The Mercedes-Benz C230 high beam headlight uses H7 or H1 bulb sizes, while low beam headlight applications require H7, D2S, or D2R bulb sizes depending on model configuration. The replacement chart covers 1997 through 2007 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 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.