The Mercedes-Benz SL500 front side marker bulb utilizes 12961, 2357NA, or P21/5W size specifications, while the rear side marker bulb requires 5008 or 232 size configurations. The replacement chart covers vehicle production spanning 1994 to 2006 with corresponding bulb size data.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The Mercedes-Benz SL500 front side marker position uses two distinct bulb types across its model years: the 12961 and the 2357NA, with the 1994-1995 model years requiring a third type, the P21/5W.
The 12961 is a Philips part number designating a T10 miniature wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W. It is a single-filament lamp commonly used in low-load marker and courtesy light applications.
The 2357NA follows the ANSI standard and carries a BAY15d bayonet base with dual filaments rated at 26.9W and 8W on a 12V circuit. The "NA" suffix denotes natural amber glass, meaning the amber color is built into the bulb envelope rather than produced by a colored lens.
The P21/5W is governed by the ECE standard used in European and worldwide markets. It also uses a BAY15d bayonet base with dual filaments, rated at 21W and 5W on 12V. Although the P21/5W and 2357NA share the same BAY15d base type, their wattage ratings differ, and they are not interchangeable without verifying socket and circuit compatibility.
For the SL500 front side marker, the 12961 applies to the 1998-1999 and 2003-2006 model years, while the 2357NA applies to 1996-1997 and 2000-2002, and the P21/5W applies to 1994-1995.
The rear side marker position on the SL500 uses two bulb types: the 5008 and the 232, with fitment varying by model year.
The 5008 is an ANSI-standard single-filament bulb with a BA15s bayonet base, operating at 12V. It is a lower-wattage variant of the 1156 bulb family and shares the same base, though the reduced wattage means the 1156 is not a direct drop-in replacement without confirming circuit tolerances.
The 232 is an ANSI-standard festoon bulb with an SV8.5 base, rated at 12V and 3W. Festoon bulbs are cylindrical in form and seat by contact pressure at each end rather than by a bayonet or wedge mechanism, making them physically incompatible with BA15s or BAY15d sockets.
The rear side marker on the SL500 uses the 232 festoon bulb for the 1995, 1998-1999 model years, and the 5008 for 1994, 1996-1997, and 2000-2002.
Because the front side marker position alternates between wedge, dual-filament bayonet, and ECE-standard bayonet bulbs across different model years of the same vehicle, year-specific verification is necessary before substitution, as base types and filament configurations are not uniform across the production run.