The Mercedes-Benz E430 front turn signal requires a 1156NA bulb size, while rear turn signals use either 1156 or 1156NA bulb sizes. The replacement chart covers 1998 through 2002 model 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 E430 uses the 1156 and 1156NA bulb types across all listed turn signal positions for model years 1998-2002. Both are ANSI-standard single-filament bulbs rated at 12V and 21W, sharing the BA15s bayonet base.
The BA15s bayonet base is a single-contact bayonet fitting, which means the bulb has one electrical contact pin at the base. This distinguishes it from dual-contact variants such as the BA15d, which are not interchangeable.
The 1156NA designation indicates a natural amber glass envelope. This coloring is built into the glass itself rather than applied as a coating, producing the amber signal color without reliance on a colored lens.
The standard 1156 lacks the amber glass of the 1156NA. In positions where the lens or housing provides the amber color, the clear-glass 1156 is specified instead.
For the front turn signal on the E430, the 1156NA is specified across all model years 1998-2002, indicating the front housing relies on the bulb's own amber glass to produce the required signal color.
The rear turn signal specification shifts between model years. The 1998-1999 rear position uses the 1156NA, while the 2000-2002 rear position uses the standard 1156, reflecting a difference in how the rear housing produces the amber output across those year groups.
Because the 1156 and 1156NA share the same BA15s base, voltage, and wattage, they are physically and electrically compatible with the same socket. Substituting one for the other affects only the color output, which depends on whether the housing lens supplies the amber tint.
At 21W on a 12V circuit, each 1156 or 1156NA bulb draws approximately 1.75 amperes. This draw is relevant to turn signal flasher relay calibration, as electronic or LED-compatible flashers may behave differently if the specified incandescent load is altered.