How do I renew my NIE number?

My original NIE paperwork was issued with limited validity, so I use my residency card, which has the number on it. Never had problems. 

Seems pretty clear that the OP is not resident therefore does not have a TIE.

I imagine renewal would involve a return visit to the police station which issued the number ofiginally.

It's all a bit of a nonsense anyway because an NIE is individual and for life meaning that renewal serves no real purpose at all!

It's stamped Orihuala, policia, so presumably I just need to go there and exchange it?

You would need to make an appointment with the National Police in Orihuela and not just turn up. Unfortunately it means completing an EX15, a 720 code 012 to pay at a bank before going and takin the receipt of payment with you. You need to select National Police procedures and then NIE issue from this site Cita Previa

The Spanish love their red tape.

You might be able to do this by going to the Centro de Emergencias de Orihuela Costa which is in La Zenia just off the roundabout on the way to Villamartin next to Consum.

That's what was announced last year:

Los Residentes Internacionales ya pueden obtener el NIE al instante en el Centro de Emergencias de Orihuela Costa

31 marzo, 2023

María García Zafra, concejala de Modernización y Ángel Luis Muñoz Grau, concejal de Residentes Internacionales han anunciado que la oficina de la Policía Nacional ubicada en el Centro de Emergencias de Orihuela Costa expide al instante tanto el NIE, como los certificados de residencia para comunitarios y extracomunitarios y el Certificado de registro de la Unión Europea, entre otros documentos...

We were in a similar situation few years ago when buying a car. We contacted our solicitor and she sorted it out for us. 

Hi

I've been in Spain for 12 years and can't remember ever being asked for my original NIE document. Assuming you are not resident, would they accept your NIE as quoted on another document, say from a house purchase or rental contract etc?

Cheers

Steve

Hi,

No, they only accept the new nie form.

Nearly got there, but it shows "no appointments available" tried all the location options, same answer!