The Mercedes-Benz 260E brake light utilizes a P21W bulb size for the rear lighting system. Data for the specific component covers the range from 1987 to 1989.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The P21W is the sole bulb type listed across all brake light positions for the Mercedes-Benz 260E, covering both the standard brake lights and the center high mount stop light for the 1987-1989 model years.
The P21W operates at 12 volts and consumes 21 watts, placing it in the standard single-filament signalling category used widely in automotive lighting.
As a single-filament bulb, the P21W serves dedicated on/off functions rather than dual-intensity roles, making it suited for brake and stop light applications where a single brightness level is required.
The P21W uses a BA15s bayonet base, where "BA" denotes a bayonet cap fitting, "15" refers to the 15mm base width, and the lowercase "s" indicates a single contact at the base.
The BA15s base is not interchangeable with the BA15d base, which carries two contacts. Substituting a dual-contact bulb in a single-contact socket would result in incorrect fitment.
The P21W is governed by ECE regulations, a standardized framework recognized across Europe and numerous other markets worldwide, which defines its electrical and photometric performance requirements.
Because the same P21W specification applies to both the standard brake lights and the center high mount stop light on the 260E, the vehicle uses a single bulb type across all three stop light positions.