Saprissa

drexappeal, let me know what the dealer tells you.

My wife's C320 is a 2004.5 SS with Euro-spec Bi-Xenons.
However, the stock blinker bulb I pulled is definitely a 2357 with OFFSET prongs (one higher than the other and not exactly 180 degrees off).
This must have changed from my 2003 C320 SC because the stock blinker bulb prongs on my Euro-spec Bi-Xenons are NOT offset, but also not exactly 180 degress off. (PY21W)

I'm thinking that the blinkers in the Euro-spec Bi-Xenons are a bit different than US-spec Bi-Xenons.

So anyway, I need to find SYLVANIA SilverStar blinkers (2357A) for the 2004.5 SS. Don't really like the Bekkers chrome bulbs. Otherwise I would have bought them off you.

I do have a pair of extra brand-new SYLVANIA SilverStar blinkers (2057A) that I was going to use on my old Halogen headlights, but once I got the Bi-Xenons, I never bothered. If anyone needs 'em, make me a quick offer.

Carlos

Saprissa@aol.com

ctC230K

no more cosmetic upgrades till some of my performance upgrades are done!

NO_WUR_E

any difference between the py21w rear bulbs from bekker vs. philips?????

inFiniTE LooP

www.visionbulbs.com

theirs are called Silver Xtreme

drexappeal

Okay, so I haven't come up with a definitive answer yet, but here's what I've found out so far...

1st, I called the parts department at my dealership to find out if they can determine the "discrepancy" in bulb numbers that the manual states. When I spoke to the parts department rep, he told me that the only number they have associated with each part is a DIN number that is assigned by Mercedes Benz. In this case, the part number is 60000000007 (or something like that). Obviously, this does no good for our cause.

2nd, I decided to try the 800 number on the mbusa.com website. When I got in touch with a CSR rep (Carol), she was actually more helpful than the parts guy. She said that it's quite possible that the reason there is a discrepancy is that the part number, at times, is based on the production date of the vehicle (which is quite possibly why Saprissa's lady w/ the 2004.5 320 has the 2357 bulbs and mine are different). She said that I should speak directly to the "parts manager" at my dealership, in order to draw a more detailed conclusion. She said that he would be able to track down the exact bulb number for future reference (based on my VIN).

I haven't contacted the Parts Manager yet. Don't have much time today, so I'll probably try tomorrow. In the meantime, if anybody else has a chance, maybe one of you guys can check if there is an actual production date that would cause a difference between bulb numbers in the BIX headlights.

From what I can conclude, so far, it seems as though pre-2004.5 (up to a certain date of production in the MY04.5) doesn't have a 2357 bulb as the blinker for the BIX, which is the situation I'm in and 2004.5 (after that cut off date) up to present day w203's w/ bi-xenon, have the 2357 bulb.

Regardless, for those of you who actually do have a 2357 bulb (dual filament), www.bekkers.com has chrome amber bulbs available (although I had to wait 4 months). For those of you who are in the situation I'm in, 1156 bulbs seem to work (evidence in my cousin and I testing one last night), but I will find out specifically what bulbs are used for the BIX blinkers tomorrow (or unless someone else has a chance to check that today).

Alright everybody, gotta get back to work, but just wanted to update you all.

drex

ctC230K

hmm all i know is i have 1157 silverstars in the front and back i can't find offline anywhere yet

drexappeal

That would make sense that you had 1157 in the rear w/ 1 knub grinded down right? That's the only way the bulb would fit in the rear.

As for the front, that would also make sense and would also probably mean that your front blinkers are compatible with 2357 bulbs (which is basically an 1157 with higher amp.)

Hope that makes sense.

ctC230K

no i meant silverstars in front period. back i can't find yet. i can just grind down one of the posts and that would work1?!?!
2357 would be brighter then?

drexappeal

Sorry, mis-read your post.

Here's the rear blinkers:
http://www.bekkers.com/Merchant2/mer..._Code=mpslight

I'm not sure if the 2357's are brighter than 1157 because I don't have those in my BIX headlights, but I can say that my cousin tried out the chrome 2357 bulbs in his 1157 sockets and they looked just as bright as his regular amber bulbs that he had in there at first. So I guess, the 2357 bulbs must be a little brighter than 1157 when comparing amber to amber (w/o chrome covering).

Bekkers has BOTH bulbs available for your setup. here are the 2357's CHROME:

http://www.bekkers.com/Merchant2/mer..._Code=mpslight

Hope that helps.

drexappeal

So far, I still haven't received the exact answer I'm looking for.

I called the "parts manager" and even he wasn't able to let me know what "alternative" blinker bulb MB would have put in the bi-xenon headlights. What boggles my mind is, why would Mercedes design an "owner's manual" with a "bulb number" and then turn around and give their parts department, as well as their 800-number CSR a specific Mercedes Benz Part number without the actual "bulb number". Really doesn't seem logical to me.

So, when I called the 800-number to speak with the CSR, she said that she will forward my situation to a "Tech specialist" and they will contact me tomorrow by phone.

Hopefully, we'll have some answers by tomorrow. For those of you who do have 2357 bulbs, sorry to have confused you on this one. For those of you who do not, we'll hopefully find out soon.

z1co

Does anyone know which type of bulb is used for the interior [front and rear interior lighting, reading lamps, mirror lamps, door-entry lamps]?

CarlsbadKmprssr

I was having a tough time with this also. I don't have bix so I used the 2357 in the front. All the retailers I asked said it was a 1156. I decided on the 2357 since the bulb I pulled out of there said 2357 on it. Btw I put in those Stealth Bulbs and they look sick.

ctC230K

thanks! that's it, 7507 for rear blinkers. 100% positive. front will take 1157.
i might just order these. i've spent far too much on bulbs already though. lets start a poll: buy them or not.

inFiniTE LooP

the front and rear interior bulbs are ~41mm bulbs, the map lights and door entry lights are wedge bulbs (194). i've posted some pictures of them before and after replacing, just search for: interior lighting

also, the glove compartment light is also a ~41mm bulbs as well, and i dont recall exactly what size the license plate bulbs are in case you wanted to change those too. as far as the vanity mirror lights go, i'm not exactly sure because i didn't know how to get them out. every time i tried to pry the plastic out i could hear the headliner begin to rip, possibly just the adhesive coming a little loose, so i didn't wanna pull any further. if anyone has any tips for replacing these lights it'd be much appreciated

z1co

What is ~41mm bulbs? Is there a specific name or it is known as ~41mm bulb? So the wedge bulbs are just like the ones they used for city lights?

DACHIGGA

41mm are dome bulbs. as in they are 41mm long.

No they are not the city lights. THe city lights are 194s.

z1co

How about for the door entry light [the ones under your door when you open the door] and the trunk? Thanks DACHIGGA for clearing that up

DACHIGGA

Dunno bout th ones in the doors, but i think the trunk uses the same dome bulbs, but don't quote me on that as there are no door lights in the coupe, and i'm not sure if the coupe uses the same trunk bulbs.

drexappeal

So, on a hunch, I decided to email Steve and Wanda, who many of you on here know, install bi-xenons on a regular basis.

I figured that they may be able to shed some light on my puzzling situation with the turn signal bulbs.

Steve emailed me back to let me know that the US Spec bi-xenon's are designed with dual filament bulbs (hence 2357 or 1157 in a lot of cases). He also said that everywhere else in the world, the bi-xenons are designed with single filament bulbs.

Since my car had to be special ordered (color with all the options I wanted wasn't available anywhere), they must have put bi-xenons that were not "U.S. spec". In essence, I'm thinking that I have a bi-xenon setup that is used for Germany (since they drive on the right side of the road ala the U.S.). That is the only "logical" conclusion that I can come to.

That being said, I emailed Steve back, but I know he's busy, so for those of you who have "Euro-spec" BIX headlights, do you know what the blinker bulb number is for your cars? I want to make sure that I know the exact bulb and then think of equivalents, rather than assuming that 1156 bulbs would work with no problems (even though my cousin and I tested them and it worked, that doesn't necessarily mean that they will continue to work without any problems).

z1co

SO is the 41mm bulb the same as what they used for license plate light?

inFiniTE LooP

no, 41mm is too large for the license plate lights, i dont recall exactly how big they are, and yes, the wedge bulbs for the map/reading lights and the under the door "puddle lights" are the same as the city lights (194).

if you would like all of these bulbs, you could try www.visionbulbs.com however, dont hold your breath on shipping as they are in canada and for some reason the way they ship seems to take a while, also, if you e-mail them asking what size the license plate bulbs are they should have an answer for you. (i got most of my lights from them, but their wedge bulbs dont fit where the city/parking lights go because their bulb size seems to be too big to fit in the plastic fitting, they fit fine everywhere else though (under the door lights and map/reading lights)

drexappeal

Well, Steve (MBenzNL) has been way more helpful than MBUSA. Here are the DIN numbers Steve gave me:

blinking bulb single filiament in amber: N 400809 000000
blinking bulb single filiament in blue blinking amber: N 000000 002525
blinking bulb dual filiament in amber (US spec): N 600000 000007

Obviously, I have the single filament setup (since I've been going over this for a while). Now, if only somebody else can translate that into the actual bulb number, that'd be perfect.

z1co

I found this on www.sylvania.com

License plate
6418

Back up light
7506
7506LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp

Front sidemarker
2825

Rear sidemarker
2825

Glove box
6418

Step/Courtesy light
6418

I was confused because inFinite LooP said that the glove box light, the license plate and the door entry are different but the website shows the same model help please!!!

inFiniTE LooP

they are definitely different, that site may be out of date, the license plate light and glove box lights are almost the same except for a size difference, and the door entry lights use wedge bulbs.

drexappeal

MYSTERY SOLVED!!!....

LOL...Okay, everybody, after going through this painstaking process of finding out what bulbs were used for my front blinkers (bi-xenon setup), I finally got the answer I was looking for. And it came from some random parts place that I had purchased parts for my parents' e-class.

Apparently, there were some US bi-xenons made with 1156 blinkers. Even though the actual bulb number was not on the blinker, it is definitely 1156/P21W.

So, I'm thinking that depending on production date, bi-xenons up to the beginning of 2004 (production) have 1156A/P21W blinkers.

Bi-xenons from mid-2004 to present have 2357A blinkers.