Used BMW X4 Glow Plugs

Glow plugs only exist on diesel engines, and the BMW X4 has been sold in the UK with both diesel and petrol variants, so whether your X4 has glow plugs depends entirely on which engine you have. Diesel-engined X4s – such as those badged xDrive20d, xDrive30d, and M40d – do have glow plugs; petrol-engined versions (20i, 30i, M40i) do not. Check your V5 or run a VIN check to confirm your fuel type before searching for this part.

The F26 X4 ran from 2014 to 2018, while the current G02 generation launched in 2018, and these two generations use different engine families, so glow plugs from an F26 will not simply swap into a G02. Even where engine displacements look similar – for example a 2.0-litre diesel in each generation – the engine codes differ, meaning the plug specification is likely to differ too. Always match by engine code, not by badge or displacement.

The F26 generation ran from 2014 right through to 2018 when it was replaced by the G02, so a 2014 and a 2017 F26 share the same generation; fitment within that generation is driven by engine code rather than year alone. However, because 2018 sits right on the boundary between the outgoing F26 and the incoming G02, you must confirm the exact model year and engine code of both vehicles before assuming compatibility. Confirm the interchange with the breaker against your registration to be safe.

Yes – the xDrive20d and xDrive30d use different diesel engines with different engine codes, and glow plugs are specified per engine, so a plug from a 30d will not necessarily be correct for a 20d and vice versa. The engine code is the single most useful detail you can supply to a breaker; you'll find it on your V5 registration document or via a VIN check. Quote the engine code rather than just the badge when requesting a quote.

Trim level makes no difference to glow plug fitment; glow plugs are determined entirely by the engine code, not by whether the car is an M Sport, xLine, SE, or M40d trim. The M40d is worth noting separately because it uses a straight-six diesel engine with a different engine code to the four-cylinder units, so plugs for an M40d will differ from those for an xDrive20d or 30d – but that's an engine difference, not a trim difference. Tell the breaker your engine code and they will identify the correct part.

Diesel engines have one glow plug per cylinder, so a four-cylinder X4 diesel such as the xDrive20d needs four plugs, while the six-cylinder M40d needs six. It is generally advisable to replace the full set rather than a single plug, as used plugs will have varying levels of wear, so ask your breaker whether they can supply a matched set from the same donor vehicle. Confirm the cylinder count for your specific engine code when placing your request.