Used Fiat 500L CV Joints

Yes, the Fiat 500L is a front-wheel-drive vehicle and uses CV (constant velocity) joints as part of its front driveshafts, so these are genuine parts on this model. All engine variants of the 500L use front CV joints, as the drive from the gearbox to the front wheels requires them on any FWD layout. You may need to specify whether you need the inner or outer CV joint, or the complete driveshaft assembly, when contacting a breaker.

The Fiat 500L ran as a single generation from 2012 to 2017, with a facelift arriving around 2017, so a 2013 unit and a 2017 unit sit at either end of that original generation span. Parts from within the pre-facelift period are generally more likely to interchange, but a 2017 car may be on the cusp of the facelift and could carry updated driveshaft components. Confirm against your specific registration with the breaker before ordering, as crossing that boundary is where differences can appear.

Engine size can influence driveshaft and CV joint specification on the 500L, as higher-torque or larger-displacement engines sometimes use uprated joints to handle the additional load. The 500L was offered with a range of petrol and diesel engines including 0.9 TwinAir, 1.3 Multijet, 1.6 Multijet, and 1.4 petrol variants, and it is worth telling the breaker exactly which engine you have. Giving your registration rather than just the model name is the safest way to ensure you get the correctly rated joint.

Trim level does not affect CV joint fitment on the Fiat 500L - the driveshaft and CV joint specification is determined by the drivetrain and engine, not by whether the car is a Pop Star, Lounge, Trekking, or any other trim. You may find cosmetic differences between cars from different trims, such as alloy wheel sizes, but these have no bearing on the CV joint itself. Focus on matching the engine size and build year rather than the trim name when sourcing a used joint from a breaker.

Yes, always specify NS (nearside, left-hand side as you sit in the car) or OS (offside, right-hand side) when asking a breaker for a CV joint, as left and right driveshafts on the 500L are different lengths and are not interchangeable with each other. On many FWD cars including the 500L, the OS driveshaft is notably longer than the NS, so fitting the wrong side simply will not work. Getting this detail right upfront will save time and avoid unnecessary returns.

The Fiat 500L is a larger, heavier MPV-style vehicle built on a different platform to the standard Fiat 500 hatchback, so the driveshafts and CV joints are not the same between the two models. Despite sharing a name and some styling cues, the two cars have different dimensions, weights, and running gear, meaning parts are not interchangeable. Always source parts specifically listed as fitting the 500L rather than the 500, and provide your registration to the breaker to be certain.