Opel

The Opel range has undergone several changes to its engines and transmissions between 1998 and 2025

Over nearly three decades, the Opel technical catalogue has seen several major shifts. The Z13DTH, Z18XE and Z18XER diesel units powered the Astra, Corsa and Zafira throughout the 2000s before giving way to the more recent CDTi families — 1.6 CDTi, 2.0 CDTi — and the R9M engine codes on the Vivaro and Movano. On the light commercial vehicle side, the Vivaro and Movano alone account for the bulk of volumes, with G9U, M9R and M9T units spanning several vehicle generations from the mid-2000s onwards. This generational layering is the first identification pitfall: a pre-2010 Vivaro 2.0 CDTi (M9R) does not take the same part as a post-2014 Vivaro 2.3 CDTi (M9T).

Gearboxes and engines: two families, different identification logic

The catalogue is split between gearboxes and bare engines, covering 5- and 6-speed manual transmissions as well as two automated gearboxes specific to Opel: the Easytronic (fitted to the Corsa, Meriva and Agila) and the Tecshift (Vivaro, Movano). These two transmissions are supplied without their actuator or control unit: only the mechanical gearbox is reconditioned. For engines, the code stamped on the front face of the block remains the only reliable reference — the same commercial designation, such as 1.4 Turbo, can cover different codes depending on the year and model (Astra, Mokka, Crossland). For more recent vehicles (Grandland, post-2018 Crossland), units shared with the PSA group — such as the EB2ADT — require the engine code to be verified before placing an order.

Narrowing your search by model and generation

The Astra and Corsa cover the widest range of generations, from 1998 through to the 2010s, with 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 petrol engines and 1.3 CDTi, 1.7 CDTi and 1.9 CDTi diesel units depending on the series. The Meriva and Zafira share several transmissions with the Astra over the same period. The Insignia and Mokka introduce 2.0 CDTi and 2.0 Turbo units paired with specific 6-speed gearboxes. The two available sales methods — exchange and customer unit rebuild — apply to different references depending on the model; the product page specifies which applies to each reference.