BMW i3 Air Filter Replacement Parts

The standard BMW i3 is a fully electric vehicle and has no internal combustion engine, so it does not have an engine air filter at all — there is simply no intake system that requires one. The only variant that comes close is the i3 Range Extender (REx), which has a small two-cylinder petrol engine to charge the battery, and that engine does have a small air filter associated with it. If you drive a standard i3 BEV and think you need an air filter, you may actually be looking for a cabin pollen filter (also called a cabin air filter), which is a completely different part that cleans the air inside the passenger compartment. A breaker or parts specialist can confirm which filter fits your exact registration.

Yes — the i3 REx is fitted with a small 647cc two-cylinder petrol range-extender engine, and that engine does use an air filter as part of its intake system. The REx variant was available in the UK across both the pre-facelift i3 (2013–2017) and the facelifted i3 (2017–2022), so used parts from breakers do exist. Confirm the part against your registration with the breaker, as mounting and ancillary details can vary across the production run.

The i3 received a significant facelift in 2017, but the REx range-extender engine itself carried over and is the same basic 647cc two-cylinder unit throughout production. That said, whether the air filter and its housing interchange cleanly across the 2017 facelift boundary is something you should confirm with the breaker against your exact registration, as ancillary and mounting details can change mid-production without a change to the engine specification. A breaker can cross-reference your VIN or registration to be certain before any money changes hands.

For the i3 REx, the trim level — whether that is standard, Suite, Lodge, Loft, or any other interior grade BMW offered — makes no difference whatsoever to the range-extender engine or its air filter. Air filter fitment follows the drivetrain (REx or standard BEV) and the engine specification, not the interior or equipment level. You can safely ignore trim when sourcing this part, though do confirm with the breaker that the car you are buying from is also a REx rather than a standard electric i3.

If your i3 is the standard battery-electric version (no REx badge), that is entirely expected — a pure BEV has no combustion engine and therefore no engine air filter exists for it. If you are looking to replace the filter that cleans air inside the cabin, what you need is a pollen filter or cabin filter, which is a separate and readily available part for all i3 variants. If you do have the REx model and are still struggling, make sure you are searching using the REx designation, as many parts listings distinguish between the two drivetrain types.