Cheap BMW i3 Coil Spring

No – the BMW i3 uses a strut-type front suspension and a five-link rear suspension, but both ends rely on rubber spring elements (sometimes called elastokinematic or rubber-composite springs) rather than conventional steel coil springs. This is a deliberate design choice tied to the i3's lightweight carbon-fibre and aluminium construction, where traditional coil springs were not used on any variant, including the i3s performance version. If your suspension feels soft, collapsed, or is sitting low, the part you are most likely looking for is one of the i3's rubber spring elements or a complete suspension strut/leg assembly. Ask your breaker specifically for the rubber spring element or suspension strut for your axle rather than a coil spring.

The part you need is most likely a front suspension strut (complete leg assembly) or one of the rear rubber spring elements, depending on which end of the car is affected. The i3's rubber spring units deteriorate over time and can crack or collapse, mimicking the symptoms of a failed coil spring on a conventional car. When contacting a breaker, quote your registration and specify whether the fault is front or rear (NS or OS if you know which side), as left and right units are not interchangeable. A good breaker will be able to pull the correct part from a donor i3 once they have your registration details.

Yes, the BMW i3 was updated during its production run (sold in the UK from late 2013 onwards, with a significant update around 2017–2018 that introduced the i3s variant and some running-gear revisions), so suspension components are not guaranteed to interchange freely across the whole range. When contacting a breaker, always give your full registration number so they can confirm the exact specification of the donor car against your own. This is especially important for the rear axle assembly, where geometry settings can vary. Never assume a part from an early i3 will drop straight into a later car without checking.

Yes – the i3s was fitted with a sportier suspension tune, lower ride height, and wider track compared to the standard i3, so the suspension components are not the same and should not be assumed to be interchangeable. Whether a specific strut or spring element from an i3s will fit a standard i3 or vice versa is something you must confirm with the breaker against both registrations. The trim level does matter here in terms of fitment, unlike purely cosmetic trim differences. Always tell the breaker whether your car is an i3 or i3s when requesting any suspension part.

This question spans the mid-generation update (broadly 2017–2018 for the UK) where the i3s was introduced and some chassis revisions were made, so a straight swap between a 2016 car and a 2019 car cannot be taken for granted. Whether the strut assemblies are physically compatible across that boundary is something you must confirm with the breaker by providing both registrations. Breakers who specialise in i3 parts will be familiar with these year-range differences and can cross-reference the part numbers before sending anything out. Do not rely on year alone – always verify against the full registration.