If you own a classic Mercedes-Benz, the most useful thing you can learn is how its part numbers work. A part number tells you what a part is, which model it was designed for, and often which colour it was made in. Once you can read one, ordering the right replacement becomes much more straightforward.
The basic format
A typical Mercedes-Benz part number looks like this when printed in a parts catalogue:
A 129 820 64 61
The same number is often written without spaces — A1298206461 — and frequently without the leading A: 1298206461. All three refer to the same part. Our search accepts all of these forms.
- The A identifies it as a vehicle part number rather than, say, an accessory or literature item. Many sellers and catalogues drop it.
- The first three digits after the A — 129 in this example — usually identify the model series the part was designed for. 129 is the R129 SL, 124 the W124, 126 the W126, 123 the W123, 201 the W201 and so on.
- The remaining digits identify the specific part within that model's catalogue.
Why a "W126" part fits your W124
Because the model code reflects where a part was first used, not every car it fits, many parts carry the number of an older or different model. The window switch frame we list as A1268210059 is a good example. The 126 shows it originated on the W126 S-Class, but the same part fits the W123, W124, W201 and G-Class.
So when you search, search by the number on your part rather than by model name. A listing that names a different model first may still be exactly what you need.
Colour and finish suffixes
Many interior parts were produced in several colours. Mercedes-Benz handles this with a four-digit suffix after the main number. In a number such as A1298220135 9051, the base part is A1298220135 and 9051 identifies the colour or finish. The same shape in a different interior colour will have the same base number and a different suffix.
In practice this means:
- If you are matching an exact colour, the full number including the suffix is what matters.
- If you are matching shape and fit, the base number is what matters — the suffix just tells you the colour.
Where we offer a part in several colours, the listing lets you choose.
Left, right and pairs
Mirror-image parts for the left and right of the car have different numbers, usually differing by a single digit towards the end — for example A1247251511 and A1247251611 for the two W124 door mirror cover trims. Left and right in parts catalogues refer to the sides of the car as seen from the driver's seat, facing forward. Our listings state which number belongs to which side.
Where to find the number on your part
Most Mercedes-Benz plastic trim has its part number moulded or printed on the reverse, often alongside a date stamp and a material code. It may be small and partly hidden by a clip. A torch held at a shallow angle makes moulded numbers much easier to read. If the number is worn away, a clear photograph of the front and back of the part, plus your car's model and year, will usually let us identify it.
Our guide to verifying an OEM part number before you order covers the checks that apply to every make.
Searching our catalogue
Type the number into the search box in any format — with or without the A, with or without spaces. If nothing comes up, try the base number without a colour suffix. If it still isn't there, send us the number: our catalogue changes regularly, and we can check it against what we can supply. Browse the full Mercedes-Benz range by model.