<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001258618-04-000003
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040108
<FILING-DATE>20040109
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BERGER DAVID A
<CIK>0001258616
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-09511
<FILM-NUMBER>04519113
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>COSTAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM INC
<STREET2>350 WOODVIEW AVE
<CITY>MORGAN HILL
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>95037
<PHONE>4087826686
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM INC
<CIK>0000728303
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5013
<IRS-NUMBER>942490990
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1982 ZANKER RD
<CITY>SAN JOSE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>95112
<PHONE>4084368611
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1982 ZANKER RD
<CITY>SAN JOSE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>95112
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>COAST RV INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19880619
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
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<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-08</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000728303</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>crv</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001258616</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BERGER DAVID A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>350 WOODVIEW AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MORGAN HILL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95037</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.10</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-08</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2009-01-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2014-01-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes/><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ David A Berger</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-09</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
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