The Mercedes-Benz SLK280 high beam headlight uses an H7 bulb size, while the low beam headlight accommodates either an H7 or D2S bulb size. The replacement chart covers 2006 to 2008 model year data 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 H7 bulb is a single-filament halogen type operating at 12 volts and 55 watts, built to ECE standards with a PX26d base. It holds approval for use in Europe, the United States, Japan, and other worldwide markets.
The D2S is a high-intensity discharge bulb, commonly referred to as a xenon or HID bulb, rated at 85 volts and 35 watts. It uses a P32d-2 base and is designed specifically for projector-type headlamp housings. Unlike halogen types, it requires a separate external ignitor to initiate the arc discharge that produces light.
The Mercedes-Benz SLK280 uses the H7 bulb across all three model years (2006-2008) for the high beam headlight position, with no variation across that span.
The low beam headlight position on the 2006-2008 SLK280 accommodates two distinct bulb types depending on the headlamp system installed at the factory. Vehicles fitted with halogen capsule headlamps use the H7, while those equipped with HID headlamps use the D2S.
The H7 and D2S bulbs are not interchangeable. Beyond their different base types (PX26d versus P32d-2), they operate on fundamentally different electrical systems. Substituting one for the other is not physically or electrically compatible.
The D2S bulb's 85-volt operating requirement means it depends on a high-voltage ignitor circuit that is absent in halogen headlamp assemblies. This makes the HID and halogen configurations on the SLK280 electrically distinct systems, not simply different bulb choices within the same housing.
Although the H7 operates at a higher wattage than the D2S (55W versus 35W), HID systems generally produce significantly greater luminous output due to the efficiency of arc discharge technology compared to a heated tungsten filament.