I couldn't find any reliable information on the web for what bulbs the Astra J uses, so I took every bulb out of my car and have compiled a list to help anyone who needs to buy spares/replacements. If anyone has additional information or corrections, let me know and I'll edit the top post to keep it as a complete reference.
(Updated 02/04/2021)
Exterior:
Astra J dipped beam headlight bulb: 55W H7 (477)
Astra J main beam headlight bulb: 55W H7 (477)
Astra J sidelight and DRL bulb combined: W21/5W (580) (also called 7443) INFO (for upgrade alternatives see this comparison and discusion here and here and a how-to)
Astra J AFL cornering bulb: H11 55W
Astra J front fog light bulb (MY10-MY12): H10-45W (Sylvania 9145 42W) PY20d base INFO
Astra J front fog light bulb (facelift MY13-): H11 55W
Astra J front indicator bulb: PSY24W (amber)
Astra J side repeater bulb: W5WY (501A) (amber) INFO (for a neater appearance, try silver chromed bulbs and/or smoked lenses)
Astra J rear indicator bulb: W16W (955) (post-facelift Sports Tourer is P21W (382))
Astra J tail light bulb: W5W (501) (6 tail light bulbs in total)
Astra J number plate bulb: W5W (501) (two are used), or use these LED replacements as recommended in post 103 below.
Astra J brake light bulb: W16W (955) (post-facelift Sports Tourer is P21W (382))
Astra J reverse light bulb: H21W (435) (off-set pins) INFO
Astra J rear fog light bulb: H21W (435) (off-set pins) INFO
Interior:
Astra J front courtesy light bulb: W5W (501)
Astra J front map reading lights: W5W (501)
Astra J rear courtesy lights: W5W (501)
Astra J glove box light: W5W (501)
Astra J vanity mirror lights: 6615F (see post #19 below for more info)
Astra J boot luggage compartment light: W5W (501)
Here's a useful pdf guide to changing the interior bulbs in the Astra J.
Dash/centre console/instrument panel: TBC
GTC:
Astra GTC headlight bulb: 9012 (55W single filament provides both dipped and main beam)
(for discussion about alternative headlight bulbs for the Astra GTC, see this thread and info about using 9006 bulbs)
(for after-market HIDs see the how-to guide)
Astra GTC sidelight and DRL bulb combined: W21/5W (580) (also called 7443) INFO (same as on 5-door, but not can-bus monitored on the GTC so you can use LEDs see post #38 here).
Astra GTC front indicator bulb: 581 (amber with offset pins - silver chromed versions available)
Astra GTC side repeater bulb: W5W (501) (clear glass - amber colour is in the lens)
(The side repeater is interchangeable with the Astra H and Corsa D, including VXR surrounds. See post #22 in this thread for info on changing the side repeaters.)
Astra GTC front fog light bulb: H10-45W (Sylvania 9145 42W) PY20d base INFO
Astra GTC brake and tail light bulb (outer): P21/5W (except with LED tail lamps)
Astra GTC rear indicator bulb: WY21W
Astra GTC reverse bulb: W16W
Astra GTC tail light bulb (inner, on tailgate): W5W (501) (except with LED tail lamps)
Astra GTC rear fog light bulb: PSX24W
Astra GTC number plate bulb: as per 5-door Astra J above.
Everything else TBC.
For help on changing bulbs in the GTC go to this thread.
Notes regarding "CAN-bus" and LEDs
Most exterior bulbs on the Astra J and GTC are monitored by bulb-check circuits that report failed bulbs to the on board computer via the CAN-bus. If you replace these bulbs with LEDs or HIDs, the resistance of the bulb and the current it draws is different from a normal filament bulb, so the car reports a bulb failure. There are many so-called "CAN-bus compatible" bulbs on the market, but the Astra's bulb check circuits are very sensitive so most of these still result in an error message. Your alternatives are:
1) Use ballasts / load resistors that mimic the load of the original bulb more closely
2) Stick with filament bulbs (there are premium and whiter/bluer options available)
3) Install what you like (just don't overload the circuit) and ignore the error messages (they cause no harm - just annoyance!)
Interior bulbs are not monitored by bulb-check circuits. However, the dimming circuits which provide the fade-up/fade-down lighting effects do need a complete circuit path to drain current. If you install all LEDs you may find the lights do not fully go out. Using at least one so-called "CAN-bus ready" LED in each circuit solves this problem because the built-in load resistor provides a path for the current to drain.
Adjusting halogen headlights for driving abroad
The user manual says that halogen headlights don't require any adjustment for driving abroad, but that isn't really correct! As with most headlights, they have a beam pattern which is raised up to the nearside, and would therefore dazzle drivers when driving on the other side of the road. The Workshop Manual here shows that the procedure is to use a 6mm allen key (or philips screwdriver) to turn the height adjustment screw on each headlight down (clockwise) by 1.5 turns. This obviously doesn't change the beam pattern which is still raised to the nearside, but lowers it enough not to dazzle. Alternatively you can buy the stickers to stick on the front of the headlight to divert the relevant part of the beam downwards.
For more upgrades and how-to guides for the Astra J and GTC, refer to our how-to directory.
(Updated 02/04/2021)
Exterior:
Astra J dipped beam headlight bulb: 55W H7 (477)
Astra J main beam headlight bulb: 55W H7 (477)
Astra J sidelight and DRL bulb combined: W21/5W (580) (also called 7443) INFO (for upgrade alternatives see this comparison and discusion here and here and a how-to)
Astra J AFL cornering bulb: H11 55W
Astra J front fog light bulb (MY10-MY12): H10-45W (Sylvania 9145 42W) PY20d base INFO
Astra J front fog light bulb (facelift MY13-): H11 55W
Astra J front indicator bulb: PSY24W (amber)
Astra J side repeater bulb: W5WY (501A) (amber) INFO (for a neater appearance, try silver chromed bulbs and/or smoked lenses)
Astra J rear indicator bulb: W16W (955) (post-facelift Sports Tourer is P21W (382))
Astra J tail light bulb: W5W (501) (6 tail light bulbs in total)
Astra J number plate bulb: W5W (501) (two are used), or use these LED replacements as recommended in post 103 below.
Astra J brake light bulb: W16W (955) (post-facelift Sports Tourer is P21W (382))
Astra J reverse light bulb: H21W (435) (off-set pins) INFO
Astra J rear fog light bulb: H21W (435) (off-set pins) INFO
Interior:
Astra J front courtesy light bulb: W5W (501)
Astra J front map reading lights: W5W (501)
Astra J rear courtesy lights: W5W (501)
Astra J glove box light: W5W (501)
Astra J vanity mirror lights: 6615F (see post #19 below for more info)
Astra J boot luggage compartment light: W5W (501)
Here's a useful pdf guide to changing the interior bulbs in the Astra J.
Dash/centre console/instrument panel: TBC
GTC:
Astra GTC headlight bulb: 9012 (55W single filament provides both dipped and main beam)
(for discussion about alternative headlight bulbs for the Astra GTC, see this thread and info about using 9006 bulbs)
(for after-market HIDs see the how-to guide)
Astra GTC sidelight and DRL bulb combined: W21/5W (580) (also called 7443) INFO (same as on 5-door, but not can-bus monitored on the GTC so you can use LEDs see post #38 here).
Astra GTC front indicator bulb: 581 (amber with offset pins - silver chromed versions available)
Astra GTC side repeater bulb: W5W (501) (clear glass - amber colour is in the lens)
(The side repeater is interchangeable with the Astra H and Corsa D, including VXR surrounds. See post #22 in this thread for info on changing the side repeaters.)
Astra GTC front fog light bulb: H10-45W (Sylvania 9145 42W) PY20d base INFO
Astra GTC brake and tail light bulb (outer): P21/5W (except with LED tail lamps)
Astra GTC rear indicator bulb: WY21W
Astra GTC reverse bulb: W16W
Astra GTC tail light bulb (inner, on tailgate): W5W (501) (except with LED tail lamps)
Astra GTC rear fog light bulb: PSX24W
Astra GTC number plate bulb: as per 5-door Astra J above.
Everything else TBC.
For help on changing bulbs in the GTC go to this thread.
Notes regarding "CAN-bus" and LEDs
Most exterior bulbs on the Astra J and GTC are monitored by bulb-check circuits that report failed bulbs to the on board computer via the CAN-bus. If you replace these bulbs with LEDs or HIDs, the resistance of the bulb and the current it draws is different from a normal filament bulb, so the car reports a bulb failure. There are many so-called "CAN-bus compatible" bulbs on the market, but the Astra's bulb check circuits are very sensitive so most of these still result in an error message. Your alternatives are:
1) Use ballasts / load resistors that mimic the load of the original bulb more closely
2) Stick with filament bulbs (there are premium and whiter/bluer options available)
3) Install what you like (just don't overload the circuit) and ignore the error messages (they cause no harm - just annoyance!)
Interior bulbs are not monitored by bulb-check circuits. However, the dimming circuits which provide the fade-up/fade-down lighting effects do need a complete circuit path to drain current. If you install all LEDs you may find the lights do not fully go out. Using at least one so-called "CAN-bus ready" LED in each circuit solves this problem because the built-in load resistor provides a path for the current to drain.
Adjusting halogen headlights for driving abroad
The user manual says that halogen headlights don't require any adjustment for driving abroad, but that isn't really correct! As with most headlights, they have a beam pattern which is raised up to the nearside, and would therefore dazzle drivers when driving on the other side of the road. The Workshop Manual here shows that the procedure is to use a 6mm allen key (or philips screwdriver) to turn the height adjustment screw on each headlight down (clockwise) by 1.5 turns. This obviously doesn't change the beam pattern which is still raised to the nearside, but lowers it enough not to dazzle. Alternatively you can buy the stickers to stick on the front of the headlight to divert the relevant part of the beam downwards.
For more upgrades and how-to guides for the Astra J and GTC, refer to our how-to directory.
