[Deho]

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As was predicted the 2026 i5 will have (modestly) improved range and small luxury features added. I'm mostly curious about the improved "switchgear in the doors":

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/globa...es-spring-2025

BMW i5 and BMW i5 Touring now even more energy-efficient.

From March 2025 the all-electric models of the BMW 5 Series Sedan and BMW 5 Series Touring will benefit from a number of technical advances that reduce their energy consumption. The result is a noticeably greater range, with an increase of up to 47 kilometres (depending on the model and equipment installed as part of an individual vehicle configuration). This owes much to the first ever use of silicon carbide semiconductor components in the power electronics (SiC converter) of the BMW i5 and to particularly low-rolling-resistance tyres fitted to aerodynamic alloy wheels. The optimised wheel bearings will also help save power.

19" aerodynamic wheels 1056 bi-colour are available for the first time as an option for the BMW i5 eDrive40 (combined, WLTP (EnVKV): energy consumption 18.0–17.9 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions 0 g/km; CO2 class A) and the BMW i5 xDrive40 (combined, WLTP (EnVKV): energy consumption 18.9–18.8 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions 0 g/km; CO2 class A).

The optimisations for the new BMW i5 xDrive40 Touring (combined, WLTP (EnVKV): energy consumption 19.5–19.4 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions 0 g/km; CO2 class A) lower WLTP energy consumption by up to 9 per cent (depending on model and equipment installed as part of an individual vehicle configuration), while the new BMW i5 eDrive40 saves up to 8 per cent.

Standard equipment on the BMW i5 M60 xDrive (combined, WLTP (EnVKV): energy consumption 19.5 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions 0 g/km; CO2 class A) now includes the M Sport package Pro. In addition, the BMW 5 Series models benefit from further interior upgrades. From now on, all models include the previously optional ambient lighting with the BMW Interaction Bar featuring a crystalline surface as standard. In addition, they now come with lumbar support for both front seats, as well as the Harman Kardon HiFi loudspeaker system. The switchgear in the doors has also been upgraded and is now finished in high-gloss Black. BMW Individual Merino Leather in Black/Dark Violet is available as a new option for customising the interior.

[agorski]

Sounds like the piano black they use on the console. Yuck.

[Deho]

Originally Posted by agorski

Sounds like the piano black they use on the console. Yuck.

Yeah, that's a weird choice.

[Blue Sky]

30 extra miles from SIC components and new tires and new (probably more aero) wheels. But only the e/x40. Curiously the M60 has no range improvement called out.

The new M60 price is not published, but I expect that the features I had to order on my M60 which are now standard will increase the base price somewhat to cover them. Porsche does that all the time. Basically, now you don’t have a choice to leave those out and not pay for them if you wanted to. The price should be lower than the sum of the features seperately, so it might be a deal if you were going to get them anyway like I did.

[225]

No great shakes from a UK m60 spec by the looks of it as the msport pro styling was standard anyway. The other kit was either standard or of a lower spec, so only new door switches!
Doubtless that will mean a 5k price increase regardless...
Surely the m60 will get better range as well unless there is a reason the dual motor setup can't utilise the new batteries tech?

[nf0rc3r]

Originally Posted by agorski

Sounds like the piano black they use on the console. Yuck.

Most likely talking about the window switches which is too plasticky.

[nf0rc3r]

Originally Posted by Deho

Yeah, that's a weird choice.

I guess it’s what the i7 has

[husnuke]

`
In addition, the BMW 5 Series models benefit from further interior upgrades. From now on, all models include the previously optional ambient lighting with the BMW Interaction Bar featuring a crystalline surface as standard. In addition, they now come with lumbar support for both front seats, as well as the Harman Kardon HiFi loudspeaker system. The switchgear in the doors has also been upgraded and is now finished in high-gloss Black. BMW Individual Merino Leather in Black/Dark Violet is available as a new option for customising the interior.
`
The article is published on 01/28/2025 and my car is built today. It is an i5 M60 and I will be happy if my car has updated door switches.

[mwilson122]

I'm not one to say no to improved finishes, but imho glossy finishes have no business being deployed in frequent touchpoints. There are too many as is, at least to my taste. I have a microfiber rag in my i5 that I use daily to wipe off fingerprints and smudges–and I'm an obsessively clean and non-greasy-handed person.

[epigram]

Originally Posted by mwilson122

II have a microfiber rag in my i5 that I use daily to wipe off fingerprints and smudges

same here! i wish there were more options for matte surfaces

[Blue Sky]

It says March 2025 (inline with the “refresh” prediction on the future threads model) so my i5 just off the assembly line should not have the piano black switches, which I’m happy about.

Note that the press release does not mention anything about improved batteries (as someone mentioned in an above post). The silicon carbide (SiC) invertor is what’s new, and it is more efficient and can be smaller/lighter than previous unit.

[nf0rc3r]

Originally Posted by Blue Sky

It says March 2025 (inline with the “refresh” prediction on the future threads model) so my i5 just off the assembly line should not have the piano black switches, which I’m happy about.

Note that the press release does not mention anything about improved batteries (as someone mentioned in an above post). The silicon carbide (SiC) invertor is what’s new, and it is more efficient and can be smaller/lighter than previous unit.

Same here. Not happy I don’t get the increased range though.

[Icarus1_1]

changes seem to be visible in the configurator in EU.

for the non US folks, we finally get the HK audio as standard. It only took them several years and several models to synergize this. and this is a very good thing.

Piano black.. on the door and trunk knob... wtf were they thinking...
The current plastic ones are a bit weird, but they are sturdy and require limited maintenance.

[lewy]

The new switchgear is visible in EU-configurator:


Regarding the base price in Poland for model M60 - it fell down for about 2000 EUR / $2000 and additionally:

+ new switchgear
+ M Pro is included ( that costed around 1200 EUR)
+ dimmed rear windows are included (that costed 800 EUR)
+ lumbar support is included (that was 400 EUR)
+ Harman Kardon is included for edrive40 and xdrive40 (previously: HiFi)
+ consumption is better for about 1 - 1.2 kWh/100km for car I have configured (17.8kWh//100km vs 19 kWh/100km previous model)

- the most interior trims are gone - like wood is gone, all goldish trims are gone. Only left is silver aluminium, carbon and black piano.

EUR 2000 for base price + 1200 EUR + 800 EUR + 400 EUR = ~ 4400 EUR savings for 2025 model and savings in consumption.

[SkykingUSA]

Originally Posted by mariopl

The new switchgear is visible in EU-configurator:

Regarding the base price in Poland for model M60 - it fell down for about 2000 EUR / $2000 and additionally:

+ new switchgear
+ M Pro is included ( that costed around 1200 EUR)
+ dimmed rear windows are included (that costed 800 EUR)
+ lumbar support is included (that was 400 EUR)
+ Harman Kardon is included
+ consumption is better for about 1 - 1.2 kWh/100km for car I have configured (17.8kWh//100km vs 19 kWh/100km previous model)

- the most interior trims are gone - like wood is gone, all goldish trims are gone. Only left is silver aluminium, carbon and black piano.

EUR 2000 for base price + 1200 EUR + 800 EUR + 400 EUR = ~ 4400 EUR savings for 2025 model and savings in consumption.

If you Europeans didn't have the Harmon Kardon system available before, what did you have? Just the Bowers and Wilkins or was there another base option?

[lewy]

Originally Posted by SkykingUSA

If you Europeans didn't have the Harmon Kardon system available before, what did you have? Just the Bowers and Wilkins or was there another base option?

For M60 Harman Kardon was always standard, but for edrive40 and xdrive40 was available with extra price. The standard choice for them was just poor HiFi. Same for all gasoline cars.
Now, edrive40 and xdrive40 they got HarmanKardon as standard.

Sorry, I wrote it too fast!

[Tommy_hf]

Making the whole window switch panel high gloss makes it even cheaper. Missing the galvanized g30 buttons. Or just a metallic strip in the buttons would suffice.
The whole skimping of luxury is getting too much.

[Icarus1_1]

In Europe on BM, we always had the 3 tier model, where the lowest tier is absolute crap. I remember from my 4 series , gen 1, coming from an Audi the standard system was so bad. The upgrade to the HK was obligatory (and even there we can have a lengthy discussion if it was good or just better then the standard one).

So I always had an envy to the US from the audio perspective (that and the open roof on the i5), we can just have the pane of glass.

On the bright side. No reflectors !

Originally Posted by SkykingUSA

If you Europeans didn't have the Harmon Kardon system available before, what did you have? Just the Bowers and Wilkins or was there another base option?

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by lewy

The new switchgear is visible in EU-configurator:


Regarding the base price in Poland for model M60 - it fell down for about 2000 EUR / $2000 and additionally:

+ new switchgear
+ M Pro is included ( that costed around 1200 EUR)
+ dimmed rear windows are included (that costed 800 EUR)
+ lumbar support is included (that was 400 EUR)
+ Harman Kardon is included for edrive40 and xdrive40 (previously: HiFi)
+ consumption is better for about 1 - 1.2 kWh/100km for car I have configured (17.8kWh//100km vs 19 kWh/100km previous model)

- the most interior trims are gone - like wood is gone, all goldish trims are gone. Only left is silver aluminium, carbon and black piano.

EUR 2000 for base price + 1200 EUR + 800 EUR + 400 EUR = ~ 4400 EUR savings for 2025 model and savings in consumption.

So piano black still surrounded in horribly hard plastic.. not really sure how this is an improvement at all.

[RichardInCA]

I wonder what the tire changes are that BMW is adopting? It sounds as though the efficiency savings come from a combination of - updates to the SiC converter, low rolling resistance tires, new aero rims, new wheel bearings. Anyone know what those 1056 rims look like?

[lewy]

Originally Posted by RichardInCA

I wonder what the tire changes are that BMW is adopting? It sounds as though the efficiency savings come from a combination of - updates to the SiC converter, low rolling resistance tires, new aero rims, new wheel bearings. Anyone know what those 1056 rims look like?

They are designed for base e40. Not available for M sport.
According to configurator car should consume 14.9kWh/100km with those.

[ynguldyn]

Note that the North American M60 will only get drivetrain improvements with November production.