BMW i3 Track Rod Replacement Parts

Yes, the BMW i3 does have track rods (also called tie rods) as part of its front steering setup, despite being an electric vehicle — the steering geometry still requires conventional track rod end linkages to connect the steering rack to the front hubs. The i3 is rear-wheel drive with the electric motor at the back, and the front axle handles steering only, so the front track rods are a standard fitment across all variants. If you are looking for a rear steering component, the i3 does not have rear steering, so a track rod is a front-only part on this model.

The BMW i3 was produced from 2013, with a significant facelift arriving in 2017 that also coincided with a revised battery and interior, and production continued until 2022. The pre-facelift (2013–2017) and post-facelift (2017–2022) cars share a broadly similar front suspension layout, but whether a track rod crosses that 2017 boundary safely is something you should confirm with the breaker against your specific registration, as subtle geometry or component revisions can affect compatibility. As a used part, always give the breaker your reg so they can verify the exact part number matches.

The i3s, introduced in 2017, has a wider track, revised suspension geometry, and different wheel offsets compared to the standard i3, so the track rod dimensions and fitment points may differ between the two variants. You should treat the i3 and i3s as separate fitment categories and confirm with the breaker which model the donor car was before purchasing. Do not assume a track rod from a standard i3 will fit an i3s or vice versa.

The REX variant carries a small petrol range-extender engine in the rear alongside the electric motor, which adds weight at the back rather than the front, so the front suspension and steering geometry should be the same as the pure electric i3. In principle, the track rod should interchange between REX and non-REX cars of the same generation and build date, but confirm this with the breaker against your registration to be certain, as part numbers are the definitive check.

Trim levels on the BMW i3 — such as Lodge, Suite, Atelier, or Pure — relate to interior and exterior specification choices and do not affect the front suspension or steering components. The track rod fitment is determined by the generation, build date, and whether you have the standard i3 or the i3s, not by trim level. Any cosmetic differences between editions are irrelevant for this part.

Yes, side matters — the nearside (NS, passenger side, left-hand side) and offside (OS, driver side, right-hand side) track rods are handed and are not interchangeable on the i3. When contacting a breaker, always specify which side you need, and double-check against your car's steering rack to ensure you are ordering the correct one.