Second Hand BMW i4 Radiator Fan

Yes, the BMW i4 does have electric cooling fans despite being an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle — the battery, power electronics, and (on the M50 xDrive variant) the electric motors all require active liquid cooling, and a radiator fan or fan assembly is part of that cooling circuit. However, it is worth noting that the i4 does not have a traditional combustion engine cooling fan, so the fan assembly is quite different from a petrol BMW equivalent. Always confirm with the breaker that they are supplying the correct fan for an i4's electric drivetrain cooling system, not a combustion engine fan from another BMW model.

The BMW i4 (G26) launched in the UK in 2022 as a 2022 model year car, based on the 4 Series Gran Coupe platform. A mid-cycle facelift (LCI) arrived for the 2024 model year, bringing revised styling and updates to the powertrain and software. If your car is a 2024 or later i4, confirm with the breaker whether the fan assembly changed at the LCI point before purchasing a used part.

The 2024 BMW i4 received the LCI facelift, and while the underlying G26 platform is shared, cooling system ancillaries and mounting arrangements can change at a facelift — this is exactly the kind of mid-production detail you need to confirm with the breaker against your specific registration number rather than assume compatibility. Give the breaker both the donor car's registration and your own so they can cross-reference part numbers. Never assume pre-facelift and post-facelift fans are a straight swap.

Yes, the variant matters here because the cooling demands and system layout differ — the M50 xDrive has dual electric motors and higher-output power electronics that can mean a different fan specification compared to the single-motor eDrive35 or eDrive40. When contacting a breaker, always supply your exact model variant and engine code from your V5C or a VIN check, as this is the most reliable way to ensure the correct fan is sourced. Do not assume fans are interchangeable across all i4 variants simply because the body is the same.

Trim level alone does not affect the cooling fan — M Sport, Sport, and any other trim designation on the i4 relate to cosmetic and chassis options, not the cooling system. What matters is the drivetrain variant (eDrive35, eDrive40, or M50 xDrive) and the model year relative to the LCI facelift. Confirm the correct part with your breaker using your registration or VIN rather than relying on trim name.

You should be cautious, because as noted above there is a facelift boundary between the pre-2024 and 2024-on i4, and cooling system parts can change at that point. Ask the breaker to confirm the donor car's full VIN or registration so the part number can be verified against your vehicle — a reputable breaker should be able to do this. Never rely solely on the model name matching; the specific year and variant are essential for electric vehicle cooling components.