Nice thing about this car at least here in Europe is that it is available as a station wagon. There are not much electric cars available as station wagon right now.
I have just seen an i5 yesterday at a BMW dealer and I was surprised how much better it looks in reality. Love the exterior, interior and the self driving capabilities
No wonder these EV sedans and suvs are not selling with their high prices. Even Hybrids are cheap. So I will stick to gas cars until the prices go down to a reasonable and affordable price.
There are affordable Sedans, what do you expect ? Luxury BMW 5-Series for 10 Grand ? Get real. You can have a Model 3 for 40k. That is not dirt cheap but it IS affordable.
I'd totally look into older Teslas if I were you. Here in the UK - which isn't the most forgiving market at times - I can pick up a good 2014-2018 Model S for £14k (often with free unlimited supercharging) or a much more recent Model 3 for £16k. These are pretty luxurious cars that have competitive range, minimal maintenance, great driving dynamics, are quick, can/will drive themselves, and some don't even cost a penny to charge at the most robust charging network currently available.
@@ThirdLife86 Living in germany I feel like in a third world country. The median income is about 45.000€. After income and social taxes the median net income is something about 25.000 anualy where you have to pay rent and food and other every day living stuff from. So 40k does not seam to be affordable ....
@@mortiftw6378 But why does it have to be a brand new car ? Used Model 3s are plenty on the Market for less than 30k which on a lease is probably around 300€ a month. WIth a monthly income of about 2100€ as you said that should be more than doable (i'm German too by the way but living in Switzerland now so i kinda know what living and costs in germany means). To me it often feels like people are complaining about not being able to easily achieve highend luxury. A BMW i5 M60 is not your "average Joe's" car, thats fucking highend and people driving these are usually making six figures in Income, not "average".
Here's the thing, buy the i5 eDrive40 and you'll spend $35,000 less, have 300mi Range and be 95% as good at everything but straight line acceleration. We have the i4 eDrive40 and it's a great car. We wanted another BMW (we've had 12 in 50 years) and we wanted electric. The ownership, daily driver experience is fantastic. Charging at home it's like nearly free driving. Our electricity works out to $15 a month on the i4. You should have mentioned the eDrive40 version for $65,000 with longer range.
i4 looks better, has better range and is considerably cheaper than the i5 in the same trim, without sacrificing almost anything in terms of comfort or space. I really don't get the point of the i5, to be honest...
This guy gets it. Got the same i4 eDrive40 can confirm 500+ km highway range easily doable. The i5 eDrive40 is bigger and heavier so it will be a tiny bit less, but similar. Yeah a lot of reviewers fail to mention the RWD BMWs is where it is at. They are so much better cars.
I do not understand why people hate the design of new BMWs, especially the larger cars 7, 5, ix, etc are the most beautiful cars on the road at the moment. They look destinctive, interesting from every angle, like art, and the design will age really well, like all BMWs.
MKBHD is just another person parroting hive mind internet opinions lol Modern BMWs have been selling like hot cakes with the new designs. If it were up to the vocal minority of people who dislike it, BMWs would look the same forever and they’d go bankrupt
The minority of complainers on reddit all you ever read about moan the front is ugly and a “mistake”. All these people ever reference is the 20 year old F chassis’s being “timeless” or “perfect” when all models in that generation looked like one another. BMW finally has a design language that is bespoke to nearly every model which is what they severely needed. Right now Audi has that exact problem, all their cars look basically identical minus the amount of doors and because of that it makes their entire lineup incredibly uninteresting.
This was exactly what I wanted in an electric car. I’m older (67) and wanted to move to an EV from my previous car which was a Jaguar sedan. It needed to look like a car, not a used bar of soap. It needed to be a sedan, not an SUV. I’ve driven 50 years without a frunk. The transmission tunnel is a non-issue as I rarely have back seat passengers. I love the BMW technology, the comfort, the speed, and the rear wheel steering. I actually get closer to 280 miles of range with the 20” wheels instead of the 21” and not using the boost lever every time I drive.
i think its worth mentioning, that the base version costs a lot less (a little over 70k €) and has up to 580 km range on paper. Considering that the Model S starts at 90k € and has up to 630 km range it would be a tempting offer if I had to choose. I dont understand why BMW only gave out the performance M60 as a press car to all the reviewers. The compromise on range is prob a no go far the majority of people at 100k €.
Interesting! i guess my answer is only valid for EU market. In germany, the tesla model s starts at 90k. In any case, i still think the m60 is a particularly bad deal in terms of specs.
@@ehudk215if u don't know by now BMW heavily understates thier on paper 0-60 times. If they say 3.3 it's probably 3.0 .. sometimes even better. But thats besides the point. This interior is amazing. It actually looks and I'd imagine feels like a high premium luxury brand. It would feel expensive the second u got in the car. Teslas and I've been in many, don't give u that feeling of sitting in something special. It's just meh, at best. Borderline dull and flat out boring. This exterior looks more modern and def looks premium and expensive. Model s just looks dated af now. Plenty of power for a luxury sedan thats not an M bmw. No complaints for me. Id choose it over any tesla thats for sure. If i want an EV it would be used as a luxury cruiser with great suspension and noise isolation. All of which tesla lacks... and save my weekend fun for a real sports car with character
As a i5 M60 owner agreed. Why waste space front trunk also rear mid seat hump. The car is scary fast when its being pushed. I have no complaints. I chose this over a Lucid or tesla because interior built quality. There's always room for improvement.
But unfortunately this car has terrible material choice, a bunch of cheap hard plastic in the lower door part, no door sills, no soft close. Previous gen 5 series was of way higher quality.
Interior is amazing. Exterior looks good and def looks premium and expensive. Plenty of power for a luxury sedan thats not an M bmw. No complaints for me. Id choose it over any tesla thats for sure. If i want an EV it would be used as a luxury cruiser and save my weekend fun for a real sports car with character
I'm with you. I ordered and waited for my I4 M50 for 13 months and haven't regretted it for a second. Over a year in and not one rattle, only issue I had was a recall on the front motor, my car had no issues, but they replaced it in less than a week all while I was driving a 5 series loaner. Ownership experience is amazing, my dealership rocks and I LOVE the car. I like the i5, but I'm a small guy sharing a small garage with an x5, so the i4 is perfect. My only complaint of my car is that for the first 9 months I acted like a child, punching it every chance I got, doing launch control starts almost every opportunity and my tires were gone in under 10k 😬.
@@maximiliand2939 The G60 has no soft close? Is this a joke? Edit: Damn, it not a joke. So let's see: no soft close, no locking the car with the rear door handles, no trim piece for the rear doors, no fabric on the door pockets and no rear shade. What an absolute downgrade. But hey, it's got SCREENS.
@@NomadJedi IT's a bmw. Thats all the reason a statistical buyer needs. Just like the chinese buy rolls royce, not because it's a fantastic car. Because it's a rolls.
It’s a great car. We own a 540i that needed service and they gave us the i5 as a loaner. Enjoyed it, felt very much like a 5 series but the range gave us heartburn…very quiet and fast…well equipped and finished.
@@TuxCommander Maybe if you never go through a regular car wash, but most regular people do just that. Not everyone has a garage or driveway or the time to hand wash their car ever so often.
Just got mine. I absolutely love it. Perfect blend of luxury and performance with great build quality from one of the best car manufacturers in the world.
Just to be clear a lot of these features on my 2013 535. Kick open truck way back. Same with the window shades it’s great for kids to keep the sun out of there face without tinting their windows.
man bmw’s design team needs the old one where they made cars like the E46 M3 and the E39 M5, timeless designs that weight as much or if not more than what they produce now
I have this car and it gets better range than as advertised in my used case. I’ve owned 10 different EVs and this i5M60 has been my favorite overall. It doesn’t hit the number one spot on all categories but does everything really well.
Such a long hood for a car without an engine. Maybe they fit other components in there, but I bet they could’ve reorganized a bit to create more storage or cabin space
Have you ever looked at the Roll Royce Spectre? The hood is half the length of the car. It's a design choice, not just space for gas engines. A long hood is sportiness - unless it's a mid engine car. And familiarity. But I like how Mercedes does the front side of their EV's, proportion wise. They look tiny and slick compared to the one on the 7 series - which is massive and boxy. Spectre shares some parts with the i7, both being BMW.
This same body is also used for versions with internal combustion engines. So, it is dual-use and not a ground-up EV as Marques says. The long hood has to stay.
@@kenhoffman4180 Yeah, sounds like this guy didn't even watch the first 2 minutes of the video. That is literally why. And this same exact body is going to fit whatever engine (and required components) they throw in it for the G90 M5.
@@kenhoffman4180 The issue isn't the hood, it's that the dual design is so bad that removing the big ass ICE doesn't leave space for a frunk. It means either that the components are poorly arranged, or that dual purpose platforms are unworkable because you get the drawbacks of both and the benefits of none.
I've just ordered an Audi Q6 e-Tron and one of the main reasons why I didn't go for a BMW is that many of their electric cars are on shared platforms with ICE cars. I plan to keep that car for many years, and a compromised platform is just a no-go.
Some years ago, BMW said that all their new chassis systems would be dual purpose for electric or ICE. So it's not like they took an ICE car and then decided to add electric - so the compromise was designed in from day 1.
Well honestly it's a poor design if it's dual-purpose from the ground up... If they can fit a full big BMW engine there, be it inline-6 or v8 depending on the versions of the 5-series, they can fit the electric AND a front trunk. Now when it comes to the center column, it's more challenging, as it doesn't just provide space for the transmission and driveshaft, it also, with its U shape, provides A LOT of the necessary rigidity... But the absence of frunk is honestly laughable.
@@MrTresto the fact that people still think the frunk is used by most ev owners is even more laughable than the absence of a frunk, especially luxury car buyers
What compromise? As an EV, the EV version gets all of the downsides of the ICE design and no benefits. The only benefit that you could get that way is manufacturing efficiency, but given the price, that didn't really seem to translate to any benefit for the customer, either.
Cause they can’t afford a new dedicated battery platform. Costs 10s of millions for one. They were behind and decided to compromise their EVs by just using their ice platforms
The reason why that hump is still there for the driveshaft (even though it’s an ev) is that chassis is still made with a combustion engine in mind, like the 540i, 530i, and m5
@@BlancoRamirez Your comment implied you hadn't watched the whole video because one of the first things Marques said was pointing out that this platform is built to carry combustion engines - since that's the entirety of your comment, it added nothing at all to the discussion.
The new BMW 5 and 7 series are both build from the ground up to be used as ice/hybrid/ev cars. So their not perfect for any use but can be used for every setup. The previous models were made specifically for ICE engines and then they put in battery's and ev motors for ev models
Yep, EVs converted from existing models are always a mixed bag compared to ground-up EVs. I do give the engineers credit though, packaging all of the EV stuff into an existing vehicle is a huge undertaking, even if it was planned from the beginning. So many compromises need to be made and I tip my hat to any manufacturer that can build one of these. But, what do I know, I'm just a guy that works for an OEM and has an ID.4 as my daily (and thinks the ID.4 is great once you get past the UI weirdness) 😀 Great vid as always!
Not always the case. The problem is, that these reviewers get the fattest, biggest least efficient versions of these cars. Get a bit more normal RWD version with 18-19 inch wheels and you get 500 km/300+ mile range for 30K less... It was the exact same for the i4 eDrive40 vs M50.
the 5 series was always more of a car for driving than being driven in. In Germany it is on of the most famous cars for executives/ manager. Good video ^^
Agree with your points about ground up EVs and their benefits compared to the retrofit ones like the i5. The range issue is notable, yet the car's forte seems to be more on comfort and luxury.
I have a bit of criticism for this review. I hope this receives attention, because it really impacts the way one might look at those cars. The whole of BMW's EV line up, excluding older models like the i3, actually isn't in either of the "from the ground up EV" or "gas car redesigned" camps, these new models were developed with the intention of making a gas, hybrid and electric version from the same chassis. Edit: that's also the reason for the "hump" in the back, BMW's are traditionally rear wheel drive, so the chassis are developed for that.
@@legoandsushithey did and it works. Keys are just a ton more reliable, and having a 100k key on the desk in a caffee does indeed make you feel superior to the ‘normal’ human being.
They actually use the tunnel to lower the floor as part of the battery pack is there along with many of the cooling lines and cabling. The lower range is due to the wheels/ tires spec.
My 2003 745i has exactly the same rear window shades. Which is why I bought most of the 5/6/7 Series back in the 00s. Love seeing Marques review cars in 2024 with their heritage starting 20+years ago 👍 745i was first to get iDrive (I was a Microsoft consultant 😉) and my V10 M6 was first to get Angel Eyes headlights #goodolddays
Great honest review Champ! Thank you for sharing!!! Such a pleasure not to have an overhyped sponsored review for a change in contrast to some industry reviews!!
You’re seeing them on the roads in New Jersey because… the head office for BMW USA is in New Jersey. You’re probably just seeing employees driving them
What compromise its absolutely no go for that money you get a Model S plaid like mine, which can go almost double more range, twice faster and more comfortable.
Even Kia has shades… Instead BMW should include another Fully Tinted Window in front of the normal window. That will make the car more unique and luxurious and creative.
Really great review - critical when warranted, and complimentary when merited. Hopefully BMW cleans up some of the interior spacing issues and reduces the unnecessary tech nonsense in the next couple years.
The autonomous driving is something that needs to get mentioned. And the Software they made is actually really good. Charge Planning works really great so you can go long distances with it with no headakes. But again the autonomous features especially the lane changing is amazing. You can feel safe using it up to speeds of 80 miles an hour and its just flawless. Seat Quality and ride Quality are truely premium too. Yes its expensive but its high quality aswell no cheap materials no squeeking no worries that something breaks soon. Its a good car. First car in ages were i prefer the integrated navigation system to android auto or apple carplay. I use the system now for 3 Months and its just working very well. Voice commands also first car were they actually work fine and get better overtime because the system learns !
Well, you would want a headrest that moves forward and aft to accommodate certain neck and head types. Some may want to tilt their head back. Some, like me, want to have it so my head almost touches in normal driving position. So I can rest my head on longer drives, without moving it much.
I had an i5 as a loaner for a couple of days, it was great. Quick enough, good interior, felt solid and it was in the $70s. It makes you realize how cheap and janky a Tesla feels.
i5 is a great car. It's for those who want the luxury of i7 but don't want the size and extra feature's that comes with it. It's just like an X5. If you are looking for a great BMW, a little more than the regular everyday BMW like the X3 or 3 series, get the 5 series or X5.
You forgot to mention that fast charging gets throttled and it will lock you out if fast charging if you do it too often. ( More than twice in 24hrs) 😂
I think that's the thing about BMW and Mercedes. They give the ultimate comfort and overall good quality daily driving cars, that can also be fun if you want sometimes. The only compromise with them is their prices.
There ain’t too many competition around the price of an i7, but as i5, it’s a totally different story in China now. You can get way better EV cars with as good driving quality, space, comfort with the same or less price as the i5. For me as a Bimmer, and as the new 7 series owner, I really do hope BMW puts more effort into the BMW EV platforms. ❤
I've spent la lot of time in the new i5 M60 over the last 4 months and I think it's a fantastic vehicle. BMW fit and finish, design, and comfort, with endless tech and it still feels like a regular car for the most part. The best part is you don't have to do deal with Tesla's (and other newer brands) poor build quality and fit and finish. The infotainment is a little complicated at first, but once you get everything dialed in, it's bliss. Apple Wallet Key is super nice and has proven to be perfectly reliable. It's funny your complaint is that it's too small, my complaint is that it's a little too big all around, when I parked next to my buddy's F10 M5 (2016), the size difference was jarring, the older one looked better proportioned with tidier front and rear overhangs.
BMW actually developed the G60 chassis to be used both for electric and ICE. The batteries are under the floor, inside the transmission tunnel, and under the rear seat. The G60 is also substantially taller than the G30 it replaced. BMW blacked out the sideskirt to hide the fact that the floor of the car is raised up to accommodate the batteries. This is a smart move for BMW as Mercedes and Audi has proven that having a separate platform for the EV does not sell for their brands and has been losing money. The i7 and i5 isn't for people that wants a appliance EV, but a BMW at first. the i5 M60 isn't for commuters, it's for the performance enthusiasts. The edrive40 is the one most people will buy and it is $25-30k cheaper than the M60 for the 300miles (claimed range). edit: also a friend of mind just got a i5 e40 M-sport for $650/month on employee lease. even without employee lease, these are around $700/month which is around $200 cheaper a month than a standard Model S. making it a great alternative with much better built quality.
Coming from almost 2 years of ownership with a Tesla Model Y Performance, I have to say particularly as I get older, I am appreciating vehicle build quality more and more. I do want something fast and engaging, but I don't want my body punished for it and I feel like the i5 M60 delivers on that. It is more "executive luxury" EV and while it's not as cool or as fast as some of the competition, it will certainly dust the majority of the vehicles you'll encounter on your drive into work. I did have an extended dealership loaner with their i4 M50 (We also own a X5MC being serviced) which definitely drives more sportscar oriented, and it does look the part, it's just not the change I am looking for from my Tesla. I will say if you're looking at one of these expensive EVs and you're not going to drive it more than a few years, you'll definitely want to lease it over buying it as we've learned the hard way with our first EV purchase with the Tesla it absolutely plummeted in value more-so than any ICE vehicle we've owned and we're writing a relatively large check to get out from it. It was thankfully partially offset with deep discounts and rebates on this i5 M60 we took home at the end of May. With the way the EVs are evolving I imagine 3 years from now we'll want to change it up again.
I am starting to show an interest in electric BMWs but I still think the E34 M5 had more exclusivity, even though it was half as fast to 60, but I loved the way it could lift one rear wheel, reach 160 MPH, still feel in control, felt like it was attached to the seat of your pants, while sounding like nothing else and with a bit of fettling the race derived engine with a turbo, could attain 1,000 HP. The standard 315hp was a walk in the park ...while lifting one wheel. .................. Oh, and it had the exact same side blinds including a rear one that came out of the parcel shelf, no frunk and a transmission tunnel. 3,600 lbs helped too.
This is where more competition would be nice for everyone. These have the same MSRP in China, but you can get 25-40% off sticker price out of the door.
As the owner of a heavily optioned i5 M60 we've now had for four months after owning X5s (multiple) & 3 series (multiple) we chose this over an i4, Lucid & Tesla X and S. For us the i4 had even more compromises (but we liked the rear hatch). The fit and finish of this M60 was far above Tesla. The ride is not only amazing, but even more quiet than anything we tested....like whisper quiet. The range is actually much better than he indicates - even with the 21" wheels. We've done freeway trips and gotten 300+ miles (70~75 mph, light A/C, using 1 petal/regen). He is correct - ground up EV's can maximize space. But, there's a lot more engineering refinement put in those "multi-drive train" vehicles like the i5...because they can spend more money when those parts are being used across higher volume/multiple drivetrain vehicles. And he's not kidding when he talks about acceleration smashing your head back in the seat. This car is so quick, I really question the need for a boost lever at all. We are super happy with our i5 M60!
Love this comment I pick mine up next week. Have had M3 and wife has MX. When I drove this it reminded me of my ‘13 CLS550 but was actually fast - Model 3 Model X apologies
Great Video, well explained like always. Just one little correction to mention, There are more less three categories of EVs in the moment. The two mentioned here in the beginning (Pure EV and ICE Converted) and a third one that the i5 fits in. Those new platforms now are developed from the start to be ICE and EV the same time. Of course it still comes with compromises in the layout but they are way more efficient than the ICE to EV converted cars of the past like the eGolf, the B-Class Mercedes or similar.
One could argue the platform is neither a ground up EV nor a modified gas platform. I believe the platform was always planned to be both. Of course the consequences and drawbacks remain - to many compromises to house both electric and ICE
I love mines. I agree though storage is terrible. But it’s great on bumps since it’s a bigger car it drives smooth as heck. I have the i5 M60 that instant punch is insane! I actually passed on the model s plaid because of that torque and the fact it makes noise when you drive.
@@Ab10i Yes. Not sure why, but there is another similar comment, from a different channel, but similar name and same picture with 100+ upvotes. BMW using those only fans bots to advertise
@@nils1953no, these bots have started to copy comments from the videos themselves now, to seem more authentic, rather than the usual n*des in bio stuff
@@nils1953no, these bots have started to copy comments from the videos themselves now, to seem more authentic, rather than the usual n*des in bio stuff
Test drive I5. Front and rear is disconneceted. Hard pulls the car wiggles. A bit cramped but the interior is very nice. Mid range. Slower charging. At this price. I will buy a Lucid air.
Since it’s an ice converted to electric it’s still based off their CLAR platform which most of their models are based off of. It’s more efficient for production since they don’t need to retool the assembly line
The headrest thing is mainly for people like my dad who have rheumatic disease and who can’t put their head all the way back, so the headrest can be adjusted to where their neck is.
