Finding the part number: how to get the right one
The safest way to order a car part is by its part number. The vehicle model alone is often not enough: engine, equipment, model year and changes during production decide which version fits. This page explains where to find the number, what it looks like and what the VIN and the registration document are good for.
Part number, OE number and VIN
The OE number is the number under which the vehicle brand lists a spare part. The VIN, by contrast, identifies the vehicle itself. The VIN and a parts catalogue of the brand give you the matching OE number. You then search our account with that number.
FAQ
Where do I find the part number of a car part?
It is often on the removed part itself: on a label, stamped in or cast into the housing. Invoices from earlier repairs and the packaging of the old part often show it too. Not every number on a part is an order number, though; some markings are maker codes or dates. If in doubt, work out the number from the VIN in a parts catalogue of the brand.
What does an OE number look like?
That depends on the brand. Some use digits only, others letters and digits, sometimes with spaces, dots or hyphens. Copy the number as the source gives it and, above all, completely: a missing character at the end can mean a different version or colour. A number that looks almost right is not the same as the right number.
Is the part number in the vehicle registration document?
No. The registration document describes the vehicle, not its individual spare parts. It is still useful: it shows the VIN, together with the make, the type and the date of first registration. With the VIN, the matching part number can be found in a parts catalogue of the brand. Keep the document at hand when you look up a part.
How do I find the part number from the VIN?
The VIN has seventeen characters. You find it in the registration document, behind the windscreen and often on the body in the engine bay or on the door pillar. A parts catalogue of the brand shows the versions fitted to that vehicle. Choose the assembly and the part there; the catalogue gives you the OE number to search for with us.
Why do I order by part number and not by VIN?
In your account you search and order by part number. The VIN helps you find that number in the brand's parts catalogue, but it does not guarantee that a part fits, for example after conversions or with equipment variants. With the right part number, your account also shows all variants and their prices straight away.
What if the part number is not found?
First check the spelling: swapped characters, the digit zero instead of the letter O, or a missing character at the end. Brands replace some numbers with newer ones; if a number is replaced after you order, the order status shows it. If the account still finds nothing, check the number again in the brand's parts catalogue or send us the number through your account.
More topics in the guide
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