This site has been fantastic. Thanks for all your help.

I have a 2004 R53 manufactured in December 2003. It's the 6-speed manual transmission.

I have the chrome top with leather on the bottom shift ****. The leather on the shift **** is peeling off. I'd like to replace with an OEM **** as I like the look and feel personally.

Checking it out on realOEM site, it looks like there are different part numbers between my manufacture date and cars manufactured after January 2004.

Are there any differences between the two *****, or will the new part work and feel the same as mine?

Only the shifters are different. The ***** are the same, covering many years and models.

Looks like the shifter change may have changed the way the **** mounts on cars built after January 2004. Different part numbers:
Manufactured on or before January 2004 https://www.ecstuning.com/ES47312/
Manufactured after January 2004 https://www.ecstuning.com/ES47318/

Just a heads up for anyone in the same boat.