Used Fiat 500 Cylinder Head

The Fiat 500 (current generation) ran from 2008 onwards, with a facelift around 2015, so a 2012 and a 2016 car sit either side of that facelift boundary. The engine code is the critical detail here — if both cars share the same engine code (found on your V5 or a VIN check), the core cylinder head is very likely the same unit, but ancillary fittings and mounting points can change across a facelift year so you should confirm those specifics with the breaker against your exact registration before buying.

For a cylinder head, the engine code matters above everything else — two 500s from the same year can carry different engines depending on spec and market, and the head is machined specifically to that engine's dimensions and port layout. Your engine code is printed on your V5C and can also be pulled from a HPI or DVLA VIN check; supply it to the breaker and they can match it precisely. Fuel type (petrol or diesel) is a useful secondary check, but the engine code alone will tell them everything they need.

Trim level makes no difference whatsoever to cylinder head fitment — Lounge, Pop, Sport, and other trim grades are cosmetic and equipment-based distinctions that do not change the engine. What matters is whether the cars share the same engine code, which you can confirm from your V5C. Expect minor cosmetic differences on a used head (paint, brackets, or sensor ports) but these do not affect whether it will fit your engine.

The TwinAir 875cc two-cylinder engine was introduced to the 500 around 2010-2011, so a genuine 2009 Fiat 500 would not have that engine fitted from the factory — double-check your V5C engine code, as the car may have been re-engined or the paperwork year may differ from the build date. If your engine code confirms it is a TwinAir unit, supply that code to the breaker, as this engine did see revisions across its production run and they will need to match it carefully. Never assume year alone is enough with this engine.

The 500C convertible shares its engine range with the standard 500, so if the engine codes match, the cylinder head itself is the same component regardless of body style. Body style is irrelevant to cylinder head fitment — it is purely a mechanical match based on the engine. Confirm the engine code from your V5C and give it to the breaker, and they will be able to tell you straight away whether a donor head is suitable.

The gearbox type does not directly affect cylinder head fitment, as the head sits at the top of the engine block and is not connected to the transmission. The engine code is still your primary check — as long as the codes match, the gearbox difference on the donor car is irrelevant to whether the head will fit. That said, confirm any ancillary sensors or brackets with the breaker against your registration, as these small details can occasionally vary.