How to Read an OE Number on an Electric Power Steering Rack
Where the number is, why there is often more than one, and which one to order against
Find the number before you order
The most reliable identifier for a steering rack is the number on the unit currently fitted to the vehicle. A catalogue lookup by model and year will get you close; the number on the part gets you exact.
Where to look
On most electric racks the OE number appears on a label or is stamped on the rack housing, usually near the motor end or on the flat of the main tube. On German platforms the number commonly runs to ten or eleven characters mixing digits and letters.
Why there is often more than one number
Manufacturers supersede part numbers across a model run. A facelift, a supplier change or a running revision can leave two or three numbers that describe parts which interchange, plus others that look similar and do not. Where the source record for a listing carries alternate references, they are shown on that product page.
What to do when the label is unreadable
Corrosion and road salt take labels off. Photograph the rack in place, photograph the vehicle identification number, and send both over WhatsApp. Identification from photographs is quicker and more reliable than working from a description.
Ordering against the number
Every listing in this catalogue is titled and indexed by its OEM number, so a search on the number from the old unit goes straight to the matching page, its driver side and its listed vehicles.
Part Numbers Related to This Guide
32106879875 Electric Power Steering Rack
BMW 7 Series (G11 / G12) 2015-2023
A2124600101 Electric Power Steering Rack
Mercedes-Benz W212
LR140523 Electric Power Steering Rack
Land Rover Discovery Sport (L550) 2015+
G3GC3D080AK Electric Power Steering Rack
Ford TAURUS: Taurus 20150810-
Other Guides in the Knowledge Center
Questions Readers Ask About This
Is the number on the box the same as the number on the rack?
The carton is labelled with the part number it contains. If the two disagree on a part you have received, do not fit it and raise it before installation.
Can you identify a rack from the VIN alone?
A VIN narrows it down but does not always settle it, because a rack may have been replaced previously. The number on the fitted part is the reliable identifier.
Do reference numbers always interchange?
Not always. Reference numbers are shown as recorded in the source data for that part; confirm the driver side and the listed vehicles alongside them.
Still Not Sure Which Rack You Need
Photograph the number on the fitted unit and the vehicle identification number, and we will identify the part for you at no charge.