Used BMW i3 Headlight

The BMW i3 was produced as a single generation from 2013 to 2022, but it received a significant facelift in 2017 that updated the front-end styling including the headlights. When searching for a used headlight, the key question for your breaker is whether the part is pre-facelift (2013–2017) or post-facelift (2017–2022), as these are not guaranteed to interchange. Always confirm the exact fit against your registration with the breaker before buying.

A 2015 i3 is pre-facelift and a 2019 i3 is post-facelift, meaning these sit either side of the 2017 facelift boundary where front-end panels including headlights typically changed. It is not safe to assume these will interchange directly – you should confirm with the breaker whether the specific unit they have matches your post-facelift 2019 car. Quote your registration to the breaker so they can check the part against your exact vehicle.

Both a 2018 and a 2020 i3 sit within the post-facelift period (2017–2022), so they share the same front-end generation and a headlight from one should correspond to the same unit as the other. NS (nearside/passenger) and OS (offside/driver) are not interchangeable, so make sure you specify which side you need when contacting the breaker. Confirm against your registration with the breaker before purchasing to be certain.

The headlight is a front-end panel and is not affected by whether your i3 has the optional range-extender (REX) engine or is a pure battery-electric model – front-end panels are shared across these variants within the same facelift period. What matters is the facelift period (pre-2017 or post-2017) and which side you need. Confirm against your registration with the breaker to ensure you get the correct part.

The i3s is BMW's sportier variant and shares the same fundamental body generation as the standard i3, meaning the facelift boundary (2017) applies equally to both. However, the i3s received some styling differences at the front end, so there may be cosmetic variation between standard i3 and i3s headlight assemblies – they may not look identical even within the same facelift period. Confirm with your breaker whether the specific unit they have came from an i3 or i3s and check it against your registration before buying.

Within the same facelift period the mounting points are generally consistent, but the i3 was offered with different headlight technologies and the correct variant for your specific car is something you need to confirm with the breaker against your registration. Fitting the wrong type could affect both appearance and function, so do not assume any headlight of the matching year will simply plug in. Always tell the breaker your exact registration and describe the headlight type currently fitted to your car.