Mercedes-Benz E500 Headlight Bulb Size

The Mercedes-Benz E500 high beam headlight uses an H7 or 9003 bulb size, while the low beam headlight requires an H7, D2S, or 9003 bulb size. The replacement chart covers vehicle production years from 1994 to 2006 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
2003-2006	H7	H7	Check Price
1994	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
2003-2006	H7	H7	Check Price
2003-2006	D2S (With HID Headlamps)	D2S	Check Price
1994	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-2 base, for projector-type housings. Requires external ignitor. 85V, 35W.	D2S	Check Price

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Additional Notes

The H7 bulb follows the ECE standard and is a single-filament halogen type with a PX26d base, rated at 12V and 55W. Its single-filament design means it serves only one lighting function per housing, which is why the Mercedes-Benz E500 uses it separately for both high beam and low beam positions in the 2003-2006 model years.
The 9003 bulb follows the ANSI standard and carries a dual-filament design with a P43t base, rated at 12V and 60W/55W. The two wattage figures correspond to its high beam and low beam filaments respectively, allowing a single bulb to serve both functions within one housing.
The D2S is a High Intensity Discharge (HID) xenon bulb with a P32d-2 base, rated at 85V and 35W. Unlike halogen types, it produces light through an electrical arc between two electrodes rather than a heated filament, and it requires an external ignitor to initiate and sustain that arc.
The D2S bulb is specified exclusively for the low beam position on the E500 in 2003-2006, and only on vehicles equipped with HID headlamps. Vehicles from those same years without HID headlamps use the H7 for the low beam instead.
The D2S is designed for projector-type housings. Installing it in a reflector-type housing produces uncontrolled light scatter, which affects both road illumination and oncoming driver visibility.
The H7 and 9003 bulbs are not interchangeable. Their base types differ, with the H7 using a PX26d base and the 9003 using a P43t base, making physical substitution between the two impossible without modification.
The 1994 E500 uses the 9003 bulb for both high beam and low beam functions, relying on that bulb's dual-filament construction to handle both roles within a single headlamp housing.
The H7 carries approval across ECE-regulated markets in Europe and worldwide, as well as in the US and Japan, giving it broader regulatory acceptance than the region-specific 9003, which is limited to the ANSI standard used in the US and Canada.