Az495a car owner's reference: how to choose auto parts

a car owner's reference: how to choose auto parts

Az495 — a car owner's guide to choosing auto parts

Getting a part wrong costs time and money: the wrong part, the wrong facelift, the wrong market version. Here you will find clear instructions: how to find the part number from your VIN, how OEM parts differ from aftermarket ones, and what to check before you buy.

Where to start

Reference sections

  • Reference sections

    Map of the reference: part numbers, selection by VIN, OEM vs aftermarket, buying.

  • Practical guides

    Step-by-step part selection by VIN and part number, plus the catalog of upcoming publications.

  • Questions and answers

    Short answers: OEM, cross-references, VIN, frame number, facelift.

  • Reading lists

    Reading paths: what to read before buying a part on your own for the first time.

  • Reference

    Terms and part number formats — the essentials, with examples.

  • Latest publications

    A dated feed of the reference's publications.

  • Archive

    All articles by year and topic, including the domain's historical addresses.

Example: choosing brake pads

  1. Find the VIN

    It is on the registration certificate or on a plate in the car. Some right-hand-drive cars built for the Japanese market use a frame number (chassis number) instead of a VIN.

  2. Find the part number

    Look it up by VIN in the manufacturer's catalog or ask a dealer: pads differ depending on the brake system and trim level.

  3. Compare offers for the same number

    OEM and aftermarket parts are compared by part number and cross-reference number, not by a description like "front pads for Pajero".

  4. Check on delivery

    Before fitting, check the number on the packaging and compare the part with the old one.

Common questions in brief

Is this an auto parts shop?

No. Az495 is an independent reference. An auto parts shop used to operate on this domain; nothing is sold here now, and no prices or stock are published.

Can I choose a part by make and year alone?

Often not: a single model year can have different engines, trim levels and facelifts. Choosing by VIN or frame number is more reliable.

Do you check compatibility on request?

No. We explain how to do it yourself or together with the seller.

About the project

Az495 is an independent reference project. The domain previously hosted an auto parts shop for Japanese cars; the project has no connection to it and does not reproduce its catalog, prices or contacts.

We write about how to choose parts: numbers, catalogs, compatibility. Brand names are used only to describe compatibility; the project is not affiliated with carmakers or their dealers.