Owners of high-quality German appliances are often faced with a situation where it is necessary to accurately identify their unit. This may be required to order original spare parts, call a technician, or register the device on the manufacturer’s website. Serial number and model are key identifiers, without which it is impossible to select compatible parts. An erroneous order of components may lead to the fact that they simply do not fit your device.
Unlike some other brands, where information can be duplicated in the application or on the box, in the case of Bosch the physical nameplate remains the main and most reliable source. Its location may vary depending on the year of manufacture and series of the refrigerator. Knowing the exact location of this sticker will save you time and nerves when contacting a service center.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the possible locations of identification plates. You will also learn how to correctly decipher the received data and how the model differs from the serial number. The serial number (E-Nr) is a unique identifier of your particular copy, while the model describes the entire line of devices. This is a critical difference that is often overlooked when searching for information on your own.
Key places location of the identification sticker
Manufacturers of household appliances strive to place information plates in accessible but not conspicuous places. In refrigerators Bosch the most common place is the inner wall of the chamber. However, depending on the design, it may be located in different areas. Most often, your search should begin with the left or right side wall of the refrigerator compartment.
If there is no sticker on the side walls, carefully inspect the ceiling of the refrigerator compartment. In some models, especially built-in series, engineers place the nameplate there. It is also worth looking behind the vegetable drawers: sometimes a sign is glued to the back wall of the chamber, and to see it, you need to pull out the containers.
- 📍 The left or right side wall inside the refrigerator compartment.
- 📍 The ceiling of the refrigerator compartment (often found in older models).
- 📍 The back wall inside the chamber, behind the drawers.
- 📍 The inside of the door (less common, but possible in some series).
It is important to note that in two-chamber refrigerators serial number usually refers to the entire unit, and not to a separate chamber. Therefore, looking for a sticker in the freezer compartment, as a rule, does not make sense if you do not find it in the main chamber. In rare cases, when the refrigerator has a No Frost system, access to the sticker may be partially blocked by air ducts.
⚠️ Attention: Never try to tear off the sticker if it is firmly glued. Damage to the nameplate may void your warranty or make it difficult to identify the device in the future. If the sticker has worn off, use other search methods.
External inspection: back wall and base
If internal searches are unsuccessful, you should proceed to an external inspection of the case. This is a standard procedure for many models of household appliances. Basic information is often duplicated on the back metal wall of the refrigerator. There may be an embossed marking or a white label stuck on.
Another place that is often forgotten is the base part of the device. In some modern models Bosch with a bottom ventilation system, the information plate may be located on the bottom panel at the front or rear. To inspect it, you may need to remove the decorative grille or simply look under the bottom of the case.
When inspecting the external part, be careful. The back wall may be hot if the compressor has been running recently. There may also be sharp edges of the metal box. Use a flashlight, as factory markings on metal are often laser-engraved and are difficult to discern in poor lighting.
Sometimes only device modelis indicated on the outside of the case, and the full E-Nr (product number) is located only inside. If you find only a short alphanumeric designation on the back wall, most likely this is the model, but to order spare parts it is better to find the full version with the serial number.
Documentation and sales receipt as a source of data
The easiest, but often ignored, way to find out the number is to look at the documents. When purchasing any complex technical device, the buyer receives a package of papers. The model and serial number are always indicated in the operating instructions. Sellers are required to include this information at the time of sale to activate the warranty. warranty card And The operating instructions always indicate the model and serial number. Sellers are required to include this information at the time of sale to activate the warranty.
If paper documents are lost, check your email. When purchasing online from online stores, the receipt and product specifications often come in the form of a PDF file or link. The specification always indicates the exact model number. This is especially true for orders from large marketplaces or official websites.
| Document type | Where to look for the number | Data reliability |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty card | First page, section Product data-i="96">Last page or sticker | High (certified by seal) |
| Sales receipt | In the position description | Medium (can be shortened) |
| Instructions (booklet) | Last page or sticker | High (unique for the model) |
| Box (packaging) | Side edge, barcode | High (if the box is original) |
The refrigerator box is also an excellent source of information if you saved it. On one of the side faces there is always a large sticker with a barcode and all the technical characteristics. However, if you bought the refrigerator second-hand or the box was thrown away immediately after installation, this option is eliminated.
What to do if the documents are lost?
If there are no documents and the sticker inside has been erased, try to find the receipt in the banking application (if the payment was by card). The transaction history sometimes stores a product description. You can also try to find a photo of the refrigerator at the time of purchase in the phone’s cloud storage - a sticker may be visible in the photo.
Deciphering the designations: E-Nr, FD, PZ
Having found the sticker, you will see many numbers and letters. It is important to understand what exactly to look for. The main identifier is the field E-Nr (or simply ENr). This is the product number (Geratenummer). It is he who is needed for the selection of spare parts. It consists of letters and numbers, for example, KGN39XI30R/01.
Another important designation is FD. This is the production date code. It is not needed to order spare parts, but is important for determining the age of the refrigerator. The code usually consists of 4 digits. The first two digits indicate the year, the second two indicate the month. For example, FD 905 means May 2019 (9+20=2019, 05 - May).
The label may also contain the designation PZ or Prod. No. This is the production lot number. It is used by the factory for internal quality control. For the user and service engineers, it is of secondary importance compared to E-Nr.
- 🔢 E-Nr: The main number for searching for spare parts and instructions.
- 📅 FD: Date of manufacture (helps to understand the age of the equipment).
- 🏭 PZ: Production batch number (internal plant code).
Pay attention to the recording format. Labeling may vary slightly depending on region. European models may have one format, while models assembled in Russia for the domestic market may have another. However, the structure E-Nr remains recognizable in all cases.
Photo search and online services
In the digital age, you don’t always need to understand codes manually. There are many online services and databases that allow you to find information on a photograph. You can take a photo of the sticker and upload it to an image search engine or a specialized equipment repair service.
The manufacturer's official website also often has a search function by photo or scan of the nameplate. This is especially convenient if the sticker is damaged, but some of the characters are readable. Algorithms can recognize surviving signs and suggest possible model options.
⚠️ Attention: Be careful when uploading photos of documents or receipts to third-party unverified services. Receipts may contain your personal information. Take pictures only of the technical sticker on the refrigerator.
If you plan to use third-party sites to select spare parts, make sure that they specialize in the brand. Bosch. Department stores may not have an accurate cross-base compatibility. It is best to use official catalogs or large specialized stores, where the search is carried out in full E-Nr.
☑️ Checking the data before ordering a spare part
Specifics of built-in Bosch refrigerators
It can be more difficult for owners of built-in equipment to find the number. Such models Bosch are installed in a niche of a kitchen unit and covered with furniture facades. It may be physically impossible to get to the back wall or even the side walls without dismantling.
In such cases, manufacturers often place an information plate on the end of the door or on the internal frame, which is visible when opened. Carefully inspect the ends of the doors from the hinge side. Sometimes the sticker is glued to the frame of the refrigerator itself, which becomes visible if you remove the decorative panel of the facade.
If the refrigerator is already installed and cannot be removed, try using a mirror and a flashlight. Illuminate the side walls through the gaps between the furniture. Often the sticker is glued so that it can be read without fully extending the equipment. Also check the upper baseboard of the kitchen - sometimes (albeit rarely) installers leave documentation or a duplicate sticker there.
What to do if the sticker is lost or unreadable
The situation when the sticker has worn off due to time, moisture or mechanical stress is not uncommon. In this case, the procedure depends on your goal. If you need the number just for curiosity, you can try to find a similar model based on external features and functionality on the manufacturer’s website.
However, if you need to order a specific part (for example, a shelf, seal or compressor), visual identification of the model is unacceptable. Different modifications of the same series may have completely different internal components. In this case, it is best to contact an authorized service center.
Service engineers can determine the model by internal components, markings on the control board or compressor. This is a paid service, but it guarantees accuracy. It is not recommended to climb inside by yourself, opening the casings, as you can damage the insulation or break the tightness of the system.
Is it possible to find out the number of a Bosch refrigerator on the Internet without a sticker?
Officially - no. In the manufacturer's database, the search is carried out using a unique serial number. Without it, the system will not produce an accurate specification. However, if you know the exact name of the model (for example, from a receipt), you can find general instructions and a list of spare parts for this line, but the risk of an error when ordering a specific part remains high.
What is the difference between a model number and a serial number?
Model (for example, KGN39...) is the name of the series, which is the same for thousands of refrigerators produced. The serial number (E-Nr with the tail /01, /02, etc.) is a unique passport of your device. To order spare parts, E-Nr is often required, since within one model there could be design changes.
Where is the number on old Soviet Bosch refrigerators?
Bosch appliances from the USSR era are a myth, since the brand did not produce refrigerators in the Union. If you have an old refrigerator, manufactured under license or from the 90s, the sticker may be located on the back of the metal frame. On very old models, the data could be stamped directly on the metal.
Why do you need to know the production date (FD)?
Knowing the production date helps to understand whether the refrigerator is under warranty. This is also important when searching for spare parts: if the models were produced long-term, then the early and later versions may have different compressors or thermostats that are not interchangeable.