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A Guide to Porsche Part Numbers
We get quite a few emails asking about Porsche part numbers and what they mean. The eleven digit numbers can be a bit of a mystery and knowing what they mean can be a big help when trying to track down that replacement part you need for your prize possession. Disclaimer: This is just a guide and should be used as such. Like every set of rules there are always exception and Porsche are famous breaking its own rules. Please add your thoughts and experiences in the comments area at the end of the article.
Structure of The Part Number Code
The Porsche Part Number system are made up of eleven digits (000-000-000-00). The are broken down into three groups of three digits and a final set of two digits.
Porsche PET numbers for your Porsche
Describing a part over the telephone to a supplier can work, but sometimes only the correct Porsche Part Number will do. Porsche maintain their own official Porsche (PET) Electronics Parts catalogue to make life easier. These PET catalogues are available in PDF format on the Porsche.com website and free to use and download. We have listed them all in one place to make it easy for you to find the one your looking for. Take a look at the List of Porsche PET catalogues.
The First Group of Three Digits
This is normally quite straight forward. The first three digits normally correlate to the model type tat the parts for first designed for, such as the 911, 828, 964 etc. However Porsche have been known to use the same part number on another model type, so its not always as obvious as it may seem.
Some additional points to consider are:
- Typical Porsche model type three digit prefixes include 901, 902, 911, 912, 930, 914, 928, 964, 986, 996, 997, 991 etc;
- 999, 900, or N three digit prefixes typically mean a component re-used on multiple models.
The Second Set of Three Digits
The second set of three digits tell us more about the actual part we are looking for. The first of the three digits indicate which subsystem of the car the part belongs to i.e., transmission, engine, suspension etc. The second pair of digits normally refer to the diagram number in the parts catalogue itself. Ere are the main categories: 100 Engine; 200 Fuel and Exhaust; 300 Transmission; 400 Front Axle/Steering; 500 Rear Axle; 600 Wheels/Brakes; 700 Levers/Pedals; 800 Body; and 900 Electrical.
The Third Set of Three Digits
These third set of digits seem to be the code for the actual part number. We know of no particular relevance to these numbers or how they are defined. Perhaps one of our readers can share their knowledge.
The Final Two Digits
The best way to describe the relevance of the last two digits is that they represent the Modification Number for the associated part. The original item will end in 00. Any subsequent modifications to the par's original specification means the number will increment by one digit. This could mean a material change, a finish change or something else. This is just a general guide. As mentioned earlier, there will be exceptions to the rule, but generally speaking this should serve you well. It's a good idea to get a copy of the PET catalogue for your particular model of Porsche. They are freely available for download from the Porsche website. We have placed links to each of the PET catalogues here.
Please feel free to add your own thoughts and experiences in the comments area below.
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Great stuff. I never did know what all the part numbers meant. I'm glad Porsche had some kind of numberinf strategy
Great read Pete. This is definitely useful. I've always been at a loss trying to understand these numbers.
I thought this would be a good guide to produce. This should serve as a useful guide to better understanding how the Porsche part numbering system works. There are exceptions to the rules of course, so if you know of any please post them here.
ive always wondered how the Porsche part number system work. thanks for making it easy to understand.
A great little guide. I've often been confused as to what the Porsche part number sequence actually mean. Thanks for the link to the PET catalogues - just download a copy for my Porsche.