Cheap Fiat 500L Camshaft

Yes, every Fiat 500L has at least one camshaft — it is a fundamental part of any four-stroke petrol or diesel engine, and the 500L was sold in the UK with a range of both petrol and diesel engines, all of which use camshafts. Some of the engines are DOHC (dual overhead cam), meaning they have two camshafts per cylinder bank, so the exact number you need depends on your specific engine. Make sure you know whether you need the inlet or exhaust camshaft, as these are not interchangeable.

The engine code is the single most important detail — it tells the breaker exactly which camshaft profile, phasing, and timing configuration your engine uses, far more reliably than the year or badge alone. You can find the engine code on your V5C or by running a VIN check. Fuel type (petrol or diesel) and whether your engine is turbocharged also matter, as these engines use different camshaft designs. Supply your engine code to every breaker you contact and ask them to match it directly.

The Fiat 500L received a facelift for the 2017 model year, and while the core engine families carried across into the refreshed range, there can be detail changes to camshaft specifications, phasing hardware, or variable valve timing components mid-production that are not always obvious from the outside. If your engine code is identical on both donor and recipient vehicles, fitment is far more likely to be straightforward, but you should confirm with the breaker against your exact registration before buying. Never assume a pre-2017 and post-2017 camshaft are interchangeable without that check.

No — trim levels such as Pop, Pop Star, Lounge, and Cross make no difference to the camshaft you need, because trim relates to interior and exterior specification rather than the engine. Two 500Ls of different trim levels fitted with the same engine code will use the same camshaft. Focus entirely on matching the engine code, fuel type, and whether the engine is turbocharged rather than the trim badge.

The Fiat 500L and the smaller Fiat 500 city car share some engine architecture, but they are different vehicles with different engine management configurations, and camshaft specifications or variable timing hardware can differ even between engines sharing the same displacement. Matching engine codes between the two vehicles is essential before assuming compatibility, and you should put this question directly to the breaker with both registration numbers. Do not assume a shared fuel type and capacity is enough on its own.

Yes, turbocharged and naturally aspirated versions of similarly sized engines can use different camshaft profiles, as the cam timing and lift characteristics are often optimised differently to suit forced induction. The 500L was sold with turbocharged petrol engines such as the 0.9 TwinAir and 1.4 T-Jet alongside non-turbo units, and these require their own specific camshafts. Always confirm turbo or non-turbo status alongside the engine code when speaking to a breaker.