Second Hand BMW i3 Ignition Switch

The BMW i3 is a fully electric vehicle and does not have a conventional ignition switch — there is no combustion engine to start, so the traditional barrel-and-key ignition assembly was never fitted to any variant of the i3. Instead, the i3 uses a push-button start system combined with a proximity key fob, so if your start button or keyless entry system is faulty, that is the component you should be searching for. If you have lost or damaged your key fob, you would need a replacement remote key or a full EWS/immobiliser-related repair rather than an ignition switch.

Because the i3 has no ignition switch, a no-start fault is unlikely to be caused by one — common causes on the i3 include a flat or faulty 12V auxiliary battery, a depleted high-voltage traction battery, a failed push-button start switch, or a key fob with a dead battery. It is worth checking the 12V battery first, as this is a known weak point on the i3 and causes a range of electrical gremlins including failure to start. A breaker or specialist can help you source a replacement 12V battery, push-start button, or key fob if one of those is the culprit.

No breaker will be able to supply an ignition barrel for the i3 because the car was never built with one — it is an electric vehicle and the part simply does not exist in its parts inventory. What a breaker may be able to help you with instead is a replacement key fob, a used push-button start switch, or potentially components related to the car's EWS immobiliser system. When contacting a breaker, give them your registration so they can identify your exact build and advise on the correct part.

The i3 received a facelift in 2017 which brought some interior and exterior updates, and it is worth noting this when sourcing components such as the push-button start switch or steering column trim, as fitment can vary across the pre-facelift (2013–2017) and post-facelift (2017–2022) builds. There is no ignition switch on either generation of i3, so that distinction is not relevant here. For any start-system component, confirm with the breaker against your registration to make sure the part from a donor car matches your build year.

The i3's trim level — whether SE, Sport, Lodge, or another variant — does not affect the fundamental start system, and no trim level was ever fitted with a conventional ignition switch. Cosmetic differences such as interior finish or seat material may mean parts from different trims look slightly different, but the underlying push-button start switch and key fob system is consistent across the range. Confirm the exact part reference with the breaker against your registration to account for any minor variant differences.