<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-12-01</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001166036</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS L P</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MWE</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001237512</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KELLSTROM WILLIAM A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>155 INVERNESS DRIVE WEST, STE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ENGLEWOOD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80112</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Units</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-01</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>750</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2750</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Units</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-01</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>750</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Units</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>750</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>750</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">1 for 1</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Previously inadvertently incorrectly reported as "restricted units".</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">Under the phantom unit grant agreement, the settlement of the phantom units occurs automatically as the phantom units vest, which results in a deemed automatic expiration of the vested portion of the phantom units upon settlement. The phantom units vest generally over a period of our years, with 25% vesting at the end of the second and third years after the date of grant, and 50% vesting at the end of the fourth year after the date of grant. The vesting may be accelerated in certain instances if the issuer achieves certain unitholder distribution targets.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Lucy Woods POA for William Kellstrom</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-12-03</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

