2006 body panels for a 2007 Mazda3 hatchback?

February 6, 2023 1:32 PM

The local used ("recycled") auto parts yard has a 2006 Mazda3 hatchback that is the same color as my 2007 model. I'm considering a rear door, something that might be a quarter panel, and another small part in that area. Will the 2006 panels fit my 2007 car? And is there a labeled diagram somewhere so I can ask for what I need?

I tried to find this info on my own and utterly failed. I have reason to *think* the 2006 panels will fit, but I want to be sure.

I have found some diagrams, but not a diagram that gives the names or outlines of body panels on the side of the car.

Also open to other sources.

posted by amtho to Grab Bag (7 answers total)

You’re looking for a part catalog. Get the part number for the panel for the ‘06 and the ‘07 from it. If they’re the same, you’re golden. If they’re even 1 digit off, it might not work.

I’ve had good luck with these guys for Mazda parts.
posted by hwyengr at 1:51 PM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

The Mazda parts catalogs are discouragingly hard to navigate, but they have a lot of information. So this listing for Left Rear Door has a "what this fits" tab: and it says that the door for 2006 does not match the door for 2007. YMMV for the other pieces.
posted by xueexueg at 2:02 PM on February 6, 2023

I don't know anything about those specific parts, but I do know that the Mazda3 was slightly redesigned for the 2007 model year.
posted by kickingtheground at 2:10 PM on February 6, 2023

Wikipedia has a listing of some of the 2007 redesign changes
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 2:30 PM on February 6, 2023

Response by poster: xueexueg - that seems to be for a sedan rather than a hatchback. I'm having trouble finding hatchback parts, though.



I still would _love_ a really good labeled diagram. I totally failed to describe the panel I need to a professional, over the phone, today -- I think it's a quarter panel, but with really long sticky out pieces that go over and under both doors?

And the bottom piece that resembles a step just outside the bottom of the doors? I think that part is often damaged by forklifts, based on what the person said, but if I end up shopping around I should check that over the phone before having it removed/shipped.
posted by amtho at 7:13 PM on February 6, 2023

Response by poster: hwyengr - Thanks for the link! This might be the correct panel for just the door - yes? It looks like it fits both the 2007 and 2006 models?

So, the other parts I'd need are the panel that is immediately around the top and left of the door, and whatever the part is that's below the door and sticking slightly out from the car (it runs the length of both doors).
posted by amtho at 7:25 PM on February 6, 2023

Sorry I forgot to check back. That looks like the sheet metal skin for the door. There will be body-shop level welding involved if you get that part. If the panels are the same, there’s a pretty good chance the whole door from the junkyard will work.
posted by hwyengr at 5:11 PM on February 9, 2023