W203 Mismatched door cards

[JamesG66]

Recently I noticed that the door cards on my 2006 C350 don't match.

Driver's door card is the one that doesn't match the others and looks like this:

Where as the passenger one (and the rears) look like this:

I thought this was a one off, but this car currently for sale, also a C350, is similarly affected.

Used Mercedes-benz C Class Saloon 3.5 C350 Elegance Se 7g-tronic 4dr in Derby, Derbyshire | Caralot

Is there something that happens to the door cards that means they get swapped out, broken interior handle on the higher use driver's side perhaps?

Or is this an MB quality control issue that nobody has ever noticed before?

 

[martyz]

Airbag deployed at some stage maybe?

 

[JamesG66]

Airbag deployed at some stage maybe?

Very possible but my thinking was that an insurance company would replace like for like? And one would assume that you'd need a reasonable amount of damage for the airbag to go off, so you would use insurance, although I have no direct experience.

 

[Trickythemerc]

Looks like the drivers side is trimmed in autolux perforated leather.

 

[Alex Richardson]

I see the difference. What about the rest of the door cards? Are they similar to the passenger sit in the front?

 

[JamesG66]

As requested, photos of the rear door cards:

Passenger side:

Driver's side:

According to my VIN I have real leather, as opposed to Artico:

 

[grumpyoldgit]

Someone once told me that if a certain part of the interior handle breaks it means a complete new door card. Don't know how true that is though, although it seems feasible after reading your post.

 

[350_Coupe]

yeah, that drivers side "odd" one matches the style in my coupe, and it's artico, not "real leather" so i suspect someone at some point has changed it, it could be for as simple a reason as why i want to change mine..... the seatbelt buckle got trapped between seat and door, and smashed the speaker grill, or trim is separating along the joint between the arm rest and lower section, as mine is, either way .... that is an artico trim one that's fitted

 

[Rory]

I thought this was a one off, but this car currently for sale, also a C350, is similarly affected.

Used Mercedes-benz C Class Saloon 3.5 C350 Elegance Se 7g-tronic 4dr in Derby, Derbyshire | Caralot

On my work laptop the difference isn't obvious - is it clearer when you view it?

Seems quite a co-incidence if it is the same as yours. I suppose it could have been wrong from the factory.

 

[renault12ts]

On my work laptop the difference isn't obvious - is it clearer when you view it?

Seems quite a co-incidence if it is the same as yours. I suppose it could have been wrong from the factory.

One is perforated the others aren't...very clear on my lap top.

 

[brucemillar]

That panel is interchangeable (if you could be bothered to remove it from the main card). I just changed one on my 124 estate (small tear in the rippled leather). I would guess that somebody at some point damaged the card and ordered a complete card without doing their research. I have to say, had you not pointed it out! I would not have immediately noticed it.

 

[Rory]

One is perforated the others aren't...very clear on my lap top.

Fair enough - I can see the others are rippled and the drivers one looks smooth but thought that could just be the light. On my ThinkPad I can't see the perforations.

 

[grober]

You need to get a hold of a good MB parts man who can look up the exact trim replacement panel insert for you- assuming they are still available and you can buy them as a separate part from the rest of the door panel?
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techart...g_Your_Front_Door_Panels/images_med/pic14.jpg

 

[sjmaxwell]

Be afraid, be very afraid as I bet it wont be cheap!!

 

[grober]

If you can't get the panel insert then its a question of buying an entire door panel. You might be lucky to pick one up at a breaker but this is one part I would check visually before purchase.