Mercedes-Benz C230 Map Light Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The Mercedes-Benz C230 map light specifications cover model years 1998-2007, with two distinct bulb types appearing across that range.
• The 6411 is the predominant bulb type across these specifications, appearing in eight of the nine model years listed.
• The 6411 is a festoon-style bulb rated at 12V and 5W, with a 36mm length and an SV8.5 base, conforming to ANSI standards recognized in the United States and Canada.
• Festoon bulbs are cylindrical lamps that make contact at both ends rather than through a side or bottom base, which is a defining characteristic of the SV8.5 base type used by the 6411.
• The 2002 Mercedes-Benz C230 is specified with the 12961 bulb rather than the 6411, making it the sole model year in this range to use that type.
• The 12961 is a Philips part number designating a miniature wedge bulb in the T10 form factor, using a W2.1x9.5d base, also rated at 12V and 5W.
• Although both the 6411 and 12961 share identical voltage and wattage ratings, their base types are physically incompatible, as the festoon SV8.5 base and the wedge W2.1x9.5d base are not interchangeable.
• For model years 1998-2000, the specifications explicitly note that the 6411 bulb applies to the front driver side and passenger side map light positions.
• The 2003-2007 model years are each specified with the 6411 bulb without positional qualifiers, indicating a single map light bulb size for those years.
• The year 2001 does not carry an entry in these specifications, so no bulb size is attributed to that model year.