Mercedes-Benz E420 Headlight Bulb Size

The Mercedes-Benz E420 high beam headlight uses an H7 or 9003 bulb size, while the low beam headlight requires an H7, D2R, or 9003 bulb size. The replacement chart covers vehicle production years from 1994 to 1997 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.

High Beam Headlight

If US Type and EU Type show the same value, a direct cross-reference for this bulb is not available or the data is insufficient.

Years	US Type	EU Type	Shop
1997	H7	H7	Check Price
1994-1995	9003	H4	Check Price

Low Beam Headlight

If US Type and EU Type show the same value, a direct cross-reference for this bulb is not available or the data is insufficient.

Years	US Type	EU Type	Shop
1997	D2R (With HID Headlamps)	D2R	Check Price
1997	H7 (With Halogen Capsule Headlamps)	H7	Check Price
1994-1995	9003	H4	Check Price

Bulb Specifications

Description	Type	Shop
ECE standard (Europe & worldwide). Single-filament halogen bulb with PX26d base. Also approved in the US and Japan. 12V, 55W.	H7	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament halogen bulb with P43t base. 12V, 60W/55W.	9003	Check Price
ECE standard (Europe & worldwide). HID (xenon) discharge bulb with P32d-3 base, for reflector-type housings. Requires external ignitor. 85V, 35W.	D2R	Check Price

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The 9003 bulb, used in the Mercedes-Benz E420 for the 1994-1995 model years across both high beam and low beam positions, is an ANSI-standard dual-filament halogen type with a P43t base rated at 12V and 60W/55W, where the higher wattage serves the high beam filament and the lower serves the low beam filament within the same capsule.
The H7 bulb, appearing in the 1997 model year, is a single-filament halogen type operating at 12V and 55W with a PX26d base, conforming to ECE standards used in Europe and worldwide, though it also carries approval for use in the US and Japan.
Because the H7 is a single-filament bulb, separate bulbs are required for the high beam and low beam positions in 1997 vehicles equipped with halogen capsule headlamps, unlike the 9003 used in 1994-1995, which handles both functions through a single dual-filament unit.
The P43t base of the 9003 and the PX26d base of the H7 are physically incompatible, meaning bulbs from the 1994-1995 fitment cannot be substituted into the 1997 halogen headlamp housing without an adapter or socket modification.
The 1997 E420 low beam position offers two distinct fitments depending on headlamp type: the H7 for vehicles with halogen capsule headlamps and the D2R for vehicles equipped with HID headlamps, making headlamp system identification necessary before sourcing a replacement bulb.
The D2R is a high-intensity discharge xenon bulb operating at 85V and 35W with a P32d-3 base, specifically designed for reflector-type housings, and it requires an external ignitor to initiate and sustain the arc discharge that produces light.
The operating voltage of the D2R at 85V stands in significant contrast to the 12V rating of both the H7 and 9003, reflecting the fundamentally different electrical architecture of HID systems compared to conventional halogen circuits.
The D2R designation indicates a reflector-optimized HID bulb, which is not interchangeable with the D2S variant designed for projector-type housings, as the two differ in the shielding applied to the arc tube to control light distribution.