Reading lights

[zedster]

Does anyone know what type of replacement bulb can be used in the rear reading lights?

Link

[BAR]

Standard bayonet lamp 6W.  Pull one out and go to your service station (petrol or gas station) and you should be able to buy one for a few cents or pennies

[zedster]

I have not had any luck but now that I know the Wattage I'll try again.

[zedster]

I tried the dealership and they didn't have them listed. My search continues.

[wbrian63]

According to EPC, the part # for the bulb is: N072601012900 - it shows T4W-12v.

My car is a '76, so that might not be the correct part for your car.

[zedster]

What is EPC? With the number you gave me I found this via Google and it looks like it.

N072601012900

[wbrian63]

EPC - Mercedes' Electronic Parts Catalog. Membership is free - here's the link:

http://epc.startekinfo.com/epc/subscribe.jsp

The subscription only lasts 365 days, but you can re-up after that time.

It takes a bit of getting used to, but once you get the feel of it, you can find stuff in short order. For instance, the part I found for the reading lamps was under Electrical System (82), Subgroup 56125 - Reading lamp in the rear.

EPC won't give you prices or availability of parts, and it takes a bit of practice to figure out what the current part # is in the case of supercessions.

The biggest help its been to me is to be able to point my MB counterperson at the right part, especially when they say "nothing like that exists" or "that's not available anymore". While my local MB contact is a nice fellow, there have been many times that he's simply wrong about what is available, or doesn't care to take the time to figure out what is available.

The way MB organizes the EPC also varies from model to model. I was just getting used to the pattern for my W140-chassis car ('92 300SE) when I got my 6.9. Some of the pattern is the same, but many things are different.

[wbrian63]

Just clicked the link - that's probably the animal. Bayonet bulbs are the type that are installed by pushing and turning the bulb (hence the reference to a bayonet). Festoon bulbs have contacts at each end of a glass tube and are held in place between two contact clips (usually found in licence plate lamps and overhead cabin lamps).

About the only difference between bayonet lamps is the wattage (to little, no light, too much, stuff melts) and the number of filaments (1157 bayonet bulbs are the US auto standard dual-filament stop/turn signal bulbs, for example). There's also a difference in globe diameter.

I'd look at some of the newer LED replacement bulbs for this application. More and more stuff is available in this area - even instrument panel bulbs that are brighter than stock with little or no heat.

www.superbrightleds.com

[zedster]

Thanks for all the great useful information. 

[WGB]

I have the LED "Festoon" replacement in the boot lamp and it throws a very blue clear light with no heat and low amperage.

This can be useful when working on the car and forgetting to close the boot - saves a flat battery.

Bill