Verdict
The RM255,000 gap is substantial: the BMW 7 Series costs RM685,800, but brings a 5,391-mm luxury-sedan footprint, 3,215-mm wheelbase, 525-litre boot and power-adjustable rear seats. Its plug-in hybrid battery covers 87 km electrically, so petrol remains part of long-distance use. At RM430,800, the BMW i4 M50 is far quicker at 3.9 seconds to 100 km/h, with 537 hp, 795 Nm, a 510-km EV range and 200-kW DC charging. For Malaysian buyers able to charge regularly, the i4 M50 delivers much more pace for far less money; the 7 Series is the rear-seat and long-haul luxury choice.
Pick the BMW 7 Series if rear-seat comfort, its 5,391-mm body, 525-litre boot and petrol-backed plug-in hybrid driving suit your use better than outright performance.
Pick the BMW i4 M50 if you can charge an EV and want 537 hp, 795 Nm, 510 km of range and a 3.9-second 0-100 km/h time for RM255,000 less.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 7 Series RM685,800; BMW i4 M50 RM430,800.
- Electric range: BMW 7 Series 87 km; BMW i4 M50 510 km.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW 7 Series 4.9 seconds; BMW i4 M50 3.9 seconds.
- Length: BMW 7 Series 5,391 mm; BMW i4 M50 4,783 mm.
- Boot space: BMW 7 Series 525 litres; BMW i4 M50 470 litres.
- Top speed: BMW 7 Series 250 km/h; BMW i4 M50 225 km/h.
7 Series
- Longer 5,391-mm body and 3,215-mm wheelbase
- 525-litre boot and power-adjustable rear seats
- 250 km/h top speed with 87-km EV range
- RM255,000 more expensive
- Slower 0-100 km/h time: 4.9 seconds versus 3.9 seconds
- 87-km EV range trails the i4 M50's 510 km
i4 M50
- 537 hp and 795 Nm from two motors
- 510-km EV range and 200-kW DC charging
- RM255,000 lower purchase price
- Smaller 470-litre boot
- Shorter 4,783-mm body and 2,856-mm wheelbase
- Lower 225 km/h top speed
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM685,800 | RM430,800✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Luxury | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,125 | RM1,065✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | — | 5th-generation BMW eDrive, 400V architecture |
| Capacity | 2,998 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 308 hp | — |
| Torque | 450 Nm | — |
| Fuel | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid | Electric |
| Bore | 82 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 11 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 2 |
| Motor Horsepower | 194 hp | 537 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 280 Nm | 795 Nm✓ |
| Battery Capacity | 18.7 kWh | 83.9 kWh✓ |
| EV Range | 87 km | 510 km✓ |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 7.4 kW | 11.0 kW✓ |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 200.0 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Automatic | eDrive |
| Gears | 8 | 1 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | BMW AG |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.9 seconds | 3.9 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h✓ | 225 km/h |
| Co2 | 22 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,391 mm | 4,783 mm |
| Width | 1,950 mm | 1,852 mm |
| Height | 1,544 mm | 1,448 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,215 mm | 2,856 mm |
| Weight | — | 2,290 kg |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 525 litres✓ | 470 litres |
| Front Tyre | — | 245/35R20 |
| Rear Tyre | — | 255/35R20 |
| Spare Tyre | No | — |
| Factory Tyres | — | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 Run-flat |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multilink |
| Front Wheels | 20" M aerodynamic style 907 alloys | 20" Aerodynamic Style 862 2-tone Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 20" M aerodynamic style 907 alloys | 20" Aerodynamic Style 862 2-tone Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Air Suspension | Adaptive M Suspension, Variable Sport Steering |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | 5 stars | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 Airbags (2 Front, 2 Side, 2 Curtain, 1 Driver's Knee) | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | — | ✓ |
| Stability Control | — | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | — | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | — | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | — | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes, with Pedestrian, Cyclist and Cross Traffic Detection (5 km/h to 250 km/h) |
| Lane-keeping Assist | — | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | — | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Exterior Loudspeaker for Pedestrians, Active Protection |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with Auto High Beam | LED Projector with Adaptive Laser High Beam |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full 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 | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | Power Adjustable Rear Seats with Power Adjustments | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Sky Lounge Fixed Panoramic Glass Roof | Front, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | — | 1 Boot, 1 Front USB, 1 Front USB-C, 2 Rear USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (15 Colours) | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (6 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 4 | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | 2x side sunshades, 1x rear sunshade | — |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Live Cockpit Professional system | 14.9" Touchscreen BMW Live Cockpit Professional with Voice Control, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Wireless Android Auto and 17-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System (525W) |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | 4 | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go | Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist and Stop and Go |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation with Contactless Opening | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Surround View Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes, Parallel and Perpendicular, with Reversing Assist |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Power Door | Yes | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | Qi Wireless Charger, BMW IconicSounds Electric |
| 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 | — | 6-year/100,000 km Free Service Package, 8-year/100,000 km Battery Warranty |
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 7 Series & i4 M50 for sale
7 Series vs i4 M50 FAQ
Is the BMW 7 Series or BMW i4 M50 better?
The i4 M50 is the better choice for EV range, charging, acceleration and price: 510 km, 200 kW, 3.9 seconds and RM430,800. Choose the 7 Series for its larger cabin footprint, 525-litre boot, power-adjustable rear seats and plug-in hybrid flexibility.
What is the price difference?
The BMW 7 Series costs RM685,800 and the BMW i4 M50 costs RM430,800, a difference of RM255,000.
Which has the better range and charging capability?
The i4 M50 leads decisively with a 83.9-kWh battery, 510-km EV range, 11-kW AC charging and 200-kW DC charging. The 7 Series has an 18.7-kWh battery, 87-km EV range and 7.4-kW AC charging.