MG3 (2011–2024) — Complete Bulb Specifications
The older MG3 belongs to the last generation you can relamp in a supermarket car park: every exterior and interior bulb except the DRL is a standard, owner-replaceable fitting, and the official UK manual publishes the full chart. Here it is, verbatim from the archived document — no guessing at the parts counter.
Bulb chart — official specifications
| Position | Fitting | Wattage |
|---|---|---|
| Headlamp high/low beam | H4 | 60/55 W |
| Side light (position) | W5W | 5 W |
| Front direction indicators | PY21W (amber) | 21 W |
| Side repeater (in mirror) | WY5W (amber) | 5 W |
| Stop/tail lamps | PR21/5W | 21/5 W |
| Rear direction indicators | P21W | 21 W |
| Rear fog lamps | W21W | 21 W |
| Reverse lamps | H21W | 21 W |
| High-mounted stop lamp | W5W | 5 W |
| Licence-plate lamps | W5W | 5 W |
| Load-space lamp | R10W | 10 W |
| Interior lamp | C10W | 10 W |
| Daytime running lamp | LED — non-serviceable, even on this generation | |
Source: official MG3 owner’s manual, UK edition (Bulb Specification chart; archived with checksum). Buy by the fitting code in the middle column — it’s an international standard, so any brand’s H4 or PY21W fits.
Three traps worth the warning
- Amber vs clear: PY21W and WY5W are amber bulbs. A clear P21W physically fits the front indicator socket on many cars — and flashes white, which is a defect notice waiting to happen.
- “LED upgrade” H4s: retrofit LED headlight bulbs in halogen reflectors are non-compliant on Australian and UK roads unless the whole unit is approved — and the beam pattern scatters. The manual’s H4 60/55W is the specification for a reason.
- Wiper sizes aren’t in the manual — the replacement procedure is documented, the lengths are not. Measure the blade on the car before ordering; don’t trust seller compatibility lists alone (the same lesson as the oil-filter thread trap).
The rest of the consumables shelf
Oil filter (with the 13/16-16UN thread trap documented): MG3 oil filter page. Fluids and capacities: the official fluid sheet. For everything newer than this generation, read what the manuals actually let you replace — the answer changed more than most owners realise.