Verdict
The BMW i5 costs RM24,000 less at RM368,800 and its RM395 annual road tax undercuts the BMW 3 Series M's RM2,125 by RM1,730. It is also a substantially larger sedan, measuring 5,060 mm long with a 2,995 mm wheelbase, and brings an 83.9-kWh battery, 627-km range and up to 205-kW DC charging. The 3 Series M is the driver’s choice: its 387-hp, 500-Nm 3.0-litre turbo inline-six, all-wheel drive and 4.4-second century sprint are decisively quicker than the i5’s 335 hp, 430 Nm and 6.0 seconds.
Pick the BMW 3 Series M if 4.4-second 0-100 km/h pace, 250-km/h top speed, all-wheel drive and an inline-six matter more than running costs and rear-seat space.
Pick the BMW i5 if you want the lower RM368,800 price, RM395 road tax, 627-km EV range and the larger executive-sedan cabin.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 3 Series M RM392,800; BMW i5 RM368,800.
- Powertrain: BMW 3 Series M 387 hp/500 Nm 2,998-cc turbo inline-six; BMW i5 335 hp/430 Nm single motor.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW 3 Series M 4.4 seconds; BMW i5 6.0 seconds.
- Driveline: BMW 3 Series M all-wheel drive; BMW i5 rear-wheel drive.
- Length/wheelbase: BMW 3 Series M 4,714/2,851 mm; BMW i5 5,060/2,995 mm.
- Road tax: BMW 3 Series M RM2,125 per year; BMW i5 RM395 per year.
3 Series M
- 387 hp and 500 Nm from a 3.0-litre turbo inline-six.
- 4.4-second 0-100 km/h sprint and 250-km/h top speed.
- All-wheel drive, Adaptive M Suspension and M Sport Differential.
- Costs RM24,000 more and carries RM1,730 more annual road tax.
- 346 mm shorter in wheelbase, with rear air-con vents rather than rear dual-zone climate control.
- 480-litre boot is 10 litres smaller.
i5
- 83.9-kWh battery, 627-km range and 205-kW DC charging.
- RM395 annual road tax and a RM24,000 lower purchase price.
- Larger 5,060-mm body, 2,995-mm wheelbase and 490-litre boot.
- 6.0-second 0-100 km/h time trails the 3 Series M by 1.6 seconds.
- 335 hp, 430 Nm and 193-km/h top speed fall short of the 3 Series M's outputs.
- Rear-wheel drive rather than all-wheel drive.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM392,800 | RM368,800✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,125 | RM395✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 32-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 5th-generation BMW eDrive, 400V architecture |
| Capacity | 2,998 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 387 hp at 5,800 rpm | — |
| Torque | 500 Nm at 1,900 rpm | — |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 6 | — |
| Fuel | Petrol | Electric |
| Bore × Stroke | 82 mm × 94.6 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.2 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 335 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 430 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 83.9 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 627 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 22 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 205 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Sport | — |
| Gears | 8 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | — |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.4 seconds✓ | 6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h✓ | 193 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,714 mm | 5,060 mm |
| Width | 1,827 mm | 1,900 mm |
| Height | 1,440 mm | 1,515 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,851 mm | 2,995 mm |
| Weight | 1,800 kg | 2,205 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | — |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres | 490 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/40R19 | 245/40R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/35R19 | 275/35R20 |
| Spare Tyre | — | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 Run-flat | Pirelli P Zero Elekt |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black | 20" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black | 20" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive M Suspension, Variable Sport Steering, M Sport Differential | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 6 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Electric for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three Point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available on outer rear seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with High beam Assistant | LED Projector with Adaptive High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function and Bolster Adjustment | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-Folding | 60:40 Split Fold |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Yes | Fixed Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Centre Armrest, 1 Rear, 1 Boot | 2x Wireless Charger, 2x USB-C ports front, 2x USB-C ports rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Sunroof Shade | Powered Rear Windscreen Sun Shade & Sunroof Shade, Manual Rear Door Window Shades |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 16-Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 14.9" Touchscreen BMW Live Cockpit Professional with Voice Control, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Wireless Android Auto and 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Sound System (655W) |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activated with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Monitor | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking, with Reversing Assist | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Tyre Pressure Monitoring System | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | 3 years | 3 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | 8 Years/ 160,000 km Warranty for EV Battery |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used 3 Series M & i5 for sale
3 Series M vs i5 FAQ
Is the BMW 3 Series M or BMW i5 better?
The i5 is the stronger Malaysian ownership case: it costs less, has RM395 annual road tax, 627 km of rated range and more cabin space. Choose the 3 Series M only if its 387-hp inline-six, all-wheel drive and 4.4-second sprint are priorities.
What is the price difference?
The BMW 3 Series M costs RM392,800, while the BMW i5 costs RM368,800. The i5 is RM24,000 cheaper.
Which one is quicker and which one has the longer range?
The BMW 3 Series M reaches 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds, compared with 6.0 seconds for the i5. The i5 has an 83.9-kWh battery and a quoted 627-km EV range; no petrol range figure is stated for the 3 Series M.
