The ID Plate on the Turbo Itself

Most turbochargers have a small metal or laser-etched ID plate riveted or stamped onto the compressor or centre housing. This is the single most reliable source, since it identifies the exact unit rather than a range of possible fitments.

• Look on the compressor housing (the aluminium end, opposite the exhaust side) and around the centre housing
• The plate usually shows a manufacturer part number (Garrett, BorgWarner, Melett-marked reman numbers, etc.) — sometimes alongside a separate OE part number
• If it's caked in oil residue or road grime, a light clean with a rag is usually enough to read it — avoid anything abrasive that could damage the stamping

The Engine Code

The engine code identifies which engine variant is fitted, and from that, which turbo(s) were used on it. It's usually found:

• Stamped directly on the engine block, often near the front or on a machined pad
• On a sticker under the bonnet, sometimes on the timing belt cover or near the VIN plate
• In the vehicle handbook or service documentation

The engine code is useful, but on its own it can still leave more than one possible turbo if the engine was used across multiple production runs or specifications.

The Vehicle VIN (Chassis Number)

The VIN is the most precise identifier available, since it encodes the exact production build of your specific vehicle — not just the general engine family. It's typically found:

• On a plate visible through the windscreen, at the base of the driver's side
• Stamped into the chassis, often under the bonnet near the strut tower
• On the vehicle registration document (V5C in the UK, equivalent registration cert in Ireland/EU)

Which One Should You Send Us?

Any one of these is a good starting point, but they're not all equally reliable on their own:

• Best: the turbo's own ID plate number — it identifies the exact unit, no ambiguity
• Very good: the VIN — ties to your vehicle's exact build spec
• Useful, sometimes ambiguous on its own: the engine code — fine when only one turbo was ever fitted to that code, less reliable when several were

If you're not sure which you have, send whatever you can find — even a clear photo of the ID plate or a partial number is enough for us to confirm the correct part before you order.

Ready to check fitment?