Mercedes-Benz C230 Headlight Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The H7 bulb is the most widely specified type across the Mercedes-Benz C230 headlight data, appearing in both high beam and low beam positions across the 1997-2007 model years. It is a single-filament halogen bulb rated at 12V and 55W, fitted with a PX26d base, and carries ECE approval for use in Europe, the US, Japan, and other markets worldwide.
• The H1 bulb shares the same 12V, 55W halogen rating as the H7 but uses a P14.5s base, making the two types physically non-interchangeable despite their identical electrical ratings. On the C230, the H1 is specified for high beam and low beam positions on 1997-2000 vehicles without Xenon headlights.
• Two distinct HID bulb types are listed for the C230: the D2S and the D2R. Both operate at 85V and 35W and require an external ignitor to initiate the high-voltage arc that produces light, which distinguishes them fundamentally from the halogen types in the same specifications.
• The D2S and D2R types differ by housing design. The D2S, fitted with a P32d-2 base, is intended for projector-type housings, while the D2R uses a P32d-3 base and is designed for reflector-type housings. The two bases are not interchangeable, and installing the wrong type into a given housing would produce incorrect light distribution.
• For the Mercedes-Benz C230, the low beam position on 2003-2007 models lists the D2S for HID-equipped vehicles, while 1998-2002 models with HID headlamps use the D2R instead. This represents a housing-type difference between those production periods.
• The 1997-2000 C230 high beam position shows a dual-entry structure: H1 for standard halogen configurations and H7 specifically noted for vehicles with Xenon headlights. This indicates that the presence of a Xenon system on those model years alters the high beam bulb requirement.
• The low beam data for 1997-1999 does not include a D2R entry for the 1997 model year, whereas 1998-2000 entries include it. The 1997 low beam is covered only by H7 and H1 entries within the provided specifications.
• Because the H1 and H7 halogen types share the same wattage and voltage but carry different base designs, and because the D2S and D2R HID types are housing-specific, substituting one bulb type for another within the same socket position on the C230 is not supported by these specifications.