BMW electric cars used: i3, iX3, i4 and iX guide
BMW electric cars used buying guide: i3 and range extender, iX3, i4 and iX battery health, charging, common faults and depreciation.
· 8 min read
Used BMW electric cars range from the cheap, quirky i3 to the iX at well over €40,000, and they need different buying strategies. The i3 is a city car whose value depends on battery size and range-extender condition. The iX3, i4 and iX are mainstream premium cars that lost value fast in their first years. Check battery health and charging hardware first, then price against current listings.
Which BMW cars are fully electric?
BMW's fully electric cars on the used market are the i3, the first-generation iX3, the i4 and the iX, with the i5, i7, iX1 and iX2 arriving in growing numbers. A new-generation iX3 on BMW's Neue Klasse platform was revealed in 2025.
| Model | Built | Battery | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| i3 / i3s | 2013–2022 | About 22, 33 or 42 kWh (60, 94, 120 Ah cells) | Small, carbon-fibre city car; BEV or range extender (REx) |
| iX3 (G08) | 2020 until replaced by the Neue Klasse iX3 | 80 kWh gross, 74 kWh net | Electric X3, rear-wheel drive, built in Shenyang, China |
| i4 | 2021 on | Larger pack of roughly 80 kWh usable in eDrive40 and M50; smaller in eDrive35 | Electric 4 Series Gran Coupé |
| iX | 2021 on | xDrive40 and larger xDrive50 / M60 packs | Large electric SUV, all-wheel drive |
| iX3 (Neue Klasse) | 2025 on | Up to 113 kWh | New platform, up to 800 km WLTP, built in Debrecen, Hungary, and China |
The new Neue Klasse iX3 matters for used prices even if you never sell one: with much longer range and faster charging, it makes every older BMW EV look dated, and its arrival will weigh on first-generation iX3 values in particular.
Is a used BMW i3 a good buy?
A used BMW i3 is a good buy for a dealer if you buy a later car with the 94 Ah or 120 Ah battery and sell it to city buyers. The early 60 Ah cars have little real-world range and appeal only to buyers with short, predictable journeys.
Battery capacity grew over the production run:
- 60 Ah (about 22 kWh), 2013–2016: short range, cheapest to buy, hardest to sell.
- 94 Ah (about 33 kWh), 2016–2018: usable for daily commuting.
- 120 Ah (about 42 kWh), 2019–2022: the version to look for; the most practical.
The i3's carbon-fibre passenger cell and aluminium chassis do not rust, but body repairs need specialist methods, which makes accident-damaged i3s expensive to fix. In Europe, BMW originally warranted the i3 battery for 8 years or 100,000 km, extended to 160,000 km for new cars from 2020, so many i3s are now out of battery warranty. That makes a battery health report essential; our EV battery health check guide explains how.
For car dealers
Know your margin before you buy
MyCarDealer compares any car from an auction or listing with the market in your country and shows the net margin after VAT, transport and costs – and the maximum bid.
Request accessWhat problems does the i3 range extender have?
The i3 range extender (REx) is a 647 cc two-cylinder petrol engine that works only as a generator, and it is the part of the car most likely to give trouble. Problems owners report include fuel pump relays, injectors, fuel tank pressure sensors and generator faults, often on cars where the REx was rarely used and the fuel sat in the tank for months.
Before you buy an i3 REx:
- Start the range extender with the battery low (or in a workshop test) and check it runs smoothly.
- Check fault codes for the fuel system and generator.
- Ask for the service history of the REx, which needs its own maintenance.
- Check the fuel age. Old fuel is a warning sign.
For many buyers today, the REx is less important than battery size. A 120 Ah BEV often sells as easily as a REx and has fewer parts to fail.
How fast do the i4 and iX depreciate?
The i4 and iX depreciated steeply in their first two to three years, like most premium EVs, because new-car discounts, generous leasing deals and large fleet returns pushed down values. They now sit at levels where dealers can buy them well.
According to listings tracked by MyCarDealer in October 2026, median asking prices in the European countries we follow were:
| Model | Years | Listings | Median price | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| i3 | 2017–2020 | 265 | €17,549 | 75,600 km |
| iX3 (G08) | 2021–2022 | 430 | €33,750 | 95,800 km |
| i4 | 2022–2023 | 620 | €39,960 | 63,100 km |
| iX | 2022–2023 | 406 | €46,490 | 58,600 km |
Country differences:
- i4: remarkably even across the Netherlands (€39,900), Germany (€39,870), Belgium (€40,000), Italy (€39,500) and Austria (€39,990), with Czechia (€43,354), France (€42,900) and Poland (€42,213) higher and Spain (€36,990) lower.
- iX: Czechia (€51,867) and Sweden (€48,102) highest, Italy (€41,000) lowest; Germany €46,400 and the Netherlands €46,890.
- iX3: Germany (€37,401) clearly above the Netherlands (€33,000), Spain (€32,990) and Sweden (€32,030).
- i3: Italy (€18,500) and the Netherlands (€17,950) above Spain (€16,500), Sweden (€16,019) and Poland (€14,147).
The iX3's high median mileage (almost 96,000 km at four to five years) shows that many were company cars. The German premium for the iX3 is worth exploring if you buy in the Netherlands or Spain, as long as the mileage and equipment match. For a wider comparison across countries, see our article on electric car prices in Europe.
What should I check on a used BMW EV?
On any used BMW EV, check the battery, the charging hardware and the software before anything else:
- Battery state of health. For the iX3, i4 and iX, BMW's high-voltage battery warranty runs for 8 years or 160,000 km and covers capacity loss below 70%. Get a health report and note how much warranty is left.
- AC charging. Test the onboard charger and the charging socket on a wallbox; charging faults are expensive to diagnose.
- DC rapid charging. A short session on a rapid charger confirms the car accepts high power.
- Software and recalls. Make sure the car is on current software and that open recalls are closed.
- 12-volt battery, which causes odd warnings when weak.
- Tyres and brakes. Heavy EVs wear tyres fast, especially the iX and the i4 M50.
- Options. On the iX and i4, buyers pay for the bigger battery, driving assistant packages, panoramic roof and good audio. Base cars are harder to sell.
Our used BMW buying guide covers the brand's combustion models and general checks.
Is a BMW EV better than a Tesla?
For a used buyer, a BMW EV offers a more conventional premium interior, physical controls, a large dealer network and better ride comfort, while a Tesla offers its own charging network and usually lower running costs. Neither is better for every buyer.
For dealers, the practical point is price comparison: a buyer looking at a used i4 will usually also look at a Tesla Model 3, which is more common and often cheaper. Price the i4 with that comparison in mind; see our guide to the used Tesla Model 3.
How to price used BMW electric cars
Price used BMW electric cars from current comparable listings with the same battery, drive and equipment level, then work back to your maximum bid: realistic retail price, minus VAT, preparation, battery report, transport and your target profit. Because EV values move quickly, use today's prices, not last quarter's, and keep holding time short.
MyCarDealer values each car from live listings in your country, calculates your net margin after VAT and costs, and shows where the same BMW sells for more; verified dealers can request access.
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW cars are fully electric?
The i3, the first-generation iX3, the i4, the iX, the i5, the i7, the iX1 and the iX2, plus the new Neue Klasse iX3 revealed in 2025. Of these, the i3, iX3, i4 and iX are the most common on the used market.
Is a used BMW i3 a good buy?
Yes, if you choose a later car with the 94 Ah or, better, the 120 Ah battery, and sell it to city buyers. Check battery health carefully, because many i3s are out of battery warranty, and test the range extender on REx cars.
What problems does the i3 range extender have?
Owners report fuel pump relays, injectors, fuel tank pressure sensors and generator faults, often on cars where the range extender was rarely used. Start it, read the fault memory and check the service history before buying.
How fast do the i4 and iX depreciate?
Quickly in the first two to three years. In October 2026, 2022–2023 i4s had a median asking price of €39,960 and 2022–2023 iXs €46,490 in the European countries tracked by MyCarDealer.
What is the best BMW electric car to buy used?
For most dealers, the i4 eDrive40, because it combines strong demand, good range and a price buyers understand. The iX suits buyers with bigger budgets, and the later i3 suits city buyers on a budget.