Second Hand Nissan GT-R AC Compressor

The Nissan GT-R (R35 generation, launched in the UK from 2009 onwards) received a notable facelift in 2011, and Nissan made various mechanical revisions across model years, so a 2012 compressor and a 2009 compressor may not be a straightforward swap despite sharing the VR38DETT engine code. The engine code is the most useful starting point, but ancillary and mounting changes mid-production mean you should confirm the specific part number against your registration with the breaker before purchasing. Never assume year-to-year compatibility across that 2011 boundary without checking.

For the R35 GT-R, trim level — whether Premium, Track Edition, or any other variant — does not affect AC compressor fitment, as this is determined by the engine (VR38DETT) and model year rather than the badge on the car. You may find cosmetic differences between cars stripped from different trims, such as interior parts or body panels, but the compressor itself is a mechanical component unaffected by trim. Confirm the part number with the breaker against your exact registration to be sure.

The Nissan GT-R R35 uses the VR38DETT twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6, and quoting this engine code to a breaker is the single most useful piece of information you can provide — more so than the model year or trim name. You can verify your engine code from your V5C logbook or a VIN check. Supplying your full registration alongside the engine code gives breakers the best chance of matching the correct compressor to your car.

The R35 GT-R facelift arrived in 2011, and while the VR38DETT engine carried across the boundary, Nissan made ongoing revisions to ancillary components throughout the R35's production run. Whether a pre-2011 compressor will mount and connect correctly to a post-2011 car is something you should confirm directly with the breaker against your registration, as mid-production changes to ancillary parts are not something we can state as fixed fact. Name the facelift year and your car's year clearly when contacting breakers to help them advise accurately.

Whether a used AC compressor requires any ECU pairing or electronic coding to your specific GT-R is something you should confirm with the breaker or a specialist technician, as we cannot state this as fixed fact for this model. Some complex vehicles do have electronically paired ancillary components, so it is worth raising the question before buying. A breaker experienced with GT-R parts will be best placed to advise based on your exact registration and model year.

The engine code — VR38DETT — is the most important factor for compressor compatibility on the R35 GT-R, but year still matters because Nissan revised components across the production run, particularly around the 2011 facelift. A matching engine code is a strong starting point, but ancillary and mounting changes between model years mean you should always cross-reference the specific part number with the breaker against your registration. Treat the engine code as the foundation and the model year as a necessary secondary check.