The Mercedes-Benz S350 parking light requires bulb sizes 12961 or 2357NA or 1157 depending on the specific version. Data for the provided components covers the range from 1994 to 2013.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The 12961 is a Philips part number designation for a T10 miniature wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W. It is the most frequently specified bulb across the Mercedes-Benz S350 parking light fitments listed.
The W2.1x9.5d base on the 12961 bulb is a wedge-type connector, meaning the bulb is held in place by tension from the socket rather than a locking bayonet mechanism.
The Mercedes-Benz S350 for model years 2012-2013 uses the 12961 bulb for the front parking light position.
The 2006 S350 also specifies the 12961 for a clearance light function within the front parking light position, indicating a distinct optical or regulatory role for that fitment.
The 2357NA is an ANSI-standard dual-filament bulb with a BAY15d bayonet base, rated at 12V with filaments drawing 26.9W and 8W respectively. The natural amber glass produces a yellow-orange output without the use of a colored lens or coating.
The 1157 shares the same BAY15d bayonet base as the 2357NA but carries different wattage ratings of 21W and 5W, making the two bulbs physically interchangeable in terms of socket fit while differing in light output.
Because the 1157 and 2357NA share the BAY15d base, socket compatibility alone does not confirm correct fitment. The wattage difference between the two means they are not electrically equivalent substitutes for the S350 application.
The 1994 S350 specifies the 1157, while the 1995 model specifies the 2357NA. Both use the BAY15d bayonet base, but the shift in specification reflects a change in the required output characteristics between those two model years.
The transition from BAY15d-based dual-filament bulbs in 1994-1995 to the single-filament T10 wedge format of the 12961 in later model years represents a significant change in socket type, meaning bulbs from earlier specifications are not physically compatible with sockets designed for the 12961.