Claas Tractor and Combine Lights: Fitment and Replacement

How Claas Machine Lighting Works

A Claas machine lighting system is the network of lamps, wiring looms, switches, and electronic control modules fitted to a Claas tractor, combine, or forager for road, field, and night-harvest use. The system splits into 6 functional categories: front headlamps for road and forward visibility, work lamps for fieldwork, table and header lamps on harvesters, cab lighting for interior comfort, beacons for road-legal warning, and rear clusters for tail, brake, indicator, and reverse functions.

Claas operates two distinct lighting philosophies. The tractor philosophy follows the conventional pattern of 2 headlamps plus 4 to 12 work lamps. The harvester philosophy follows a high-density approach where a single combine carries 20 to 40 lamps because night harvesting requires illumination of the header, the unloading auger, the grain tank, the engine bay, and the rear discharge in addition to road-going compliance.

Three lighting eras define the brand’s lighting history. The classic era runs from the 1980s through the late 1990s, covering the Dominator combines, the early Mega and Lexion harvesters, the Renault-era tractors (acquired in 2003 and rebranded as Claas), and the Celtis and Ares tractor ranges. The mid era runs from 2000 through 2015 with H4 and H7 halogen headlamps, optional HID, and 4 to 12 factory work lamps. The modern era runs from 2015 to date with factory LED packages, CAN-bus integration, and the 2026 Lexion update that brings new LED rotating beacons and modernised rear lamps to the combine range.

Identifying Your Claas Series

A Claas series identifier appears on the cab decal, the chassis number plate (mounted on the right-hand front frame rail on tractors, on the operator’s platform on combines), and the operator’s manual. The series and build year determine lighting fitment, wiring connector type, bulb specifications, and CAN-bus integration.

Range	Type	Years	Common models
Atos	Compact tractor	2017 to present	Atos 220, 230, 240, 350
Elios	Utility tractor	2009 to present	Elios 210, 220, 230, 240
Nexos	Specialist (vineyard / orchard)	2012 to present	Nexos 210, 220, 230, 240
Arion	Mid-range tractor	2007 to present	Arion 410, 420, 440, 510, 550, 610, 660
Axion	Heavy tractor	2007 to present	Axion 810, 840, 920, 950
Xerion	Systems tractor	1997 to present	Xerion 4200, 4500, 5000, 12.650
Celtis / Ares / Atles	Heritage tractor	2002 to 2010	Celtis 446, Ares 567, Atles 946
Dominator	Heritage combine	1980s to 2001	Dominator 88, 96, 108
Mega	Mid combine	1995 to 2009	Mega 204, 208, 218, 360
Avero	Compact combine	2011 to present	Avero 240, 260
Tucano	Mid combine	2007 to present	Tucano 320, 420, 430, 450, 560, 580
Trion	Mid-large combine	2021 to present	Trion 520, 530, 640, 660, 720, 730, 750
Lexion	Large combine	1995 to present	Lexion 480, 560, 580, 670, 770, 8700, 8900
Jaguar	Self-propelled forager	1990s to present	Jaguar 850, 970, 980, 990

Reading the Tractor Model Number

A Claas tractor model number gives the power tier within its family: a higher number means a more powerful model. The chassis plate confirms exact build year and lighting specification.

Reading the Combine Model Number

A Claas combine model number reflects the threshing system and capacity tier. A Lexion 8900 sits at the top of the Lexion range with the APS Synflow Hybrid threshing system; a Trion 750 sits at the top of the Trion range; a Tucano 580 carries the Hybrid threshing system. The chassis plate confirms the lighting specification, the LED package option, and the original beacon type.

The 2003 Renault Acquisition

A Celtis, Ares, or Atles tractor is a Renault Agriculture design inherited by Claas after it took control of Renault Agriculture from 2003. The Celtis 446, Ares 567, and Atles 946 use Renault-pattern headlamps with H4 or H7 bulbs and Renault-pattern wiring connectors, so parts often cross-reference back to Renault original part numbers.

Claas Tractor Headlamps by Series

A Claas tractor headlamp sits in the front grille on Arion, Axion, and Xerion or in the bonnet face on Atos, Elios, and Nexos. Bulb specification and lamp size vary by series.

Arion and Axion Headlamps

Current Arion and Axion tractors are offered with factory LED headlamps or H7 halogen depending on specification. The LED unit is a sealed assembly. On a halogen machine, the legal LED route for the road headlamps is a complete E-marked LED headlamp unit made for that fitting, not an LED retrofit bulb in the halogen reflector. RSA guidance says LED bulbs are only legal if type-approved, fitted to a compatible vehicle and not dazzling, and a retrofit bulb in a halogen reflector usually scatters light.

Xerion Headlamps

A Claas Xerion is a systems tractor with a rotating cab and 4-wheel-drive of equal-sized wheels. The headlamps sit on the cab corner posts and provide forward illumination in both forward and reverse cab orientations. Later Xerions use factory LED lighting and earlier machines use halogen. On halogen machines, work lamps can be swapped for LED units, but road headlamps should only be replaced with approved complete headlamp units.

Heritage Celtis, Ares, and Atles Headlamps

A Celtis 446 or Ares 567 carries twin H4 60/55W halogen bulbs in plastic housings inherited from Renault Agriculture. The H4 base is standard automotive specification, so replacement halogen bulbs are easy to find. LED H4 retrofit bulbs are widely sold, but they are generally not road legal in a halogen headlamp, as RSA guidance only allows type-approved LED bulbs fitted to a compatible vehicle. Bulb access requires opening the bonnet, releasing the wire retainer clip, and withdrawing the bulb from the rear.

Claas Combine and Forager Work Lights

A Claas combine work light illuminates a specific task area on the harvester. A modern Lexion carries a large number of lamps because night harvesting demands header illumination, table illumination, grain tank visibility, unloading auger lighting, engine bay access, rear discharge visibility, and road-going compliance simultaneously.

Header Lamps

A header lamp on a Claas combine illuminates the cutterbar and the reel directly. The number of header lamps depends on the model, the header width and the lighting package fitted.

Engine and Service Bay Lamps

A Claas combine engine bay carries 2 to 4 service lamps that activate when the engine cover opens. These lamps are typically H3 halogen 55W on heritage combines and LED on modern combines. LED retrofit kits for the service bay drop into the original H3 housing.

Aftermarket Direct-Fit LED Kits

Aftermarket specialists supply direct-fit LED kits for many heritage Lexion combines. The kits replace the original halogen unit with a sealed LED assembly using the original mounting bracket and connector. Each LED lamp gives several times the output of the H3 halogen it replaces at well under half the current, so a full retrofit takes a large load off the alternator.

Claas Roof-Mounted Lighting Packages

A Claas roof-mounted lighting package sits on the cab roof above the windscreen and provides forward and lateral illumination. Factory work light packages vary by model, year and option, so check the build specification or the chassis plate before ordering replacements.

An aftermarket roof bar can be fitted to earlier Arion and Axion tractors using bolt-on brackets. The wiring loom routes through the cab roof using a sealed grommet to maintain the cab dust seal. The how to mount work lights guide covers the install process.

Claas Beacons and Warning Systems

A Claas beacon is a flashing amber warning light fitted to the cab roof to warn other road users of a slow or large vehicle. In Ireland every agricultural tractor and self-propelled agricultural machine, combines and foragers included, must be fitted with a flashing amber beacon, switched on whenever it is on a public road. The regulations say it should be roof-mounted on the centre line where possible, with the lit surface at least 1.27 m from the ground. Self-propelled machines wider than 3.5 m also need an escort vehicle and a “CAUTION, WIDE LOAD FOLLOWING” sign. Factory beacon positions and mount types vary by model.

The 2026 Lexion LED Rotating Beacon Update

From the 2026 model year, Claas fits new LED rotating beacons to all Lexion combines. LED beacons run cooler, draw a fraction of the current of a halogen rotating beacon and last far longer. On an older Lexion with a DIN-socket beacon, an aftermarket LED beacon with a matching DIN fitting is a straightforward swap.

Beacons for Older Claas Combines

A Mega 360, a Lexion 480, or a Dominator 108 typically carries 1 or 2 halogen rotating beacons mounted via DIN pole through the cab roof. LED replacements fit the same DIN socket and improve daytime visibility on the road. The LED vs halogen beacons guide covers the comparison.

Claas Rear Lamps, Indicators, and Trailer Connections

A Claas rear cluster combines tail, brake, indicator, and reverse functions. The cluster type varies by machine type and build year.

Machine	Rear cluster	Bulb codes
Atos / Elios	Combined rectangular cluster	P21/5W, PY21W
Nexos	Slim narrow cluster	P21/5W, PY21W
Arion (early)	Bulb cluster	P21/5W, PY21W, P21W
Arion (current)	LED cluster	OEM LED
Axion / Xerion (current)	Full LED cluster	OEM LED
Lexion (2026)	New LED cluster	OEM LED
Lexion (pre-2026)	Bulb cluster with P21 series bulbs	P21/5W, PY21W, P21W
Jaguar	LED on current; bulb on older	OEM LED / P21/5W

Trailer Socket Wiring

A Claas tractor carries a 7-pin trailer lighting socket, and many models add further sockets, including a 13-pin socket on some machines. Check the sockets at the rear of the tractor before buying a trailer lead or adaptor. The agricultural trailer lighting requirements guide covers the legal compliance side.

The 2026 Lexion LED Update

From the 2026 model year, Claas fits new LED rotating beacons to all Lexion combines, together with new rear lamps with a modernised look.

The 2026 update covers new LED rotating beacons, new rear lamps, a choice of 3 LED headlight packages within the new operator and visibility packages, and new cab interior lighting for evening and night work.

For owners of pre-2026 Lexion combines, an aftermarket LED beacon with the right fitting (DIN, bolt-on or magnetic) gives the same benefit. Check with a Claas dealer before trying to fit the new factory rear lamps to an older machine.

Upgrading Older Claas Machines to LED

A Claas LED upgrade replaces the original halogen lamp with an LED equivalent. The upgrade improves visibility, reduces alternator load, and extends service interval from 500 to 1,000 hours (halogen) to 30,000 hours (LED).

Heritage Combines (Dominator, Mega, early Lexion)

A Dominator 108, a Mega 360, or a Lexion 480 left the factory with H3 halogen work lamps and either H4 sealed-beam or H4 halogen headlamps. The H3 work lamp accepts an LED H3 plug-in retrofit; alternatively a direct-fit sealed LED unit replaces the entire halogen lamp. The full retrofit on a 16-lamp combine costs roughly €900 to €2,100 depending on lamp choice and recovers the cost in 2 to 3 seasons through reduced bulb replacement and lower alternator draw.

Heritage Tractors (Celtis, Ares, Atles, early Arion)

A Celtis 446 or early Arion 640 carries H4 or H7 halogen headlamps. Replace these with halogen bulbs or with complete approved headlamp units, as LED retrofit bulbs in halogen road headlamps are generally not road legal and can cause the beam to dazzle. The work lamps on these tractors are typically H3 55W halogen and accept H3 LED plug-ins. Older Claas tractors generally use simple switched lighting circuits, while later models may monitor lamp current, so check before fitting LED bulbs.

CAN-Bus Compatible LED on Modern Claas

A modern Arion, Axion, or Xerion may monitor current on the lighting circuits. A plain LED bulb can trigger a bulb-out warning on a monitored circuit. A CAN-bus compatible LED bulb includes a built-in load resistor that mimics halogen current draw, which prevents the warning. The LED lights and GPS interference guide explains the related EMC considerations for Claas CEMOS and GPS steering systems.

Where to Buy Claas-Compatible Lights in Ireland

A Claas-compatible lamp is available through the Claas dealer network, through specialist agricultural lighting suppliers, and through online retailers. Agri Lighting stocks LED work lamps, beacons, rear lamps and headlamp bulbs suitable for many Claas machines, shipped from Lincolnshire with free delivery to the Republic of Ireland on orders over €150.

For the full range of fitment options across every major brand, see the tractor light fitment guide. For combine-specific lighting design, see the combine harvester lighting guide. Browse the full range of work lights and beacons for Claas fitment options.