Mercedes-Benz GLC Headlights: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

Bulb type, unit part numbers, and the faults that actually cause that flickering or dim light you've noticed.

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OEM Part Number: confirm via VIN — aftermarket LH Hella 1EX 354 877-151 / RH Hella 1EG 354 877-021

Accuracy note: Covers the Mercedes-Benz GLC (X253 2015-) as listed in the UK aftermarket catalogues. Headlights are sold by side (passenger / nearside = LH, driver's / offside = RH on a UK car) and by lamp type — halogen, xenon (D1S / D3S) and LED or full-LED units are not interchangeable, and DRL, cornering and levelling options change the part number again. The references below are UK aftermarket catalogue listings for this generation, labelled by brand; genuine numbers are shown only where a listing quotes one. Check the lamp type and traffic side (UK right-hand-traffic units, not LHD) against your VIN, and expect xenon / LED and adaptive units to need levelling adjustment or coding after fitting.

Passenger side (LH / nearside) headlight — aftermarket	Diederichs 1656081 (LED with H7 dipped, PY21W, WY5W, LED DRL, not for facelift); ZKW 1012.119-0001.00 (LED with H7, PY21W, LED DRL); Hella 1EX 354 877-151 (full LED, LED DRL, no dynamic bending light); Hella 1EX 354 897-011 (full LED, LED DRL); Hella 1EX 354 877-071 (full LED, LED DRL, dynamic bending light); Magneti Marelli 719000000239 (full LED, dynamic bending light)
Driver's side (RH / offside) headlight — aftermarket	Hella 1EG 354 877-021 (LED with H7, W5W, PY21W, WY5W, LED DRL, no dynamic bending light, with bulbs); Diederichs 1656080 (LED with H7, PY21W, WY5W, LED DRL, not for facelift); Hella 1EX 354 877-161 (full LED, LED DRL, no dynamic bending light); Hella 1EX 354 897-021 (full LED, LED DRL); Hella 1EX 354 897-081 (full LED, dynamic bending light, adaptive high beam); Magneti Marelli 719000000240 (full LED, dynamic bending light)
Bulb types	H7 dipped on the LED/halogen hybrid units; indicator PY21W or WY5W; sidelight W5W; H4/H3 on basic halogen units; full LED units take no bulbs
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	None quoted in catalogue listings — order genuine units against your VIN
Fitment notes	Hybrid LED with H7 bulb units, full LED and dynamic bending or adaptive units are listed, plus basic halogen H4/H7 units for base cars; no xenon appears, and Diederichs 1656080/1656081/1656084 are not for the facelift.

A Genuinely Important UK Rule Worth Knowing Before You Buy — Mercedes-Benz GLC Headlights

If your GLC has factory-fitted halogen headlamp housings, converting them to fit LED bulbs is treated as a definite MOT failure under the current inspection manual — this isn't a grey area or a minor advisory, since a housing designed for halogen doesn't distribute an LED bulb's light output correctly, which can genuinely dazzle oncoming drivers. If you want a genuine LED upgrade, the correct route is a complete headlight unit designed for LED from the factory, not a bulb swap into an existing halogen housing.

Before you buy: matrix LED, adaptive, and cornering headlight systems often require electronic coding to the car after a unit swap, even for a genuine like-for-like replacement — a headlight that isn't recognised by the car's electronics can trigger warning lights or fail to auto-level correctly. Check whether your specific trim has one of these systems before assuming a straightforward bulb-in, bulb-out job.

Mercedes-Benz GLC Headlights: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: How To Replace 2015-2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 Headlights w/ H7 LED Bulbs

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X253 H7 bulb change

Mercedes-Benz GLC Headlights reference plate

Mercedes-Benz GLC Headlights: What It Does

Inside the Mercedes-Benz GLC's headlight unit sit the main and dipped beam bulbs, or LED/matrix modules on higher trims, precisely angled to light the road ahead without dazzling oncoming drivers. Many current units also fold the daytime running light and front indicator into the same housing, which complicates both the part number and any repair.

Mercedes-Benz GLC Headlights: Generations, Derivatives & Headlight Type

W253 (2016–2019), standard trims	Halogen as standard, with full LED projector headlights available as an upgrade
Current generation, higher trims	MULTIBEAM LED offered as an option — check the unit for "MULTIBEAM LED" text or confirm via VIN to identify fitment, since this isn't standard even on well-equipped cars

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Mercedes-Benz GLC Headlights: Common Faults, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Headlights Guide for the four bulb technologies and how they differ, UK law on aim and modifications, common faults to check for, how difficult this job is to DIY, and confirming fitment against your VIN.

More Mercedes-Benz Headlights

The same part, covered across other Mercedes-Benz models.