VW part numbers explained
The VW part numbering system is a very logical sequence of numbers
and letters, almost a language in itself. Once you understand how a part
number is made, you could almost guess what a part number would
be!
A part number looks like: 3B0821106C
This can be broken down into three 'lots' of three numbers, i.e.:
3B0 821 106C each group of three numbers has a specific meaning:
3B0 means the car or engine/gearbox this part fits. In this case, 3B0
is a Passat. Sometimes when is part is different for left hand drive
cars or right hand drive cars, the last digit will denote either LHD or
RHD. A 1 would indicate LHD and a 2 would indicate RHD. So:
3B1 = a LHD specific A4 part
3B2 = a RHD specific A4 part
Another way the first three numbers are used, is when the part is
different for various body versions of the same car. i.e.
1H0 is MK3 Golf
1H9 is MK3 Golf estate
3B5 is Passat saloon
3B9 is Passat estate
The next group of three numbers 821 has two meanings. The 8 means
bodywork and we refer to this number as the 'main group'. The 21 is the
'subgroup' of (8) bodywork, and the subgroup 21, is always wings, or
fenders as they are known in the USA. The part number so far would then
be 8D0 821, and all we need now is the last three digits. The last three
digits are the 'real' part number of every part.
The last three digits in the example part number above are 106C. The
number 106C has two meanings. 106 is the part number for a wing (or
fender), also when a part is sided, i.e. left or right, the very last
digit (6 in this case) denotes the side. An even number means right hand
side, an odd number means left hand side. So in the example part number,
106 is a wing and the side it fits is the right hand side (being an even
number). This is normally always the case with only a few exceptions.
The last bit of the example part number, the letter C, refers to
either the version of this wing, or if a part has been modified, this
letter will increase along the alphabet to indicate that a modification
has taken place.
That's virtually all there is too a part number!
Try this one:
A 1999 Passat bonnet, what's the part number likely to be?
3B0 = Passat
8 is bodywork
23 is bonnet
and bonnets are normally 023.
So you can almost correctly guess the part number of a Passat bonnet!
3B0 823 029, the only thing missing is the letter C at the end of the
part number, but that's the bit you couldn't guess!! Easy huh??
The only other 'main' part of a part number is the colour code. These
codes go at the very end of a part number i.e. 4A0 837 239E 01C.
01C is one of the
colour codes for black, another code for black is B41, or 3FZ even.
Simple when you know how! now you can impress your local dealer and
tell them the part number in future!