i5

8 Things to Know Before Buying BMW i5 in Hong Kong

Based on real owner experiences and reviews

1. 01

   BMW Hong Kong does not include Apple CarPlay on the i5, even though other BMW markets offer it as standard. Multiple buyers cite this as a dealbreaker, particularly at the car's price point of HK$600,000 and above.

2. 02

   Boot space has dropped to 490 litres from 530 litres on the previous G30 5 Series, despite the i5 being physically larger overall.

3. 03

   Without CarPlay, the Bowers & Wilkins or Harman Kardon sound system connects only via Bluetooth. This reduces audio quality compared to WiFi streaming, meaning the premium speaker upgrade does not reach its full potential.

4. 04

   The i5 retains a raised center tunnel between the front seats, carried over from its shared platform with petrol and hybrid 5 Series models. Owners switching from flat-floor EVs find this especially noticeable and question why a pure electric car at this price still has the tunnel.

5. 05

   BMW's shift to touch-sensitive controls in the i5, including for the start/stop function, frustrates owners who prefer physical buttons for frequently used operations.

6. 06

   The i5 M60 xDrive starts at around HK$1.2 million. Without a bespoke engine to set it apart, buyers question whether the M badge, which mainly adds a body kit, performance tuning, and air suspension, justifies the premium over the eDrive40.

7. 07

   The i5 supports BMW Digital Key Plus, which works with both iPhone and Apple Watch. The car can be unlocked and started without holding the phone directly against the door handle.

8. 08

   The battery pack raises the rear floor compared to the petrol 5 Series. Combined with the center tunnel, the rear middle seat is more cramped than in purpose-built EVs with flat floors.