A motor vehicle door lock is provided. An inside connecting device is connected at one end to an inside door opening element and at another end to an inside opening lever. The inside opening lever pivots about a first pin via the inside connecting device and the inside door opening element, whereby the inside opening lever engages a pawl which in turn engages a striker. An inside pivoting arm cooperates with the inside opening lever. The inside pivoting arm pivots about pin whereby it moves the inside opening lever between a locked and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the inside opening lever is not affected by the inside connecting device and in the unlocked position, the inside connecting device may act on the inside opening lever. Corresponding parts are also provided for an outside door opening element. The latch, pawl, levers and pivoting arms are all arranged parallel to the same face of a housing whereby their pins are perpendicular to the same face.