Second Hand BMW i3 Towbar

The BMW i3 was never officially offered with a factory towbar, and BMW explicitly prohibited towing on the i3 due to the vehicle's carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) chassis, which is not designed to accept towing loads. No genuine BMW towbar exists for this model, and fitting an aftermarket unit is generally advised against by engineers familiar with the CFRP structure. If you need a towbar for carrying a bike rack or similar light load, you may be thinking of a rear carrier bracket or cycle carrier hitch — confirm your exact requirement with a specialist before purchasing anything.

Because the i3's CFRP passenger cell has no conventional steel subframe at the rear to anchor a towbar safely, BMW did not homologate any towing equipment for this car. Some aftermarket suppliers have produced dedicated cycle-carrier mounts that attach to alternative fixing points rather than a traditional towbar ball, so if that is what you need, search specifically for an i3 cycle carrier adapter rather than a towbar. A breaker is unlikely to hold a towbar for this model because none were fitted at the factory, so you are unlikely to find one through a dismantler.

In normal circumstances the generation and facelift year would affect rear panel fitment, but since no factory towbar was ever produced for any version of the BMW i3, this distinction is not relevant here. Neither the original i3 nor the post-2017 facelifted car was approved for towing, so there is no towbar part to cross-reference between the two generations. If you have found a listing claiming to be a BMW i3 towbar, verify very carefully what it actually is before purchasing.

Trim level does not normally affect towbar fitment on cars where towbars exist, but the i3 and i3s alike were never approved for towing regardless of specification, so trim is irrelevant here. The i3s shares the same CFRP rear structure as the standard i3, meaning neither variant has the mounting provisions needed for a conventional towbar. If you own an i3s and need to carry bikes, look for a dedicated non-towing cycle carrier solution designed specifically for the i3 platform.

It is very unlikely to be a genuine factory part, as BMW never produced or homologated a towbar for the i3. Listings described this way are sometimes aftermarket cycle-carrier hitch adapters, misidentified parts, or items listed with incorrect vehicle compatibility. We would strongly recommend confirming with the seller exactly what the part is, what it attaches to on the car, and whether it is rated for any towing load before buying.