Tail light bulbs

[n/a]

Could somebody please post the values (in watts) and/or the part numbers (e.g. 1073) of the brake, backup and turn signal lamps for 230SL?  (Perhaps a listing for the entire Pagoda line would make a good FAQ; I know the parking lamps on the 230SL differed from the later models . . .)

Many thanks.

[ja17]

Hello Thomas,
The wattage values should be molded somewhere on each bulb unit. I have the Fischer (German Bulb) part numbers for the 280-SL; Parking light #2409 (4 watt), tail/stop light #2515 (5/18 watt), license plate light #2539 (5 watt), signal light #2018 (18 watt)front and #2021 (21 watt)rear, dome light #2144 (10 watt), dash board #2209 (2 watt), back-up #2015 (15 watt), fog light #1235 (35 watt).


I thought you might be interested in this post:
http://index.php?topic=1048

The chart will show you the bulb types and cross ref. to other manufacturer part numbers. click on the enlarge button to make the chart more readable.

I also seem to recall a slight variation on the early 230-SL. Maybe someone can update us on this.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[n/a]

This is a good start, thanks.  I am not the first owner, and the PO really bowdlerized things -- which is to say, the installed bulbs have no relationship to what *should* be installed.  I've got to create a new baseline.

[Mike Hughes]

Just to make things a little more interesting, when I got my 230SL the trunk light was not working. I pulled and checked the bulb and it lit up just fine in another car.  But it wouldn't work in the SL!  I was rummaging through my collection of bulbs in the toolbox and came across a similar bulb that said "made in West Germany".  That one works just fine!  I had seven "other" bulbs in the toolbox and none of them would work.  Go figure...


- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

[n/a]

The bulb chart printout is very helpful.

As mentioned in my last post, the values on the bulbs (the few that are legible after cleaning, as many are printed on instead of stamped) cannot be trusted.  A prior owner bowdlerized them, and I have to reestablish baseline values.

The backup and signal values (15W and 21W respectively) make sense.  I'm less confident about the parking and stop light values.  Here's why:

Last year a parking light burned out (a miniature bulb), and I spent over an hour at the dealer determining what that lamp is supposed to be (I found a 2W bulb installed -- the prior owner strikes again!).  IIR, I ultimately found the correct value in a printed 190 sedan parts book, that car having a very similar taillight cluster.  This became MB p/n 072601-01290066, and what was handed me was an Osram 0007-n8A, clearly stamped 14 watts.  No, I didn't believe it either (14 watts in a bulb this small?) so I measured its cold resistance, which is 9.5 ohms.  That works out to about 15 watts at 12 volts.

Now, *if* MB sold me the right bulb (at almost 4X what my aftermarket guy gets, but I'm paying for the information), then the stoplight should be at least the same value, as you wouldn't want a stoplight at about 1/3 the wattage of the parking light.  You'd want an 18W or 21W stop light if the parking light is 14 watts.  (Five watts seems really low for a stop light, in any event . . .).

Two asides.  First, the aftermarket guy thought these miniature parking lights were 4W bulbs, which is what was printed on the box they came in (branded "Jahn," I think).  We took one out, and it was stamped 12V14W and measured the same 9.5 ohms as the Osram.  He was quite surprised (and he's specialized in MB parts for over twenty years).  Second, I tried to get taillight info from the local dealer (Phil Smart in Seattle) and they really couldn't be bothered (they even claimed they don't have tail light bulbs in stock).  They used to try to help, even a year ago, but I guess those days are over.

[Naj ✝︎]

Thomas,
Light bulb listing from original 1965 230sl owners manual:

Rear:
Brake Light      18 watts
Tail Light        4 watts
Clearance light   4 watts
Backup light     15 watts
Direction signal 18 watts

Front:
Direction Signal     18 watts
Bifilament Headlight 45/40 watts  Euro headlights
Parking Light         4 watts
Fog light            35 watts
Clearance light       3 watts

BTW, 072601 012900 is the correct part # for a 4 watt parking light bulb.
Personally, I prefer to use a 6 watt halogen bulb from the parking light of a w210 E class ('96 onwards); the pins are offset but they fit fine. Nice bright white light!!
Also 15watt bulbs for the backup light are quite hard to find. Most shops here only have 21 watt bulbs in that size. I was able to locate 18 watt bulbs from Hella, so thats what I use for stop, indicator and backup lights.
Hope this helps
naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

[Naj ✝︎]

Does anybody have a 230 with working clearance lights?
Does somebody know how to make them work?
I have all the bulbs AND wiring in place and the light switch does turn CCW two clicks - but no lights.
naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

[tobacco]

Note also that on older taillights the aging and etched plastic lenses reduce the intended brightness of whatever bulbs you use.  This is especially true on the right side where the exhaust darkens brake lighting noticeably.  I'd been advised that the lens clarity couldn't be restored and I'd need to replace both taillight units to get my original brightness back.  

At the time (a few years ago), I was told that Mercedes-Benz had a dwindling inventory of factory produced taillight units for my model and I'd be wise to grab a pair while they were still available.  Whether this scarcity is still looming, I don't know.

I do know that my new taillights are considerably brighter and safer now, even if the static appearance isn't all that different.


Bill Greffin
Chicago
#22375

[J. Huber]

Hi Naj.

I have been chasing those clearance lights for years! Usually, my question gets clouded by what the heck we are talking about...

Even the usually trusty part suppliers get these lights mixed up with the parking lights ... so I have yet to even get the correct bulbs. Where did you find yours? Now, I had a semi-correct front bulb on one side (it was a 5watt not 3). And nothing happened. Bulb tests ok.



James
63 230SL

[rwmastel]

What are clearance lights?

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[Naj ✝︎]

Hi, Rod,
My description for clearance lights is:
They are lights for parking on unlit streets at night.
If you turn you light switch knob one click counter clockwise, two little bulbs, one in the head lamp and one in the rear lamp light up on the right hand side of the car. If you turn it a second click, the left hand ones light up.
In the front Euro head lamp the bulb locates next to the fog light bulb. Even though the fitting is the same size as an 18 or 21  watt single filament bulb, according to the owners manual the bulb should be only 3 watts, Only try finding one! I managed 5 watt bulbs.
On the rear lamp, the bulb is the same size as the tail light bulb and fits directly behind it; looking from the rear.
naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

[Naj ✝︎]

Hi, James,
I found 5 watt bulbs for the front clearance lights (described as such in the original owners manual) from Hella.
For the rears, I found 6 watt bulbs. As I said in an earlier post, I use 6 watt halogen bulbs for the parking lights. Like Bill says brighter lights are safer for these older cars with aged/dull lenses!
I followed the wiring diagram from all the clearance lights all the way back to the light switch - they are not fused either. So my guess is - they are not connected up - just like the flashing headlights on US cars?? Maybe the switch will have to come out to have a look-see.
After fitting all new bulbs on the 280, they work fine.
naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

[George Davis]

Naj,

Thanks for explaining your terminology.  I call those things parking lights, but the 280 BBB calls them side lights.

If the 230 SLs are wired like the 280 SLs (?), power to the clearance lights is supplied by a dedicated wire from the ignition switch to the headlight switch.  On the ignition switch, the terminal is denoted by "P".  On the light switch, it's denoted "Pa".

If that wire is cut or missing, the clearance lights are not powered.  Perhaps that was done to easily eliminate those lights in the US and elsewhere?

George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual

[TA250SL]

I was able to increase the brightness of my early-style red tail lights by removing the inner plastic reflector and having them refinished to new condition.  95 percent of the reflective coating was gone, so I sent them out for vacuum metalizing.  It's a technique for applying a chrome-like finish to plastic.  The result was dramatic, as the reflector sends the light back through the lenses now, just as well as when the car was new.  Let me know if you need a source for this service.

Tom

[ja17]

Hello Naj,
This brings up an interesting point. The 230-SL and 250-SL owner's manuals are a lot more informative than the 280-SL manual. These early owner's manuals are over 200 pages! They have lots of pictures and information which were left out in the later 280-SL manuals. There are nice photos and listings of the headlight and tailight assemblies US and Euro sizes as you have noticed. Also there is a lot more technical information for other mechanical systems. Maintenance and tuning instructions and specs are included in these early owner's manuals. In comparison the 280-SL owner's manual I have is only 60 pages and has less technical infoermation. However the bulb sizes are listed in the 280-SL manual also.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[ja17]

Hello,
Here is the listings of bulb sizes I have directly from the 250-SL and 280-SL original owner's manuals. some of this information overlaps what Naj has already listed.

250-SL owner's manual;
...Euro front blinker 18 watt
...Euro high and low beama 45/40 watt
...Euro parking light 4 watt
...Euro clearance 3 watt
...Euro fog light 35 watt

US spec sealed beams 250-SL;
...fog 35 watt
...parking 4 watt
...clearance 4 watt
...blinker 18 watt

250-SL tailight units US and Euro specs;
...brake 18 watts
...tail light 4 watts
...clearance 4 watts
...back up 15 watts
...blinker 18 watts

280-SL owner's manual USA specs
... headlight (sealed beams)
...clearance 4 watt
...blinker 21 watt

280-Sl owner's manual rear lights
...Stop light 21 watt
...tail light 5 watt
...back-up 15 watt
...signal (blinker) 21 watt

Here we can see some obvious changes in bulb wattage between the early and late w113 cars.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio