Used BMW X6 Fuel Filter

It depends on the engine: diesel X6s (including the 30d, 35d, and 40d) have a serviceable fuel filter, typically housed in the engine bay or integrated into the fuel system, and these are the variants you will find listed by breakers. Petrol X6s (35i, 50i, M) use a lifetime fuel filter built into the fuel pump assembly inside the tank, which is not normally sold or replaced as a standalone part. If you have a petrol X6 and are chasing a fuelling fault, the part you are more likely to need is the in-tank fuel pump, not a separate filter.

These are two distinct generations — the E71 ran from 2008 to 2014, and the F16 ran from 2014 to 2019 — and the engines, mounting points, and fuel system layouts differ between them, so the filters are not a straight swap. The key detail is your engine code, which you will find on your V5 or through a VIN check: a 30d, 35d, or 40d in the E71 will have a different filter specification to the same-badged engine in the F16. Always quote your engine code to the breaker rather than just the model year, and confirm fitment against your registration before buying.

Yes, engine code is the most important detail here — the 30d and 40d use different engines with different fuel system configurations, so the filter specification can differ even though both are diesel X6s in the same generation. Strip the badge back and find your actual engine code (stamped on the block and listed on your V5) before approaching a breaker. Quoting that code directly is the single most reliable way to ensure the part you are quoted is the right one for your car.

The E71 generation ran through to 2014, so a 2012 and an early 2014 car could both be E71s, but you need to check the engine codes match rather than relying on the year alone, as there were running changes across production. If the 2014 car is an F16 (the second generation, which launched in 2014), the filter is unlikely to be compatible with your 2012 E71. Share both engine codes with the breaker and ask them to confirm fitment against your registration, as mid-production ancillary changes are possible within a generation too.

No — trim level makes no difference to fuel filter fitment on the X6; M Sport, SE, and any other trim designation are cosmetic and equipment packages rather than mechanical changes. What matters is your engine code, fuel type (diesel in this case), and generation (E71 2008–2014 or F16 2014–2019). Tell the breaker your engine code and registration and ignore the trim label entirely when sourcing this part.

It is possible that some diesel engines were shared between the E70 X5 and E71 X6, or the F15 X5 and F16 X6, which run on the same platform respectively, meaning the fuel filter may be the same part in those cases. However, platform-sharing does not guarantee that ancillary fitment is identical, as routing and mounting can vary between models even with the same engine code. Confirm this directly with the breaker, quoting engine codes for both donor and recipient vehicles, and ask them to cross-reference against your specific registration before committing to a purchase.