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Holden Tigra Engine Number
Use this guide to locate the engine number on your Holden Tigra and line up the right engine-related parts enquiry.
The Holden Tigra (XC series, 2005-2006) was a low-volume two-seat coupe-convertible sold with a "TwinTop" folding steel hard-top, a rebadged Opel Tigra TwinTop built in Europe by Opel and imported for the Australian market. It used a transverse 1.8-litre petrol four driving the front wheels and shared its underpinnings with the Corsa/Barina small-car family.
Where to find your Holden engine number
The stamped engine number is on a machined pad on the block. Its location depends on the engine family:
- Inline six-cylinder: on a pad on the right-hand side of the block, above the engine-mount boss.
- V8 (253 / 308, 4.2 / 5.0 litre): on a pad on the left-hand side of the block, above the engine mounting.
- V6 (Buick-derived, Ecotec, Alloytec): on the front left-hand face of the block, below the ignition coil.
- Later V6 and LS V8 models: the build / engine plate sits on the radiator support panel (VT-VZ era) or the passenger-side strut tower (VE / VF era).
You may need to wipe the pad clean to read the stamped number, and on air-conditioned cars the compressor can sit in front of it. Older Holden engines use a capacity-plus-tune prefix (for example 186S or a Q-series V8 code), while modern engines (Ecotec, Alloytec and the LS V8 family) use a GM engine code plus a separate stamped serial.
For the most accurate part match, send us both the engine code or prefix and the full stamped number, along with whether the car is automatic or manual.
On this model
The Tigra uses a 1.8-litre Opel/GM petrol four rather than a Holden-derived engine, so it is identified by an Opel/GM engine code and a stamped block serial rather than a Holden engine prefix. This 1.8 belongs to the GM Family 1 (Ecotec) group of engines used across the Corsa/Tigra range of the period; the exact letter code can usually be read from the engine or the vehicle documentation. When sourcing engine or ancillary parts, quote both the capacity and the code stamped on the block so the supplier can confirm the correct variant. The stamped serial number is the definitive identifier, so read it directly from the engine rather than relying on the badge. If you cannot clearly make out the code or serial, have it confirmed before ordering, as related Opel 1.8 units differ in detail.
This page also draws on later year-by-year data for Holden Tigra to cover modern variants.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the engine number on a Holden Tigra?
It is stamped on a machined pad on the engine block. Inline sixes are on the right side above the engine mount, the 253/308 V8s on the left side above the mount, and the V6 engines on the front left face below the ignition coil. You may need to wipe the pad clean to read it.
What is the difference between an engine prefix and an engine code?
Older Holden engines use a capacity-plus-tune prefix stamped on the block, while modern engines (Ecotec, Alloytec and the LS V8 family) use a GM engine code plus a separate stamped serial.
Do you match engine numbers to parts?
Yes. Send us the engine code or prefix and the full stamped number, plus whether the car is automatic or manual, and we will match the right engine-related part.
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