Used Nissan Almera Sill

The Nissan Almera ran across two main generations in the UK: the N15 (1995–2000) and the N16 (2000–2006), and sills are generation-specific, so a part from the wrong generation will not fit. Within the N16 there was a facelift around 2003, and whether pressing changes affected the sill panels across that boundary is something you should confirm with the breaker against your registration before buying. Stick to the same generation as your car as a starting point.

Yes, body style is the first thing to get right — the N16 Almera was sold as a 5-door hatchback, a 4-door saloon, and an estate, and the sill geometry and pressings differ between these body styles. Always tell the breaker exactly which body style you have, not just the year. A sill from a saloon will not simply swap onto a hatchback even if both are the same generation.

No — the engine and trim level make no difference to sill fitment on the Almera. Whether your car is an S, SE, SVE, or Sport trim, the structural sill panel is the same for a given generation and body style. Bear in mind that some trim levels had colour-coded lower body mouldings or add-on side skirts, so a sill from a different trim may look slightly different cosmetically even though it fits correctly — worth mentioning to the breaker so they can match what you have.

No — the N15 and N16 are entirely different platforms with different body structures, so the sills are not interchangeable between them. Make sure the breaker's donor car is the same generation as yours. If you are unsure which generation you have, check your V5C or give the breaker your registration so they can verify.

Both a 2002 and a 2004–2005 Almera fall within the N16 generation (2000–2006), but the N16 received a facelift around 2003 and it is not certain whether any sill pressing changes were made at that point. Start by confirming with the breaker that the donor car is the same N16 generation, the same body style, and ask them to check the part against your registration before you commit to buying.

Yes, absolutely — sills are handed, meaning the nearside (NS, passenger side) and offside (OS, driver side) are mirror images of each other and are not interchangeable. Always specify which side you need when contacting a breaker, and double-check this matches the part they are pulling from the donor vehicle.