk.
Second-generation facelift 2021–2024: heavily led, minimal service bulbs
The facelifted Q5 and Q5 Sportback line pushes the LED strategy even harder. Headlamps get matrix features, more animation, and even more sealed hardware. Rear lights are almost entirely LED, with little room for old-school bulbs. The Audi Q5 bulb size list shrinks down to a few service points: reverse bulbs in many regions, license plate lamps on certain builds, plus interior lights.
This is good for long-term reliability but introduces scarcity in terms of DIY opportunities. You’re not gonna swap your own matrix LED segment in the garage. When one of those headlamps fails, the bill can grate on your belief system, which is another reason to avoid any sketchy coding or wiring experiments.
| Position | Bulb type (with link) | Notes |
| Low / high beam headlamp | LED matrix module | Factory matrix LED or advanced LED, full assembly replacement if failed |
| Front DRL and turn signal | LED module | Integrated light signature and indicators |
| Front fog / cornering (where separate) | H11 or LED module | Some trims keep a separate fog bulb, others integrate function into headlamp |
| Rear tail / brake | LED module | Dynamic patterns in many models, no conventional bulbs |
| Rear turn signal | LED module | Dynamic indicators, usually part of tail assembly |
| Reverse / backup light | T15 / 921 / 912 or LED module | Still bulb-type on many builds, easy high-impact LED move |
| License plate lamp | T10 / 194 or LED module | Bulb or sealed LED depending on market and trim |
| Front map lights | T10 / 194 | Still often a small wedge bulb, even with ambient LED packages |
| Dome / rear interior | C5W 36mm | Festoon bulbs or LED panels depending on exact spec |
| Cargo / trunk | T10 / 194 | Still relatively simple to access and swap |
You can see how the newer the car, the shorter the classic Audi Q5 bulb size list becomes. The flip side is that the few remaining bulbs are even more valuable to upgrade, because they stand out against modern LED signatures if they stay old-school yellow.
Typical Audi Q5 lighting problems and how to think about them
Across all generations, a few patterns show up again and again. Early cars with H7 halogen low beams suffer from dimming over time; the bulb doesn’t fail instantly, it fades, and the driver compensates without noticing. Xenon D3S and D5S bulbs tend to shift color before they die, which can look cheap on an otherwise clean SUV. LED tails, meanwhile, are reliable until the moment a segment fails and you suddenly need a whole lamp.
Another recurring issue: bulb-out warnings when owners drop random cheap LEDs into the car. The Q5 is picky about current draw. If you plug in low-quality LEDs with poor resistors, you can trigger errors or flicker. That kills both value and mood. The smarter play is to pick LED bulbs that are explicitly CAN bus-friendly and matched to the correct Audi Q5 bulb size for that circuit.
On the interior side, factory bulbs are functional but not exactly premium-feeling. A full interior LED refresh creates a disproportionate lift in cabin feel. Map lights, dome lights, and trunk lamps are low-risk, high-reward positions. If you’re unsure where to start, those positions are the low-hanging fruit.
How to choose LED upgrades without wrecking value
If you want LED upgrades, start with a simple filter in your head: safety-critical vs quality-of-life. Safety-critical positions are low beams, high beams, and main brake lights. Quality-of-life positions are interior lights, trunk, license plates, and reverse lamps.
For safety-critical positions, stick with proven brands and avoid egregiously cheap packs that promise miracle lumens. Check for a clear beam pattern, proper cooling, and a base that matches your Audi Q5 bulb size precisely. Something like an H7 LED kit for early cars or a solid D3S LED upgrade for xenon housings can deliver your dream outcome, but only if the optics of the lamp cooperate.
For quality-of-life positions, go aggressive. Reverse lights upgraded from T15 halogen to crisp white T15 LED make parking at night dramatically easier. Interior LEDs make the cabin feel more expensive. License plate LEDs clean up the rear view for basically no money. This is where the psychological payoff per dollar is huge.
One more thing: pay attention to heat and housing design. Some LED bulbs need more airflow than the headlamp cap allows. If you force the fit, you can cook the LED, fog the lens, or annoy the car’s bulb monitoring. That’s a no bueno outcome.
step-by-step game plan for replacing bulbs on the Q5
Every generation of Q5 has its little quirks, but the core workflow for a typical bulb swap stays similar. First, confirm your Audi Q5 bulb size, ideally from two sources: a table like this and what you physically see when you pull the old bulb. Second, get the actual bulb in your hand before you tear deeper into the car; this cuts down on open-hood time and urgency.
Front headlight bulb access often happens through removable caps on the back of the headlamp. On some models, you can work from the engine bay. On others, you may need to move the washer bottle or intake ducting. Take your time, because forcing a hand into a cramped space tends to break plastic tabs or wiring clips. Once the cap is off, note the orientation of the old bulb before removing it, so you don’t guess in reverse during reinstallation.
Tail lamps are usually easier. On most Q5s, you pop a small trim cover in the cargo area, undo a screw or nut, and slide the lamp out. The bulb carrier then comes away from the housing. Here, the main risk is dropping a nut into the trim or letting the lamp hang by the wiring. Support the lamp with one hand or a soft pad.
Interior bulbs reward patience. Use a plastic trim tool rather than a screwdriver, so you don’t scar the lens. Pull the housing straight down or out, swap the bulb, then test before pushing the housing back. This reduces the chance that you end up fighting with the fixture twice.
When Audi Q5 lighting diy becomes a bad idea
Even if you enjoy wrenching, some parts of the Q5 lighting system are better left to a shop. Full LED headlamps, matrix units, and any component that requires bumper removal fall into this category for most owners. The risk isn’t just time. One slip can crack an expensive housing or damage a parking sensor harness, and there goes your profit margin on the whole project.
Another red flag: if the car throws repeated errors after an LED swap, and you’ve confirmed the Audi Q5 bulb size and polarity, the best move is to backtrack. Either reinstall quality halogens or speak to a specialist who understands coding and load resistors on VAG cars. Randomly stacking resistors and adapters can heat things up behind the scenes in uncomfortable ways.
As a rule of thumb, if the process involves pulling the bumper or re-coding the body control module, and you feel any doubt, outsourcing is a sane decision. You can still handle the reverse, interior, and license bulbs yourself and get plenty of value.
Audi Q5 bulb size FAQ
Q: How do I quickly check which headlight system my Audi Q5 has?
A: Look at the lens and the dash switch. If you see a projector lens with a strong blue-white tone and an auto-leveling icon on the switch, you probably have xenon (D3S or D5S). If the lens is more basic and the light is warmer, you likely have H7 halogens. Newer cars with super crisp white light signatures and complex animation are almost always LED modules rather than classic bulbs.
Q: Can I swap halogen H7 bulbs for LED without changing the whole headlight?
A: On 2009-2014 cars with reflector H7 lamps, it’s technically possible to install H7 LED bulbs that match the original Audi Q5 bulb size. The real question is the beam pattern. Some LED kits keep the cutoff clean; others scatter light everywhere. Choose a well-reviewed kit, test against a wall, and be ready to revert to halogen if the output looks wild.
Q: Do xenon D3S or D5S bulbs need to be changed in pairs?
A: Strong recommendation: yes. As xenon bulbs age, they lose output and shift color. If you only change one side, the car ends up with mismatched color temperature and brightness. That looks cheap and reduces effective visibility. Changing both sides together keeps things balanced and delivers the dream outcome you paid for.
Q: My Q5 shows a bulb-out warning after I install LEDs. What went wrong?
A: The car monitors current draw. Many generic LEDs pull less current than halogens, so the control module thinks the bulb failed. You either need CAN-bus compatible LEDs designed for that Audi Q5 bulb size, or you need external resistors to simulate the original load. Be careful with resistors; they get hot and must be mounted on metal, away from wiring.
Q: Is it worth upgrading reverse lights on newer Q5 generations?
A: Absolutely. Reverse lights are one of the last conventional bulbs on many 2018+ cars. Upgrading T15/921 to high-output LEDs can transform night parking, especially with tinted glass or dark surroundings. It’s cheap, quick, and carries almost zero downside if you pick decent parts.
Q: Can I fix a single dead LED in a taillight or DRL strip?
A: In theory, with soldering gear and time, maybe. In practice, Audi designed those as sealed units. Access is awkward, and you risk opening the lamp to moisture and condensation. Most owners either live with a minor failure or replace the entire lamp. It feels brutal, but that’s the reality of LED module commoditization.
Q: Will LED interior upgrades drain my battery faster?
A: No. LEDs draw less current than halogens. If anything, the load on the battery goes down. As long as you match the correct Audi Q5 bulb size for each socket and avoid weird, untested boards, the electrical system won’t care. What you will notice is a cleaner, more modern cabin vibe.
Q: Do I need to disconnect the battery before changing bulbs?
A: For simple interior and exterior bulb swaps, many owners work with the battery connected and lights switched off. If you’re touching headlamp connectors, xenon ballasts, or anything near airbag sensors, disconnecting the battery is a safer play. That said, always save radio codes and be prepared for the car to go through a short re-initialization phase afterward.
Q: How often should I refresh halogen bulbs if they haven’t failed yet?
A: Halogens fade long before they go dark. If your Q5 is still running on original H7 low beams from many years ago, you’re likely leaving performance on the table. A refresh every few years gives you a quiet safety upgrade. Think of it as preventive maintenance, not a vanity move.
Q: Where do I get the most ‘bang for buck’ with bulb upgrades on a Q5?
A: On older generations, H7 low beams and H11 fogs give huge value when you move to quality halogen or LED options. On newer generations with plenty of factory LEDs, reverse, interior, and trunk lamps offer disproportionate gains for tiny money. In either case, the key is aligning your choices with the correct Audi Q5 bulb size so you avoid returns, hassle, and lost time.
