Used BMW i3 Bonnet Strut

Yes, the BMW i3 has a conventional front bonnet (hood) that is held open by a bonnet strut, so this is a genuine part on the car. Unlike some electric vehicles where the front compartment is sealed or frunk-only, the i3 has a standard opening bonnet giving access to the front service area. You can source a used bonnet strut from a breaker in the normal way.

The BMW i3 was produced from 2013, with a notable facelift arriving in 2017 that updated the exterior including bumpers and trim details. The bonnet strut itself is a mechanical gas strut mounted at the front end, and it is plausible that the fitment point did not change across the facelift, but you should confirm with the breaker against your exact registration before buying, as we cannot state with certainty that the strut interchanges across that 2017 boundary.

For a bonnet strut, the i3s variant uses the same front-end structure and bonnet as the standard i3, so the strut itself is shared and the i3s designation does not affect fitment. The i3s has wider arches and a sportier bumper, but the bonnet hinge and strut mounting points are not affected by those differences. Any breaker quoting for an i3 strut should be able to supply across i3 and i3s without issue.

No — the bonnet strut is part of the front bodywork structure and is identical across the pure electric BEV version and the Range Extender REX variant. The small REX petrol engine sits at the rear of the car, so it has no bearing whatsoever on the bonnet or its strut. Either version will supply the correct part.

Trim level makes no difference to bonnet strut fitment on the i3 — the strut is a mechanical component shared across all trim grades regardless of interior specification or equipment level. The main thing to establish is the model year of the donor car relative to your own, particularly in relation to the 2017 facelift boundary. Ask your breaker to match on year and registration to be safe.

A failing gas strut that can no longer support the bonnet is a common wear item on most cars including the i3, and a used strut from a low-mileage breaker car is a perfectly reasonable solution. When sourcing used, ask the breaker what mileage the donor vehicle had, as a strut from a high-mileage car may not last significantly longer than your current one. Confirm the donor year against your own registration to ensure compatibility, and be aware that a brand-new aftermarket strut is also widely available at modest cost if you prefer new over used.