Most X3 F25 and X4 F26 owners start inside the cabin: a worn gear selector cover from around €9 and peeling window switches from around €12, at the time of writing. After that come gloss black mirror caps at around €74, LED bulbs for the plate and brake lights from around €15, and for cars without phone mirroring, a wireless CarPlay module from around €243.
Telling your car apart
F25 is the second generation X3, the five-door SUV built from 2010 to 2017. F26 is the X4, launched in 2014, which shares the F25 platform and dashboard but has a sloping coupé roofline and its own tailgate and rear lights. If you are unsure which you have, see how to find your BMW chassis code.
- X3 or X4. Most interior parts, switches and mirror caps are shared. Tail lights and anything on the tailgate are not, so the F25 tail light parts below are X3 only.
- Pre-LCI or LCI. The X3 F25 was facelifted in 2014. The X4 arrived alongside that facelift, so it shares the later interior details. Check the years in each listing against your registration date. Our LCI vs pre-LCI explainer covers the term.
- M Sport or standard. M Sport cars have different bumpers from SE and xLine trims. None of the parts in this guide are bumper parts, so it matters less here, but it is worth knowing before you shop for lips elsewhere.
- Head unit. Earlier cars use the CIC iDrive system and later ones NBT. CarPlay modules are made for one or both, so check before ordering.
Worn interior fixes
Even the youngest of these cars is now around eight years old, and the soft-touch coatings show it. The gear selector cover is the usual first casualty: the rubbery finish goes sticky or peels, and the letters wear off. A replacement gear selector cover costs around €9 and clips over the existing lever. If you want a change rather than a like-for-like fix, the gloss black sport selector cover is around €30, and a suede-look selector cover is around €25. For the trim plate around the lever with the P R N D markings, there is a gear selector panel cover at around €13. It is listed for left-hand drive cars, so check that before ordering.
Window switches are the other common complaint. The chrome-effect tops peel and the button faces wear through. A window switch panel at around €12 replaces the worn surround and buttons, and a full master window switch with mirror fold at around €51 is the better choice if a button no longer works or you want the mirror folding button. Fitting means prising up the switch block with a plastic trim tool and unplugging one connector. Allow 15 minutes.
Worn sills are an easy cosmetic fix too. Stick-on sill protector covers at around €24 hide scuffs from shoes. Clean and dry the sill well first, as adhesive parts fail on dirty plastic.
Screens and CarPlay
The F25 and F26 predate factory CarPlay, so a module that adds wireless CarPlay and Android Auto to the existing screen is a popular upgrade. The wireless CarPlay module for CIC and NBT is around €243 and the CarPlay interface for CIC and NBT is around €270. Both work through the original iDrive screen.
Before ordering, confirm whether your car has CIC or NBT and the screen size. Fitting means removing the head unit or screen trim to plug the module in between existing connectors. It is reversible, but it takes an hour or two and some patience with trim clips. If in doubt, a car audio fitter will do it quickly.
Exterior styling
The F25 has a fair amount of chrome and body-coloured trim, and the simplest change is the mirrors. These gloss black mirror caps at around €74 are listed for F25 and F26 from 2013. They replace the outer cover of the mirror, which unclips once the glass is carefully pulled forward. Check the listing photos against your mirror shape before ordering, particularly on early cars. They ship from our EU warehouse, which usually means 4 to 8 working days within the EU; most other parts here ship from Asia and take longer.
Our view: do the mirrors first and live with them for a while. On a dark car they go a long way on their own.
Lighting
The F25 tail lights use LED circuit boards that can fail with age, leaving part of the lamp dark. A replacement tail light LED driver board at around €41 is listed for X3 F25 from 2011 to 2015. It needs the lamp out of the car and opened, so it suits someone handy with tools. If you would rather change the whole look, G01-style LED tail lights for the X3 F25 are around €652 and bolt in as complete units.
Smaller jobs are cheaper and quicker. LED number plate lights at around €15 swap in with a flat screwdriver. LED brake light bulbs for the X3 F25 cost around €16 a pair. Inside, an LED interior light kit at around €33 replaces the yellowish cabin bulbs. Check local rules before changing exterior lighting.
Small accessories
Many F25 and F26 owners dislike the automatic start-stop. A start-stop memory plug at around €43 plugs into the button connector so the car remembers your last setting. It removes cleanly if you sell the car.
Comparing the common upgrades
| Part | Typical price | Fitting difficulty | Reversible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gear selector cover | €9 to €30 | Easy, 10 minutes | Yes |
| Window switch panel or switch | €12 to €51 | Easy, 15 minutes | Yes |
| Number plate and brake LEDs | €15 to €16 | Easy | Yes |
| Mirror caps | around €74 | Moderate | Yes |
| Start-stop memory plug | around €43 | Easy | Yes |
| Tail light driver board | around €41 | Hard, lamp must be opened | Partly |
| Wireless CarPlay module | €243 to €270 | Moderate, 1 to 2 hours | Yes |
| G01-style tail lights | around €652 | Moderate | Yes, keep the originals |
Where to start
- Fix what you touch every day: the gear selector cover and any peeling window switches. Together these cost less than €50.
- Do the small lighting swaps: number plate lights, brake bulbs and the interior kit.
- Add mirror caps if you want a visible change outside.
- Save up for CarPlay last, once you have confirmed your head unit type.
Everything listed for these cars is in our X3 F25 collection, and our fit guarantee applies if a part does not match the listing. If you are moving up to the next generation, see the X3 G01 and X4 G02 buying guide.
FAQ
Why is my X3 F25 gear selector sticky?
The soft-touch coating on the original cover breaks down with heat and hand contact over time. A replacement cover clips over the lever and solves it for very little.
Can I add CarPlay to an X3 F25 or X4 F26?
Yes, with a module that connects behind the original screen. Check whether your car has CIC or NBT first, as the module must match.
Do X3 F25 parts fit the X4 F26?
Interior parts, window switches and mirror caps are mostly shared. Tail lights and tailgate parts are not, so always check the chassis codes in each listing.
Why has part of my F25 tail light stopped working?
A failed LED driver board inside the lamp is a common cause. Check the bulbs and fuses first, then a replacement board is far cheaper than a new lamp.