Where would you go next...

I'm changing a 2017 bmw x5 for an almost new PHEV one for one of the directors in work, we want him to get an electric but he is x5 addicted and thinks the ix is ugly so fair enough.

Went on bmw.ie to look at new prices and was shocked at prices of the diesel models, starting at 130k now!

Phev available from 96k I think it was, I presume that's the end of diesel x5 sales in Ireland.

I know he will never plug it in though

we have a 2020 x5 3.0d. The same car is now 40 per cent more expensive now than when we bought it. It is a combination of price rise but mainly VRT changes that have caused it.

He will love the newer model x5 when he gets it. far superior to the 2017 model.

Must be popular if there’s a 6 month lead time still.

did you get a reasonable deal?

if I remember correctly, same as myself, you were also between iX, i5 and X5 and went for X5 at the end.

I couldn't be happier.

They all take 1k deposit which is fully refundable if you don't go for it. Let me know if you have any questions

I'm constantly getting 100+KM, Most i have got is 107KM and that's before the added KM thru regen. I think BMW under promised and offer delivered on the e-range.

Couple of journeys i had on ICE only when the battery was 0, i got 13KM/L.

90% of my mileage is electric. I don't look at the combined figure because i think they don't represent a clear picture.

PS: Thank you again for your advise re buying X5 over IX and then i5.

That’s brilliant range tbh. Plus the 483bhp available as a package.

Just finalised my deal now, delivery promised for late February / early March.

Have you had any issues with the check engine light?

With -3c last night, the range was 81KM, I don't think it will get colder than this so I guess this is lowest range you will get.

No, didn't have any issue. iDrive 8.5 update was released OTA a few weeks ago and it improved the UI.

I was told today that the id7 will be mid to high 50s when launched here by a vw dealer. Can't see an i5 being any value at 30k more. I'd guess the id7 will be every bit as good as it.

I think there is a lot of benefits with phev’s in general that’s often overlooked as buyer are directed to ev’s that we all know can be v compromised. I see quite a few Merc diesel phevs around - they are a great option for company car drivers - lower vrt than diesel/ petrol, plus good electric range and no need to worry or plan if you have to do an overnight longer trip. Cheaper options like the Niro phev or Cupra Leon are overlooked unfairly too

Passat owners mostly moved to the Tiguan or ID 4 in recent times, the new Passat estate only will have a limited appeal in this country.

Realistically I'd say the main target of the ID 7 will be current Arteon drivers rather than 5 Series/A6 or E Class drivers. However at 70k plus I think a dealer's showroom will be the main place the ID 7 will be seen in this country.

I agree that BMWs are too expensive now - they've obviously planned to sell less volume but higher margin in each.

However you can't compare a BYD Seal to an BMW i5 - that's like comparing a Tesla with an i5. Whatever about the driving dynamics the inside of the BYD and Tesla are horrible design with cheap plastics IMO. I could not sit in one for more than 60 seconds.

Whilst the g60 is still a step back in materials from the previous model it's miles ahead of BYD in terms of interior luxury.

It's like comparing a Porsche to a Toyota IMO.

I wasn't comparing interior quality, I said:

1) The Seal has a longer wheelbase than the i4 (true, 2920mm vs 2856mm)

2) The interior room of the Seal is closer to that of an i5 than an i4 (also true, given wheelbase and Cell to Body chassis)

Interior quality is subjective, but I found it nicer than my F30 330e. It's a nice interior, and it's included features and quality deserve it to be compared to the likes of BMW or Audi, because it's a lot closer to those brands in terms of "premium" feel rather than "feels cheap for the price", that award goes to VW. Besides that, interior quality and driving dynamics (let's be honest, all EV's are heavy so BMW can't do much here anymore) just can't make up for a €40,000-70,000 price difference.

(Edit: Warning: Incoming rant 😉)

And therin lies the problem, it's also why this thread essentially died. 4 years ago a 530e was ~€60k, half of that used. A fair chunk of change but doable for a lot of the general public who had a decent job. Now they are looking to upgrade to an EV, but the equivalent 5 series now starts at €91,000 minimum?! Has the middle class who buys these cars had a 50% pay rise in 4 years? NO! If anything, inflation has left them with less disposable income....

So that's why people aren't upgrading anymore, why would they when car prices have gone completely insane?

Except of course they will upgrade, if the price is right. Tesla knows this and so do the Chinese brands. Looks like VW just woke up and smelled the coffee in the last 24 hours, because they've slashed their EV range by almost €10k across the board. I actually showed one of the new ID4's to a relative, who promptly rang the dealer who said plain as day that their EV sales have collapsed. Of course they have when Tesla and China are offering objectively better value cars, but I'm happy to see they've realized it's game on now, maybe that will revive this thread.

Maybe BMW will wake up too, once they realize their (EV) market share is about to collapse too. We the buyer are not stupid BMW, the i5 e40 and i5 M60 have the same battery, so why then does it cost €30,000 more to put an extra electric motor and some trim pieces in? That kind of market segmentation doesn't work in the EV world anymore. Tesla and the Chinese brands show the common sense here, it costs a few grand more, and that's it.