When a classic-car trim part arrives and doesn't fit, the cause is rarely a bad part. It is almost always a version mix-up: the right part for a different side, a different market, a different year or a different option. These five checks catch nearly all of them.
1. Left versus right
Mirror-image parts are different parts with different numbers. In parts catalogues, "left" and "right" describe the sides of the car as seen from the driver's seat facing forward — so the left part is on your left as you sit in the car. This is not the same as left- and right-hand drive.
The two numbers in a pair usually differ by a single digit near the end. Our listings that cover both sides state which number belongs to which.
2. Left-hand drive versus right-hand drive
Anything around the dashboard, steering column, pedals and centre console may be different for LHD and RHD cars, even when the part looks symmetrical. Switch panels are a common example: the Range Rover Classic window switch panel exists in separate LHD and RHD versions. Our guide to why LHD and RHD parts have different numbers explains more.
3. Early versus late
Most classic models were updated during production, sometimes more than once. Mercedes-Benz facelifts, BMW updates and running changes can alter trim shapes, clip positions and colours. Where we list both versions, the listing names them. Your car's build date and, best of all, the number on the original part settle it.
4. Colour and finish
The same shape was often made in several colours. Some parts are supplied primed for painting, others in a finished colour. Check which you need: a primed part must be painted before fitting, while a coloured one should match the surrounding trim.
5. Options and variants
Factory options change trim. Cars with electric seats have different door and seat trims from cars without; cars with a sunroof have different headlining trim; some consoles exist in versions with extra switches. The W124 door handle cover for electric seats and its non-electric counterpart are a good illustration: similar at a glance, not interchangeable.
The one check that covers all five
The part number moulded or printed on the back of your original encodes all of this. Search for it directly — our search accepts numbers with or without spaces and prefixes — or see our guides to verifying OEM numbers and reading Mercedes-Benz numbers. If you're still unsure, send us the number or a photo before ordering and we'll confirm the match before anything is made.