Locating the engine code on your VW or Audi

If you are ordering ECU software, "it's a GTI" is not enough information.

VW Group has been doing the "same badge, five different engines" thing for decades. The trim level, the badge on the back, and what your buddy swears it is are all irrelevant when it comes to tuning. What matters is the engine code.

That is the 3 or 4 character code that actually identifies your engine — things like AEG, AWP, BWA, or CAEB. Get it right and ordering is straightforward. Get it wrong and we are all wasting time.

Where to Find It

1. Vehicle data sticker
   This is the fastest answer for most cars. On many VW and Audi models it lives in the spare wheel well or under the trunk floor. It lists the VIN, paint code, transmission code, and engine code together. Start here.
2. Service booklet
   Most cars have a duplicate sticker pasted inside the original service book. If the one in the car is gone, torn, or buried under 20 years of mystery grime, check the booklet next.
3. Engine bay
   Depending on the platform, the engine code may also be on a sticker in the engine bay or on the engine itself. A lot of 1.8T engines have it stamped on the head, and many other setups have it on a sticker on the timing belt cover. Sometimes it is obvious. Sometimes VW hid it like a state secret. Worth checking either way.
4. Scan the ECU
   VCDS, OBD11, and most scan tools will pull enough ECU identification to confirm what you have. This is your best move when every sticker in the car has long since given up.
5. VIN lookup
   A dealer can pull the original engine code from the VIN. Useful as a last resort, but slower than just finding the sticker.

Already Know Your Engine? Jump to the Tuning Guide

Pick the engine family — each guide covers every US engine code, the stages we sell, and what to actually expect at each tier.

• 1.8T 20v — AEB through BAM, every transverse + longitudinal variant
• 2.0L 8v — AEG, AVH, AZG, BBW and the Mk4/NB family
• EA113 2.0T FSI — BPY, BWA, BUL, CDLA, CDLB
• VR6 12v & 24v — AFP, BDF, BHE, BJS, BUB and the rest
• 1.9 & 2.0 TDI 8v — ALH, BEW, BHW (the PD era)

Or read up on CVN and CAL ID if you're trying to figure out if your ECU has already been tuned.

Still Not Sure?

If you found the sticker but have no idea what you are looking at, send us a photo. We will sort it out before you order anything.

You can also use the Find Your Car selector above, or browse our software by platform if you already know your setup.

Need help picking the right file? Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.