BMW Malaysia has finally unveiled its first-ever all-electric BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport (G60) at Premium Auto Care Expo (PACE) 2023. This is their fully electric sedan offering which sits in between the BMW i4 and the BMW i7, and it competes directly with the Mercedes-Benz EQE.
BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Malaysia Pricing
For Malaysia, we are only getting one variant at the moment with a single motor powering the rear wheels. The BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport is officially priced at RM419,800 in Malaysia with an Extended Warranty and BMW Service & Repair Inclusive.
The BMW i5 comes in Black Sapphire Metallic, Mineral White Metallic, Brooklyn Grey Metallic and Phytonic Blue Metallic with Leather Merino Black or Leather Merino Copper Brown upholsteries.
Owners of the BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport will get the complete BMW Group Malaysia Premium Ownership experience which includes:
- BMW 5-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service Programme
- BMW 8-Year / 160,000 km Battery Warranty (whichever comes first)
- BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline
- BMW Service Online
BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Malaysia Highlights
The BMW i5 for Malaysia gets a single motor which delivers 250kW (335hp) of power and 430Nm of torque. It can get from 0-100 km/h in 6 seconds, up to a top speed of 193km/h.
With an 83.9kWh battery, the BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport has a WLTP-rated range of 582km on a single charge.
According to BMW, the new i5 can support DC fast charging up to 205kW and 500A, which delivers a rapid charge of 80% in just 34 minutes. When plugged into an 11kW AC Wallbox charger, it can get a full charge in 8 hours and 15 minutes.
To address concerns of range anxiety, BMW Malaysia says they have formed strategic collaborations with key industry players such as Gentari, Leader EV and DC Handal.
The new electric 5 series features a large kidney grille with an illuminated frame with BMW’s Iconic Glow exterior package, as well as vertical LED strips for the headlamps and taillights. The EV rides on 21″ aerodynamic 954 BMW Individual wheels and it still features the iconic Hofmeister kink at the rear doors.
The sole variant in Malaysia gets the M Sport package which provides an aerodynamic front apron, muscular side skirts and rear apron, diffuser and Adaptive suspension professional.
On the inside, it gets a BMW curved display which consists of a 12.3″ digital instrument cluster and a 14.9″ control display which runs on BMW Operating System 8.5 which also features a new BMW interaction bar. For an immersive audio experience, the sedan is configured with an 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound system.
An interesting addition is an interior camera mounted on the ceiling, which seems to be a popular feature on several EVs in China. With it, occupants can take a selfie or record a video during their trips. The camera also works in tandem with the exterior camera which helps to monitor and record road incidents.
As you would expect from a BMW EV, the i5 also gets the BMW Iconic Sounds Electric system developed by Hans Zimmer which pipes in acoustic feedback as you push the accelerator pedal. For rear passengers, you get a total of four USB-C ports, four aircon vents (two at the middle, two at the b-pillars) as well as manually operated sunshades for the side windows.
Being a sedan, it gets a boot with a capacity of 490 litres. When you pop open the bonnet, you only get a flat “engine” cover. There’s no frunk storage which is a missed opportunity considering there’s no motor at the front. The BMW i5 is 5,060mm long, 1,900mm wide and has a height of 1,515mm. It has a wheelbase of 2,995mm and a curb weight of 2,205kg.
BMW i5 vs Mercedes-Benz EQE
The BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport competes head-to-head with the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ AMG Line which is priced very closely at RM419,888 in Malaysia.
The Mercedes-Benz EQE also has a single-motor driving the rear wheels pushing slightly lower power at 288hp but a higher 585Nm of torque. While the Mercedes-Benz mid-size electric sedan has a slightly longer 0-100km/h time of 6.4 seconds, it does have a higher top speed of 210km/h.
The EQE also gets a larger 90.56kWh battery and it boasts a longer range of up to 669km on a single charge. The Mercedes-Benz EQE does have a smaller boot of 430 litres and has a lower maximum DC fast charging speed of 170kW.
Related reading
- SoyaCincau’s Malaysian EV Buyer’s Guide – October 2023 Edition
- BMW i7 Malaysia: BMW’s answer to Mercedes-Benz EQS has arrived, with 544hp and over 600km of range
- BMW i5 debuts: 5 Series EV with up to 593hp and 582km of range, plus in-car cloud gaming
- Mercedes-Benz EQE350+ Malaysia: This baby EQS comes with a 669km range, priced at RM420k
