The Mercedes-Benz C280 front fog light utilizes 9006, H1, or H3 bulb sizes, while rear fog light applications require P21/4W or P21W bulb sizes. The replacement chart covers 1994 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 Mercedes-Benz C280 front fog light specifications cover model years 1994-2007, with three distinct bulb types used across that span: H3, H1, and 9006.
The H3 bulb is an ECE-standard single-filament halogen type rated at 12V and 55W, fitted with a PK22s base. It is also approved for use in the US and Japan. The C280 front fog lights used this bulb across the 1994-1997 model years.
The H1 bulb is likewise an ECE-standard single-filament halogen type rated at 12V and 55W, but it uses a P14.5s base rather than the PK22s base of the H3. It is also approved in the US and Japan. The C280 front fog lights used this bulb for the 1998-2000 model years.
Despite sharing the same 12V/55W power rating as the H1 and H3, the 9006 bulb follows the ANSI standard used in the US and Canada rather than the ECE standard. It uses a P22d base and was specified for the C280 front fog lights in 2006-2007.
The P14.5s, PK22s, and P22d bases are physically distinct and not interchangeable with one another, meaning H1, H3, and 9006 bulbs cannot substitute for each other despite their identical wattage ratings.
The P21/4W is a dual-filament signalling bulb operating at 12V with filaments rated at 21W and 4W. It uses a BAZ15d bayonet base and follows the ECE standard. It serves as the rear fog light bulb for the C280 across the 1994-2000 and 2007 model years.
The 2006 C280 rear fog light uses the P21W rather than the P21/4W. The P21W is a single-filament signalling bulb rated at 12V and 21W, fitted with a BA15s bayonet base.
The BAZ15d base of the P21/4W and the BA15s base of the P21W are not interchangeable. The BAZ15d is an offset-pin bayonet base designed to prevent incorrect installation of a dual-filament bulb, while the BA15s is a single-pin bayonet base used for single-filament applications.