The Mercedes-Benz 450SEL uses an H5001 bulb size for high beam headlights and an H5006 bulb size for low beam headlights. The replacement chart covers vehicle production years from 1973 to 1980 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 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL uses two distinct sealed beam types across its headlight system for the 1973-1980 model years: the H5001 for high beam and the H5006 for low beam.
The H5001 is a 4-inch square sealed beam unit operating at 12V. It conforms to ANSI standards applicable in the United States and Canada.
The H5006 is a 5.75-inch round sealed beam unit, also rated at 12V and built to the same ANSI standard covering the US and Canadian markets.
Both the H5001 and H5006 are sealed beam units, meaning the lens, reflector, and filament form a single assembly. When the filament fails, the entire unit requires replacement rather than an internal bulb swap.
The square profile of the H5001 and the round profile of the H5006 make the two units physically incompatible with each other, and neither is interchangeable with the other's housing position.
The 12V operating voltage of both units is consistent with the standard electrical system voltage found in passenger vehicles of this era, confirming direct compatibility with the 450SEL's electrical architecture.
The H5001 high beam specification remains unchanged across all eight model years covered, from 1973 through 1980, indicating no variation in that fitment throughout the production run represented in these specifications.
The same consistency applies to the H5006 low beam fitment, which is uniform across the full 1973-1980 range without variation by year.