[desalvorw]

Disclaimer: I came from a ‘17 Honda Civic. The closest I’ve had to luxury car was a new Acura RDX from 14-17 and a used MDX from 10-13.
One month in, here’s my thoughts:
Overall, I absolutely love this car. Are there some annoyances, sure. They don’t, however, take away from any of the enjoyment. Some of the annoyances have gone away as I’ve learned more of how to use the different form factors (touch screen, idrive controller, voice).

Driving: Smooth as butter. Such a capable car that always feels like it’s in a good stance no matter the roadway. Steering is not as tight as I would overall like, but it does get better when I get in sport mode. I love the fact the car has several different ways to drive. I wanna get through traffic with a bit of fun, I go to sport mode. On the highway, I’m in personal. Driving to work in the morning I’m in efficient mode or max range (depending on morning temp, I can forgo ventilation). Driving home from work, I’m in relax mode or efficient mode. I know the modes may be gimmicky to some, but I like them. Feels like a different car in each.
Highway Assistant is a dream. Such a competent system and lets you know well in advance when it needs your attention. Even using driving assistant on local roads is great when I just wanna chill and not fully think about driving.

Interior: I know some have had other luxury cars and complain about some of the materials on the doors and sides of the center console, but I love them. Any plastic used is super soft, yet firm (I guess that’s a thing) and super easy to clean because I have two boys (9 and 6) and an 85-lb bernedoodle. Another reason why back seat pockets don’t matter to me and I like the easier clean front seat backs. I have the Sky Lounge roof and I have even gotten in the back seat when I’m taking a break from work just to chill and look out.

Seats: OMG are these comfortable. Absolutely love the seats, and they are one of my favorite parts of the car.

Tech and displays: once you learn your best way to control it all, it gets fairly easy to use. It’s a far departure from anything I’ve ever used, and I would like to have buttons in some instances, but I’ve found using the voice control is super easy, really fast and really intelligent. It understands me more than most other voice systems I’ve used. Love the sharpness and brightness of the displays, including the heads up display (my favorite). When I do touch the display a lot, I have a screen sponge I use and easily wipes off all finger grease.

EV: I was nervous moving to EV after having an ICE my whole life, but I love it. I had considered the 530i or 540i, but got the i5 less than I would have gotten either of those with more features like M Sport Pro, Bowers and Wilkins, and the Executive Package. Charging is simple and easy at home, departure plan is great when it’s plugged in, and I’ve visited a gas station once and that was just because a massive bug smooshed on my windshield. TBD: Trip Charging.

Annoyances: As I said before, most of the annoyances I had were solved when I learned the different and best ways to use and update some of the systems. The one big annoyance I still have is the air vents will go to zero when I hold my hand close to the AC vent(my hands sweat a lot).

Hope this helps anyone on the fence.

[deutsch100]

Great write up, thanks for sharing.

Confused about what you mean that the air vents will go to zero when you hold your hands to the vents. i5 and i7...mine only stop airflow, if I close the vents!

[desalvorw]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

Great write up, thanks for sharing.

Confused about what you mean that the air vents will go to zero when you hold your hands to the vents. i5 and i7...mine only stop airflow, if I close the vents!

Yeah, I meant to say they close, although it says 0-1 on the interaction bar😂.

[Scrapula]

Thanks for the review! I’ve only used the air conditioner one day so far. Still in the 50’s and I find myself using max efficiency mode fairly often now. I still warm the car up a bit first and the seats and steering wheel as well, then I switch it over. I’ve played with the vents to see how they work, but they aren’t needed yet. Sport mode is fun until I get behind a slow car on the twisties.

[F10_Freq]

I’m two weeks in with my eDrive40 (coming from an F10). My biggest wins thus far are the quiet/comfortable ride, highway assist, good range, the crisp OLED, HK sound standard, the hidden vents (they work!), B-mode and adaptive drive mode, CarPlay integration (mostly works), and comfortable seats with adjustable side bolsters.

This car’s design is all about the angles and I like the cohesion. The light bar really ties the room together! My passengers hate trying to find the interior door handle though…lol.

My misses are the horrible clunky steering wheel stalks (a huge step backwards and really disappointing imho), no rear door comfort access, no passenger seat memory, lack of real customization of the drive modes, the haptic buttons (good idea…inconsistent execution), and a poorly written manual.

Also anyone else annoyed that the under trunk compartment is not finished? There is a whole piece missing along the bumper edge and I can’t figure out why.

Overall it’s a wonderful EV…can’t wait for the LCI!

[Scrapula]

You don’t have passenger seat memory on the eDrive 40? It’s on my M60 but that’s not part of the M Sport package. That’s totally weird. You would think they would make everything the same inside.

[PsychDoc]

Yes. Passenger seat memory is present in the 540xi.

[F10_Freq]

Really? Nope. No seat memory on the eDrive40 w/premium package.

[desalvorw]

Originally Posted by F10_Freq

Really? Nope. No seat memory on the eDrive40 w/premium package.

Wow. I have it on my edrive40 with Executive. I didn’t think it was. Difference with Premium.

[F10_Freq]

Passenger seat memory should be standard and not a part of the most expensive package. Not a huge loss but it’s the little things that can make the experience a little better.

I also forgot a few other little annoyances..again..these are minor…but no driver side storage compartment, no dedicated coin compartment, no back seat pockets and a surprisingly shallow glove box all make the interior storage more limited than it needs to be.

[SkykingUSA]

Originally Posted by desalvorw

Wow. I have it on my edrive40 with Executive. I didn’t think it was. Difference with Premium.

I have passenger seat memory on my eDrive40. I do not have the Executive package, I just ordered the Premium package. Perhaps it came as part of the Luxury Seating package which I ordered. Either way, you can get it on the eDrive40. I didn't know it wasn't standard.

[SkykingUSA]

Originally Posted by F10_Freq

... I also forgot a few other little annoyances..again..these are minor… no dedicated coin compartment, ...

Not sure what was on prior 5 series models, but I suspect the coin compartment is that little thing in the center console where I have my coins. What else would fit in that little area? I just assume it is for coins because it seems to fit US quarters perfectly.

[F10_Freq]

Originally Posted by SkykingUSA

Not sure what was on prior 5 series models, but I suspect the coin compartment is that little thing in the center console where I have my coins. What else would fit in that little area? I just assume it is for coins because it seems to fit US quarters perfectly.

I assume that’s what that is for, too. I’ll see how that goes.…seems messy. On the F10 it is a stand alone compartment, outside the armrest compartment. More coinage space, easy to use (don’t need to line them up). I’m just missing that. Then again, who uses coins anymore anyways?

[F10_Freq]

Originally Posted by SkykingUSA

I have passenger seat memory on my eDrive40. I do not have the Executive package, I just ordered the Premium package. Perhaps it came as part of the Luxury Seating package which I ordered. Either way, you can get it on the eDrive40. I didn't know it wasn't standard.

Ah…yeah I would have gotten that had I known…I just got the stand-alone ventilated seats option. Oh well. No biggie. Hopefully info like this will help other future i5 purchasers figure out what’s important to them.

[Scrapula]

Originally Posted by F10_Freq

I assume that’s what that is for, too. I’ll see how that goes.…seems messy. On the F10 it is a stand alone compartment, outside the armrest compartment. More coinage space, easy to use (don’t need to line them up). I’m just missing that. Then again, who uses coins anymore anyways?

There is nothing that uses coins anymore that I know of. Maybe gas station air hoses? I can’t think of the last time I used coins for anything. I didn’t know what that little space was used for. Now I know.

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by Scrapula

There is nothing that uses coins anymore that I know of. Maybe gas station air hoses? I can’t think of the last time I used coins for anything. I didn’t know what that little space was used for. Now I know.

In California, especially L.A....we have tens of thousands of parking meters that take nickels, dimes and quarters!

[RichardInCA]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

In California, especially L.A....we have tens of thousands of parking meters that take nickels, dimes and quarters!

Interesting - northern CA (Bay Area) they’ve all but vanished and been replaced by app based meters on most streets. I can’t recall the last time I had to put quarters in a meter.

I’m kinda with Scrapula now - same reason we don’t have tape decks or CD players in cars anymore.

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by RichardInCA

Interesting - northern CA (Bay Area) they’ve all but vanished and been replaced by app based meters on most streets. I can’t recall the last time I had to put quarters in a meter.

I’m kinda with Scrapula now - same reason we don’t have tape decks or CD players in cars anymore.

Most, but not all meters, in Los Angeles and surrounding cities and Counties also take credit cards, but many times the display is out, so you cannot see what you are doing. At least you can use coins and you know how much time you get for each coin denomination.

Honestly, hate meters. And if the meter was broken, you used to be able to park there for free. Now if you park and the meter is broken...they ticket you. CA sucks. Cannot wait to move

[Scrapula]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

Most, but not all meters, in Los Angeles and surrounding cities and Counties also take credit cards, but many times the display is out, so you cannot see what you are doing. At least you can use coins and you know how much time you get for each coin denomination.

Honestly, hate meters. And if the meter was broken, you used to be able to park there for free. Now if you park and the meter is broken...they ticket you. CA sucks. Cannot wait to move

I’m not sure if I have seen individual meters in Seattle. I’ve always parked in a lot with one machine. They use pay by plate technology, so enter your plate number, the time and use your phone to pay. There’s an app for that which skips the machine altogether. It’s handy because you don’t need to go back and add more time, just do it from your phone.

[RichardInCA]

When I’m parking on roads, it’s frequently ParkMobile from my experience - you enter the parking spot on your phone and then pay and you have a countdown timer/can extend payment from your phone without needing to feed the meters. They seem to have taken over many old school parking meters/even those with credit cards.

[F10_Freq]

Originally Posted by RichardInCA

Interesting - northern CA (Bay Area) they’ve all but vanished and been replaced by app based meters on most streets. I can’t recall the last time I had to put quarters in a meter.

I’m kinda with Scrapula now - same reason we don’t have tape decks or CD players in cars anymore.

I don’t think anyone really keeps coins in their coin compartment anymore…lol…but that doesn’t mean it still didn’t hurt having a few extra stash spots around the car. Now I’m wondering what I’ll do with all the CDs I haven’t listened to since 2005!

[MidnightMarauder]

Originally Posted by desalvorw

EV: I was nervous moving to EV after having an ICE my whole life, but I love it. I had considered the 530i or 540i, but got the i5 less than I would have gotten either of those with more features like M Sport Pro, Bowers and Wilkins, and the Executive Package. Charging is simple and easy at home,

Did you have to special order to get the B&W sound? I'm looking at stock at all of my nearby dealerships, and it's very difficult to find any with B&W.

What do you think of the sound? I'm surprised that it's a sub-$1k upgrade.