The Mercedes-Benz S500 parking light utilizes 12961 and 2357NA bulb sizes for the lighting components. Data for the specific bulbs covers the range from 1995 through 2006.
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-designated miniature wedge bulb in the T10 form factor, using a W2.1x9.5d base and rated at 12V and 5W. Its wedge base design means it is held in place by friction rather than a locking mechanism.
The 2357NA follows the ANSI standard recognized in the United States and Canada. It uses a BAY15d bayonet base, which features two pins offset at different heights to prevent incorrect installation, and carries a dual-filament configuration rated at 12V with separate wattages of 26.9W and 8W for its two circuits.
The natural amber glass of the 2357NA produces a yellow-orange output without the use of a colored lens or coating over a clear bulb, which is a characteristic of the NA (Natural Amber) designation in the ANSI naming system.
The Mercedes-Benz S500 front parking light uses the 12961 for model years 2003-2006 across the standard fitment, and also uses the 12961 for 1995-1999 vehicles specifically noted as having Special protection.
For S500 vehicles without the Special protection designation, the 1995-1999 model years use the 2357NA rather than the 12961, making the two bulb types non-interchangeable for those years despite serving the same lighting position.
The 12961 and 2357NA are not interchangeable. The W2.1x9.5d wedge base and the BAY15d bayonet base are physically incompatible mounting types, and the wattage ratings differ substantially between the two bulbs.
The 2357NA is a dual-filament bulb, meaning it serves two separate electrical functions within a single housing. The 12961 is a single-filament bulb rated at only 5W, which reflects its role as a low-intensity parking light in the vehicles where it is specified.
Model years 2000-2002 of the S500 front parking light are specified with the 12961 under the standard fitment group, with no Special protection variant listed for those years.