The Mercedes-Benz CLK430 parking light requires bulb size 12961 or H6W depending on the specific application. Data for the bulb sizes covers the range from 1999 to 2003.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The Mercedes-Benz CLK430 front parking light uses the H6W bulb across model years 1999-2003, making it the dominant fitment type within these specifications.
The H6W is an ECE-standard single-filament signalling bulb rated at 12 volts and 6 watts, mounted on a BAX9s base, a bayonet-style offset pin configuration common in European automotive lighting applications.
The BAX9s base features asymmetrically positioned pins, which physically prevent incorrect bulb orientation during installation.
The 12961 is a Philips part number designation for a T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12 volts and 5 watts, using a W2.1x9.5d wedge base rather than a bayonet fitting.
The H6W and 12961 bulbs are not interchangeable. Their base types, the BAX9s and W2.1x9.5d respectively, are mechanically incompatible with each other's sockets.
The two bulb types also differ in wattage, with the H6W rated at 6 watts and the 12961 rated at 5 watts, meaning light output levels are not equivalent between the two.
For the 2003 CLK430 front parking light, the specifications list both the H6W and the 12961 as applicable bulb sizes, indicating that two distinct socket configurations were present in that model year.