The Mercedes-Benz CL500 front turn signal bulb size includes 2357NA and 1156NA, while rear turn signal bulb size encompasses 1156NA, 12496, and PY21W specifications. The replacement chart covers 1998 to 2006 production years with corresponding bulb size data.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The 1156NA is the most frequently specified bulb across the Mercedes-Benz CL500 turn signal positions and model years. It is an ANSI-standard single-filament bulb rated at 12V and 21W, fitted with a BA15s bayonet base and natural amber glass.
The 2357NA bulb carries a dual-filament design rated at 12V with a high/low wattage split of 26.9W and 8W. It uses a BAY15d bayonet base, which has two offset pins to prevent incorrect installation, distinguishing it physically from the single-filament 1156NA.
The BA15s base of the 1156NA and the BAY15d base of the 2357NA are not interchangeable. The pin offset on the BAY15d base means a 2357NA bulb cannot seat correctly in a BA15s socket, and vice versa.
For the front turn signal on the Mercedes-Benz CL500, the 2357NA was specified for the 1998-1999 model years, while the 1156NA was specified for 2000-2004, and the 2357NA returned for 2005-2006.
The rear turn signal position shows variation across model years. The 1156NA was specified for 1998-2002, 2005-2006, the PY21W for 2003, and the 12496 for 2004.
The PY21W is an ECE-standard bulb rather than an ANSI-standard one. It uses a BAU15s bayonet base, which has a different pin offset angle than both the BA15s and BAY15d bases, making it incompatible with sockets designed for ANSI-standard bulbs.
The 12496 is identified by a Philips/Osram part number rather than an ANSI or ECE designation, indicating it is a proprietary or specialty halogen bulb rated at 12V for a specific application.
The natural amber glass of both the 1156NA and 2357NA produces amber light through the glass coating itself rather than through an amber-tinted lens, which is the defining characteristic of the NA suffix in ANSI bulb nomenclature.
The 2357NA and 1156NA share the same natural amber glass and 12V operating voltage, but the 2357NA's dual-filament construction means it serves positions requiring two brightness levels, while the 1156NA serves single-brightness positions only.
Substituting a 1156NA for a 2357NA in a dual-filament socket would result in only one circuit being functional, as the single-filament design lacks the second filament required by the BAY15d socket's additional contact.