The Mercedes-Benz CL500 front fog light requires 9006 and H3 bulb sizes, while the rear fog light uses a P21/4W bulb size. The replacement chart covers 1998 to 2006 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 CL500 front fog light uses two different bulb types across its model years, with the H3 specified for 1998-1999 and the 9006 specified for 2000-2006.
The 9006 is an ANSI-standard single-filament halogen bulb rated at 12V and 55W, fitted with a P22d base, and is the standard used in the United States and Canada.
The H3 is an ECE-standard single-filament halogen bulb also rated at 12V and 55W, but it uses a PK22s base rather than the P22d base found on the 9006.
Although both the 9006 and H3 share the same voltage and wattage ratings, their base types differ, meaning the two bulbs are not interchangeable despite their identical power specifications.
The H3 carries approval for use in the United States and Japan in addition to its primary ECE certification, giving it broader regulatory acceptance than its ANSI-standard counterpart.
The rear fog light on the CL500 uses the P21/4W bulb across all model years from 1998-2006, making it the only rear fog light specification present in these records.
The P21/4W is a dual-filament signalling bulb operating at 12V with two distinct wattage outputs of 21W and 4W, governed by the ECE standard.
The P21/4W uses a BAZ15d bayonet base, which is an offset-pin design that prevents incorrect installation by ensuring the bulb can only be seated in one orientation.
The rear fog light specification remains consistent across the entire 1998-2006 production span of the CL500, while the front fog light specification changed once, at the 2000 model year.
The front and rear fog lights on the CL500 use entirely different bulb families, with the front positions drawing on halogen technology and the rear position using a dual-filament signalling type with a bayonet fitting.