Door panel differences?

[dolvio]

Hey everyone,

What are the differences of the door panels BA and CB? One has ambient lighting and the other doesn’t. Why would the one with ambient lighting be cheaper? Also can either one work for my 2024 select?

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[JohnFoxeSheets]

Not sure, but the safest way to search for parts is to put you VIN into the parts website and it will filter out parts that won't work with your specific car...

 

[dolvio]

Not sure, but the safest way to search for parts is to put you VIN into the parts website and it will filter out parts that won't work with your specific car...

It says not compatible with mine but it’s compatible for the premium. Based on my knowledge they are identical panels though sans the ambient lighting. To me it’s odd the ambient lighting panel would be less money.

 

[LowGun84]

I would think you are seeing economy of scale. The number of select trim with no ambient lighting vs the number of premium/gt trims with it is the cost difference.

 

[KennyMc]

The LJ8Z-5823943-BA version is significantly more expensive because it features a complete premium audio speaker housing and grille assembly built directly into the inner plastic tooling.
While the "CB" version has standard openings for a baseline sound system, the "BA" panel is uniquely molded to accommodate the premium Bang & Olufsen (B&O) 10-speaker system found on higher-tier Ford Mustang Mach-E trims. [1]
From Google....

 

[KennyMc]

Further research...


1. Integrated Premium Audio Tooling

• Structural Changes: The BA trim panel features complex physical geometry and brackets to isolate and hold the heavier B&O premium speakers. [1]
• Cosmetic Accents: It comes pre-fitted with specialized, branded aluminum speaker grilles that command a higher manufacturing premium than standard plastic meshes. [1]

2. Supply Chain Dynamics & Supersession

• Discontinued Revisions: The BA panel completely supersedes the older LJ8Z-5823943-MA part number.
• Lower Production Volume: Because the BA variant covers very specific luxury configurations (Premium/GT trims lacking ambient door lighting but featuring Memory Package 2 and B&O sound), Ford produces fewer of these specialized service units. Lower production volume drastically increases individual part costs. [1, 2, 3]

 

[dolvio]

I would think you are seeing economy of scale. The number of select trim with no ambient lighting vs the number of premium/gt trims with it is the cost difference.

Further research...


1. Integrated Premium Audio Tooling

• Structural Changes: The BA trim panel features complex physical geometry and brackets to isolate and hold the heavier B&O premium speakers. [1]
• Cosmetic Accents: It comes pre-fitted with specialized, branded aluminum speaker grilles that command a higher manufacturing premium than standard plastic meshes. [1]

2. Supply Chain Dynamics & Supersession

• Discontinued Revisions: The BA panel completely supersedes the older LJ8Z-5823943-MA part number.
• Lower Production Volume: Because the BA variant covers very specific luxury configurations (Premium/GT trims lacking ambient door lighting but featuring Memory Package 2 and B&O sound), Ford produces fewer of these specialized service units. Lower production volume drastically increases individual part costs. [1, 2, 3]

Thanks from my research both are simply panels. The cheaper one is actually for the more expensive cars. It’s probably exactly the same.

 

[iexiak]

The LJ8Z-5823943-BA version is significantly more expensive because it features a complete premium audio speaker housing and grille assembly built directly into the inner plastic tooling.
While the "CB" version has standard openings for a baseline sound system, the "BA" panel is uniquely molded to accommodate the premium Bang & Olufsen (B&O) 10-speaker system found on higher-tier Ford Mustang Mach-E trims. [1]
From Google....

• Structural Changes: The BA trim panel features complex physical geometry and brackets to isolate and hold the heavier B&O premium speakers. [1]
• Cosmetic Accents: It comes pre-fitted with specialized, branded aluminum speaker grilles that command a higher manufacturing premium than standard plastic meshes. [1]

AI is turbo bad for specific details like this. The speaker is not mounted to this part (it is mounted to the inner door skin that houses the window mechanism) and IIRC there is no difference on the interior door skin. I don't believe the B+O has aluminum speaker grills but someone else could confirm this.

On my select the outer door skin (the parts the thread is about) below the speaker grille there is a cutout for the LEDs but no LEDs, which make me think that the only real difference between the doors is the B+O sticker on the grille for the speaker. The other parts that make the difference (seat memory and the LEDs) should be different SKUs.

Unless we are talking about rear doors - in which case the B+O rear door has a hole for a tweeter in it and is slightly different.



@dolvio you know none of these come with the speaker grille right? All those parts are going to come looking like this -

I'm looking at old pictures and trying to figure out if that is riveted or screwed together...if it's riveted transferring the speaker grille over would be a PITA. Including the pics I have just so you are aware of this. It looks like mostly screws but it's hard for me to tell.

Another consideration for you is that the fabric on the door is held on by the speaker grille panel. I think you'll need a second person to hold the door and stretch that fabric while you tighten the bolts. Otherwise the fabric will be loose on the door.

 

[dolvio]

AI is turbo bad for specific details like this. The speaker is not mounted to this part (it is mounted to the inner door skin that houses the window mechanism) and IIRC there is no difference on the interior door skin. I don't believe the B+O has aluminum speaker grills but someone else could confirm this.

On my select the outer door skin (the parts the thread is about) below the speaker grille there is a cutout for the LEDs but no LEDs, which make me think that the only real difference between the doors is the B+O sticker on the grille for the speaker. The other parts that make the difference (seat memory and the LEDs) should be different SKUs.

Unless we are talking about rear doors - in which case the B+O rear door has a hole for a tweeter in it and is slightly different.



@dolvio you know none of these come with the speaker grille right? All those parts are going to come looking like this -

I'm looking at old pictures and trying to figure out if that is riveted or screwed together...if it's riveted transferring the speaker grille over would be a PITA. Including the pics I have just so you are aware of this. It looks like mostly screws but it's hard for me to tell.

Another consideration for you is that the fabric on the door is held on by the speaker grille panel. I think you'll need a second person to hold the door and stretch that fabric while you tighten the bolts. Otherwise the fabric will be loose on the door.

Great reply and thank you. Yes! I’m just looking for the panel part. I have everything else on my door that I will swap over. The actual speak grill cover is just 4-5 screws. I’m assuming the arm rest and everything else will also be just screws and not plastic welded like the rest of the 3 piece panel. Dumb but whatever.

It’s just odd to me that the higher trim piece is cheaper is all. Every other door panel config is much more money. The one that matches my VIN is $1300 compared to the one for the Premium which is $500. Where is the $800?

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

It says not compatible with mine but it’s compatible for the premium. Based on my knowledge they are identical panels though sans the ambient lighting. To me it’s odd the ambient lighting panel would be less money.

Agreed on the oddness of the pricing...

 

[NY_Cade69]

Big difference here, if you don't have memory seats, you'll end up with a big hole...

Select - door locks only (unless you have the comfort or tech package)

Premium - has memory seats as well (or optioned Select)

 

[dolvio]

Big difference here, if you don't have memory seats, you'll end up with a big hole...

Select - door locks only (unless you have the comfort or tech package)

Premium - has memory seats as well (or optioned Select)

absolutely. I have the comfort package.

 

[NY_Cade69]

The other 3 doors are probably the same across the range, the cheaper driver's door is probably due to overstocking by Ford.
Or, I shudder to think, a typo in the Ford price list...

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