Mercedes-Benz Ponton
Fog Lamps and Bulb Types

Jeff Miller / July 25, 2002

A ever-expanding collection of information, photos, and data 
about fog lamps, bulb types, and related items

Related Pages and Documents

• Bosch Options / Accessories
• Hella fog lamp chart (illustrated .pdf / circa 1961)
• Hella fog lamp brackets (illustrated .pdf / circa 1961)
• Bulb Cross-Reference Table

The Hella fog lamp chart was added November 25, 2004. Corresponding fog lamp bracket chart (page 1.08) added December 1, 2004. The items listed on the Hella fog lamp charts are no longer available, and have been provided here for historical reference only.

The original Bosch and Hella fog lamps for the Mercedes-Benz Ponton sedans, coupés and cabriolets are available from the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Germany, as well as local authorized agents (dealerships) around the world.

The new fog lamp lenses are plastic, whereas the originals were glass. Order them directly through the Classic Center or MBUSA (800-FOR-MERCEDES) or contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz agent. See the Links page for contact information. Until recently, these fog lamps were considered rare and virtually unavailable in new condition.

OEM (Hella) Fog Lamp Photo Essay

Ray Ilich / February 26, 1999

Disassembly of Hella Fog Lamps

Ray Ilich / June 3, 1998

To open the Hella fog lamp to change bulb, or gain interior access

• Remove the hexagonal screw at the bottom of the chrome trim ring assembly which surrounds the glass lens.

• Remove the chrome trim ring assembly by pulling forward and up on the bottom of the trim ring. The trim ring assembly is "hinged" at the top, and will immediately separate from the chrome housing. The trim ring assembly will not completely separate from the chrome housing because of the attached electrical wires.

• Disconnect the electrical wires by unscrewing them at the studs with a slotted screwdriver, or remove the bulb assembly from the mirror reflector by rotating the wire clip off the bulb housing, and pull bulb assembly out of mirror reflector. I prefer the latter.

• If you only intend to replace the bulb, it may now be replaced.

Perform the following steps if you want to replace the glass lens or mirror reflector

• On a workbench, place the chrome trim assembly lens down.

• You will see 4 to 6 wire clips under the chrome trim ring, holding the mirror reflector in place. Remove all the wire clips by pushing down and in on the longer end of each wire clip. This is best done with your index finger, I believe needle-nosed pliers may work, but may also cause damage in the event of a slip.

• With the wire clips removed, the mirror reflector will pull out of the chrome trim ring.

• Looking into the front of the mirror reflector, you should see a bulb shade attached to the mirror reflector in slots at the top and bottom of the mirror reflector. In practice, most bulb shades are rusted badly and may be detached or missing, especially at the bottom. The bulb shade is a small half hemisphere with two attachment arms which fits in front of the bulb. Its purpose is to cut off and concentrate the upper part of the light beam as it leaves the mirror reflector.

• Remove the glass lens from the chrome trim ring.

• Assembly is the reverse of disassembly!

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Another OEM (Hella) Style Fog Lamp

This is an example of another OEM (Hella) fog lamp as found on Jeff Miller's 1957 Type 190 (W121 I) sedan. Interestingly, this particular style of fog lamp was most often installed on (and considered original to) the Type 190SL roadster (W121 II) manufactured after 1959.

Note / November 26, 2004
Referenced the Hella fog lamp chart to identify of this fog lamp.

Edited excerpt (circa 1999) from an e-mail between Jeff Miller and Ron Rapp of SL Auto Haus:

What is shown in this photo is the late style (version 3, starting in 1959) "hooded" fog lamp as typically used on the (W121 II) 190SL roadster (after chassis 951008). The 300SL "Gullwing" coupé (W198 I) used a non-hooded assembly. The term "hooded" refers to the way the chrome bezel (body or shell) extends over the top of the lens. The 190SL also used the first version of the non-hooded style fog lamp on the early cars. On these two early versions, only the lenses were different. The hooded style (version 3) which started in 1959 for the 190SL also had a different lens, and was too late for the Gullwing (production ended in 5/1957). I believe the 300SL roadster (W198 II) had the fog lamps incorporated in the headlight assembly. Most of the lenses are still available. The Type 190SL (W121 II) production ran from 5/1955-2/1963.

Photos of Bosch fog lamps added: March 28, 2003

New OEM fog lamps have become available again. However, the original glass lenses have been replaced with plastic.

Amber (yellow) Hella Fog Lamps

Photos added: November 28, 2004

Amber OEM Fog Lamp on a Type 220S Ponton Sedan

Photo added: September 14, 2002

Location: Suresnes, France (outside Paris)

Hella Fog Lamps
(Type 127 ZNX CC or 145 ZNEX-1 CC)

Hella (Type 127 ZNX CC or 145 ZNEX-1 CC) fog lamps with original box. Reference items 10 and 11 in the Hella fog lamp chart (illustrated .pdf / circa 1961). This set was offered on eBay in May 2010 for a whopping $1,475 plus $69.00 shipping.

These accessories were original to the Mercedes-Benz Type 190SL roadster, and the 300SL "Gullwing" coupé.

Photos added: May 23, 2010

The chrome housing appears to be similar to item 10 (Reference the Hella fog lamp chart), but the pattern of the glass lens seems to be closer to item 11.

Fog Lamp Replacement Bulbs

Photo (items were placed on scanner) Courtesy: Jeff Miller / November 20, 2004

German-made Narva BA20s No. 49072 fog lamp replacement bulbs for Mercedes-Benz Pontons. Text printed on the base of the bulb: "Narva 12V F2 35W E10 2C7."

The equivalent (12V, 35W, BA20s) OEM bulb is, Osram No. 7309. Check with your local supplier first. If that fails, reference the "Lighting" section of the Links page or search the web with: "12V 35W BA20s."

Mercedes-Benz Ponton Lamp Bulb Specifications

Job Number 54-0 from the Service Manual Model 190 (SM-1207-000) listing the light bulbs used in the Mercedes-Benz Ponton series including the sedans, coupés and cabriolets made from 1953-1962.

Mercedes-Benz Ponton Light Bulb Chart

Notes:

1. The numbers in the right hand column are DIN (German Institute for Standardization) and are used by Mercedes-Benz.

2. The type of bulb used in Mercedes-Benz fog lamps (072601-012600) is shown here as 12V 15W (the fifth bulb down on the chart), but the power rating for the fog lamp bulb should be 35W.

Bulb Types

Left: Festoon bulb: Similar in shape and placement to the standard Ponton fuses.

Right: Bayonet bulb: Pushed down into the socket, then twisted so the small side stud locks into the slot in the socket.