The Mercedes-Benz 260E uses 9004 bulb size for both high beam and low beam headlight applications. The replacement chart covers 1987 to 1989 production years with corresponding bulb size specifications.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The 9004 bulb is a dual-filament halogen type, meaning a single bulb contains two separate filaments to serve both high and low beam functions rather than requiring two distinct bulbs per housing.
The 9004 operates at 12 volts and draws 65 watts on the high beam filament and 45 watts on the low beam filament, reflecting the greater light output demanded for high beam use.
The 9004 uses a P29t base, which is a specific connector and socket configuration that physically determines which bulbs are compatible with a given housing.
The 9004 is an ANSI-standardized bulb approved for use in the United States and Canada, meaning it meets defined performance and safety requirements for those markets.
On the Mercedes-Benz 260E, the 9004 bulb serves both the high beam and low beam headlight positions across the 1987-1989 model years, making it the sole headlight bulb type for the vehicle.
Because the high beam and low beam positions share the same 9004 specification, the physical bulb installed in each position is identical, though the active filament differs depending on the beam mode selected.
The P29t base is not interchangeable with other common halogen base types such as H4 or 9007, even though those bulbs are also dual-filament designs with similar wattage ratings.