2024 BMW 5 Series, i5 details confirmed for Australia, due this year

There will only one petrol version of the new 5 Series in Australia in a focus on electric power – and increased equipment levels likely to lead to higher prices.

The 2024 BMW 5 Series will come to Australia with just one petrol model – and two electric variants – and higher prices than before due to increased standard equipment levels.

Due in Australian BMW showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2023 (October to December), the 5 Series range will be slashed to one entry-level petrol model and two electric i5 variants for the new model.

It is down from six variants today – across four-cylinder, six-cylinder and V8 engines with petrol, diesel and hybrid power – and eight engine choices about a decade ago.

Prices are expected to rise to account for higher levels of standard equipment from the base model up – including a panoramic glass roof, heated front seats and more advanced technology.

The current BMW 520i is priced from $107,700 plus on-road costs.

Unveiled overnight, the new 5 Series and its electric i5 twin bring a bold new design, overhauled interior with larger screens, significantly larger body, and an updated range of engines.

The new car measures 5060mm long, 1900mm wide and 1515mm tall, riding on a 2995mm wheelbase – 97mm longer overall, 32mm wide, 36mm taller and 20mm longer in wheelbase, making it larger than its new-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class rival.

All new BMW 5 Series models sold in Australia will be equipped with the M Sport styling package.

Powering the new entry-level 5 Series is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, 48-volt mild-hybrid electrical system and rear-wheel drive.

BMW Australia quotes outputs of 153kW and 330Nm, however the power figure appears to include a 13kW boost from the mild-hybrid system, which can assist the engine under heavy acceleration, or switch it off when driving at constant speed to let the car coast, and save fuel.

The company claims a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 7.5 seconds for this model.

Further petrol and diesel variants are available in Europe, but are not planned for Australia at this stage. The outgoing 5 Series was also available in Australia in 530i four-cylinder petrol, 530d six-cylinder diesel, 530e petrol plug-in hybrid, and M550i petrol V8 forms.

The i5 eDrive 40 electric variant is powered by a single electric motor at the rear with 250kW and 430Nm (in Sport Boost mode, or Launch Control), good for 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.0 seconds, and a top speed of 193km/h.

Meanwhile, the i5 M60 steps up to dual-motor all-wheel drive with outputs of up to 442kW and 820Nm, for a claimed 0-100km/h time of 3.8 seconds, and a 230km/h top speed.

BMW Australia quotes maximum driving range in European WLTP lab testing of 582 kilometres for the eDrive 40, and 516km for the M60, from a 81.7kWh (usable capacity; or 84kWh gross) battery.

The i5 can charge at up to 205kW on a DC public fast-charging station, claimed to deliver a 10 to 80 per cent recharge in about 30 minutes.

A 22kW AC on-board charger for recharging at home is standard equipment.

Standard features on the 520i include adaptive LED headlights, 19-inch wheels, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 14.9-inch touchscreen, Alcantara and synthetic leather-look seat trim, heated front seats, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, panoramic sunroof, head-up display, and a full suite of advanced safety technology.

Features optional on the outgoing 520i but standard on the new model include heated front seats with lumbar support, a power boot lid, and glass sunroof.

More expensive i5 models add larger wheels, adaptive suspension, rear-wheel steering, a 17-speaker Bowers and Wilkins stereo, four-zone air conditioning (up from the 520i’s two zones), ventilated front seats, and metallic paint.

A list of standard equipment – as confirmed by BMW Australia so far – is below.

The 2024 BMW 5 Series and i5 twins are due in Australian showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2023 (October to December).


2024 BMW 520i standard features:

  • M Sport package
  • M Sport suspension
  • Adaptive LED headlights
  • 19-inch alloy wheels with tyre repair kit
  • 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
  • 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, digital radio, voice control, over-the-air updates
  • M-branded Alcantara suede and Veganza synthetic leather-look seat upholstery
  • Sport front seats with heating and lumbar support
  • 12-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system
  • Dual-zone automatic climate-control air conditioning
  • Head-up display
  • Panoramic glass sunroof
  • Keyless entry and start
  • Wireless phone charging
  • BMW Digital Key/Digital Key Plus functionality for iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones
  • Power-operated boot lid
  • Remote engine start
  • BMW Iconic Glow illuminated front grilles
  • Carbon-fibre-look interior trim
  • Ambient interior lighting
  • Autonomous emergency braking
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Lane-keep assist
  • Lane centring assist
  • Blind-spot monitoring
  • Front and rear cross-traffic alerts
  • Automatic parking
  • Front and rear parking sensors
  • Automated Manoeuvre Assistant feature
  • Tyre pressure monitoring

2024 BMW i5 eDrive 40 adds (over 520i):

  • 20-inch alloy wheels
  • Adaptive suspension
  • Rear-wheel steering
  • 17-speaker Bowers and Wilkins surround sound system
  • BMW Individual Merino leather upholstery
  • Metallic paint
  • 22kW AC on-board charger
  • Mode 2 and Mode 3 charging cables
  • Low-speed pedestrian warning sounds
  • BMW IconicSounds Electric (synthesised driving sounds)
  • Five-year Chargefox public fast charging subscription

2024 BMW i5 M60 adds (over i5 eDrive 40):

  • 21-inch alloy wheels (no-cost option)
  • Adaptive M suspension
  • Electronically-controlled anti-roll bars
  • Four-zone automatic climate control
  • Ventilated front seats
  • CraftedClarity Glass crystal material for touchscreen controller, gear shifter, start/stop button, volume roller dial
  • M rear spoiler

The post 2024 BMW 5 Series, i5 details confirmed for Australia, due this year appeared first on Drive.

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