Second Hand BMW i3 Cylinder Head

The BMW i3 was produced from 2013 onwards, with a significant update arriving in 2017 that brought the 120Ah battery generation, though the core powertrain architecture carried across the range's life. The cylinder head fitment is governed primarily by the engine code, so you need to confirm the code from your V5 or a VIN check and supply it to the breaker — do not rely on build year alone. Where a donor head spans either side of the 2017 update, confirm compatibility against your exact registration with the breaker before buying.

No — the i3 REX uses a small two-cylinder petrol engine to act as a generator, giving it a completely different engine code to the pure-electric i3, which has no combustion engine at all and therefore no cylinder head in the conventional sense. If your i3 is the REX variant, you need a cylinder head matched to the REX engine code specifically; a breaker will need that code confirmed from your V5 or VIN. These two variants are not interchangeable for this part.

No, trim level does not affect cylinder head fitment on the BMW i3 — SE, Sport, Lodge, Suite, and any other trim designation are differences in interior specification and equipment, not in the drivetrain. The part that matters is the engine code, which will be identical across trim levels sharing the same powertrain. When buying used, expect cosmetic differences between donor and your car such as brackets or ancillary mountings — confirm these details with the breaker against your registration.

The 2017 model year brought updates to the i3 range including the higher-capacity 120Ah battery, and whether ancillary components on the cylinder head changed across that point is something you should confirm with the breaker rather than assume. The engine code from your V5 is the key detail — supply it to the breaker alongside your registration so they can verify the donor head matches exactly. Never assume a cross-generation fit without that check.

The single most useful detail is the engine code, which you can find on your V5 logbook or through a VIN check — this identifies the exact specification of your REX petrol engine far more reliably than the year or trim level. You should also confirm whether your car is the Range Extender (REX) or pure electric i3, as only the REX has a combustion engine with a cylinder head. Supplying your full registration allows the breaker to cross-reference any ancillary or mounting variations that may apply to your specific car.

Gearbox type does not directly affect cylinder head fitment, as the head sits on the engine block and is not mechanically connected to the transmission. The engine code remains the primary compatibility factor, so focus on matching that first when speaking to a breaker. That said, confirm all details — including any associated sensors or ancillaries on the head — with the breaker against your registration before purchasing.