teile-profis.de used to be a German parts shop with an OE number search that many European car forums linked to. The shop is gone. This page is the replacement: an independent guide on how to find the OE (original equipment) part number for VW, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Opel, Porsche and other German brands, and how to order genuine parts from Germany if you live elsewhere in Europe. We do not sell anything.
1. What the OE number is
The OE number is the part number the car manufacturer uses in its own parts catalogue. It is the only number that works across every shop in every country: a BMW oil filter is 11427566327 in Germany, Finland and Poland alike. Supplier numbers (Bosch, Valeo, Mahle) and aftermarket numbers are mapped to the OE number by databases such as TecDoc, so once you have the OE number you can compare genuine, OEM and aftermarket parts anywhere.
2. Three ways to find it
- Read it off the old part. German manufacturers stamp, cast or print the number on most parts, usually next to the brand logo. Photograph every number you find: one is the OE number, the other is usually the supplier's.
- Dealer parts counter with your VIN. Any franchised dealer can look up the number in the manufacturer's catalogue (ETKA for the VW group, ETK for BMW, EPC for Mercedes, Dialogys for Renault) using the 17-character VIN. Most will tell you the number even if you buy elsewhere.
- Free catalogue mirrors. Sites such as RealOEM (BMW, search with the last seven characters of the VIN), 7zap or PartSouq reproduce the manufacturer catalogues with exploded drawings. The data is unofficial but reliable in practice. Always cross-check with the number on the part or with the dealer.
3. How German part numbers are built
| Brand | Format | Example | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| VW, Audi, Skoda, Seat | 3 blocks plus suffix | 1K0 615 301 AA | First block = model where the number was first issued (1K = Golf V), second block = assembly group (6 = wheels and brakes), suffix = variant. Check the PR codes on the vehicle data sticker for brake and suspension variants. |
| BMW, Mini | 11 digits | 11427566327 | First two digits = main group (11 engine, 34 brakes, 51 body, 64 heating and A/C). RealOEM works with the last seven VIN characters. |
| Mercedes-Benz | A plus 10 digits | A 000 000 00 00 | First block = series where first issued, second block = assembly group. Ask the dealer for the data card (list of equipment codes) before ordering suspension, brake or lighting parts. |
| Opel (GM era) | 7-digit Opel number and 8-digit GM number | 1302867 / 90411634 | Both numbers mean the same part. Use the GM number to find Vauxhall and Holden stock. |
4. Ordering genuine parts from Germany
Germany has the largest market for genuine and OEM parts in Europe, and prices for the same OE number are often lower than in the Nordic countries, the Netherlands or Poland. What works in practice:
- Large German online retailers ship across the EU, list OE numbers in every product description ("OE-Nummern" or "Vergleichsnummern") and accept the OE number as a search term. Search with the number, not with the car model.
- German franchised dealers often sell genuine parts by mail order. Email the parts counter ("Teiletresen") with the OE number and your address. Many answer in English.
- eBay.de hosts hundreds of dealer stores selling genuine parts. Filter by "Original" and check that the OE number in the listing matches yours exactly, including the suffix letters.
- Within the EU there are no customs duties and VAT is handled by the seller. Shipping to the Nordic countries, Benelux, Poland, Italy and France typically takes two to five working days.
Left-hand drive and right-hand drive parts differ for steering, pedals, dashboards and some headlights. Germany is a left-hand-drive market, so if you drive on the left (UK, Ireland), check the catalogue for a separate RHD number before ordering.
5. German terms you will meet
| German | English |
|---|---|
| OE-Nummer, Teilenummer, Originalteilenummer | OE number, part number |
| Vergleichsnummern | Cross-reference numbers (the OE numbers a product covers) |
| Fahrgestellnummer (FIN) | VIN |
| Erstausrüster, Erstausrüsterqualität | OEM supplier, OEM quality |
| Nachbau, Zubehör | Aftermarket |
| ersetzt durch | superseded by |
| Teiletresen | Dealer parts counter |
| Ersatzteil, Verschleißteil | Spare part, wear part |
6. About this site
teile-profis.de is an independent German-language guide to OE numbers, vehicle data and spare parts, run by Norbert Hofmann from Landshut, Germany. It has no connection to the former shop under this domain. The German guides go into more depth per brand: OE-Nummer herausfinden, BMW, VW, Audi, Skoda, Seat, Mercedes-Benz, Opel. Questions or corrections: see the Impressum (legal notice) for contact details.
Sources: manufacturer parts catalogues (ETKA, ETK, EPC, Opel EPC), RealOEM, documented part numbers from dealer listings and forum threads. Last updated: October 2026.