very true....the 92-95 had 2 bolts to holds it down and the newer ones had only one bolt behind the light...maybe they continued the 92-95 design to 96

True -I had to do some modifying to get the 1997 panels to work on my 95, but I'm not sure if I removed a bracket from the door or the panel as there was something in the way that made the panel stick out 3-4 inches.
If my sister-in-laws sister shows up today at my brothers I'll take a quick snapshot of her door panels in her 1996 SLE.

Both my 96s, the SE and the SE with SLE package have perforated leather. As for the differences in the part #, a lot of times with the parts at work they supersede to a new one once improvements are made. There may be minor differences on how they fasten or something. I know on my car I have to re-fasten the top of the drivers side panel about every two years.

You removed a sytrofoam block spacer.

Superceded part numbers are not the issue here. When that happens, they strike the old part number. All 3 part numbers still exist in the current GM database.


Here'* what I know:
The 'inner belt' weatherstripping, the black piece at the very top is unchanged from 92-99.

The 'upper trim' is a seperate piece from 92-95 (above the armrest, the perf panel). 92 was different than 93-95, whether it was cloth or leather. Clearly different part numbers.

The 92 armrest is one part number. 93-94 share another part number. 95 and 96 have the same armrest, and it changed again for 97-99.

The trim (for the mirror adjust) was the same from 92-96. 97-99 have a different part number.

The map pockets are clearly different. This is the major change in 96. The 92-95 are all the same with the speaker grilles included, and it'* a seperate piece that screws on. However, 92'* part number differs from 93-95 again. Now the ODD part. The map pocket INSERT for 96 is different than 97-99. There might be a key difference in the shape of the door.

All speaker grilles, door handles, lights, and misc trim not mentioned are the same from 92-99.

Was the 96 map pocket better, larger?????

If it was larger, it may not fit in your door. That'* one of the issues that needs to be fixed. In fact, I'd like a 96 to pull the insert out and look for a part number to confirm my sources. Same thing for a 97-99.

Part # from a 96 SE driver side door pocket 16668525 made in 9/95

I've got a 97 laying at the house...will try to remember.

Heres what I got. The beige color one is from a 98 SSEi, the grayish black one is from a 96 SE. They look a little different to me.







Hope this helps.

a note on the screws. 96 SE has 2 screws behind the door light, 1 screw behind the grab handle trim piece, and 1 screw behind the door handle trim piece. Those are all the screws that need to be removed to take the door off.

What I dont remember is if the screw near the door handle is structural or just to hold that trim piece on.