Verdict
At RM294,800, the BMW i4 is the rational Malaysian choice: its 500 km claimed range is only 10 km shy of the M50’s, yet it saves RM136,000 and its annual road tax is RM305 rather than RM1,065. The BMW i4 M50 is a different proposition, with 537 hp, 795 Nm and a 3.9-second 0-100 km/h time against 282 hp, 400 Nm and six seconds. Its dual motors, all-wheel drive, adaptive M suspension and 200 kW DC charging justify the extra spend only if outright pace matters more than cost.
The i4 M50 M50 (RM430,800) sits above every i4 variant here, so the verdict compares the closest-priced pairing — use the selectors above to match any two trims.
Pick the BMW i4 if you want near-identical 500 km range, a head-up display and far lower purchase and road-tax costs.
Pick the BMW i4 M50 if you want 537 hp, all-wheel drive and a 3.9-second 0-100 km/h sprint.
Key differences
- Price: BMW i4 RM294,800; BMW i4 M50 RM430,800
- Motors and output: BMW i4 one motor, 282 hp and 400 Nm; BMW i4 M50 two motors, 537 hp and 795 Nm
- Driveline and 0-100 km/h: BMW i4 rear-wheel drive and 6.0 seconds; BMW i4 M50 all-wheel drive and 3.9 seconds
- Battery and range: BMW i4 70.3 kWh and 500 km; BMW i4 M50 83.9 kWh and 510 km
- DC charging and road tax: BMW i4 180 kW and RM305/year; BMW i4 M50 200 kW and RM1,065/year
- Wheels and weight: BMW i4 19-inch wheels and 2,075 kg; BMW i4 M50 20-inch wheels and 2,290 kg
i4
- RM136,000 cheaper to buy
- 500 km claimed EV range
- Head-up display and alarm
- Slower 6.0-second 0-100 km/h time
- Rear-wheel drive rather than all-wheel drive
- Lower 180 kW DC charging rate
i4 M50
- 537 hp and 795 Nm from two motors
- All-wheel drive with adaptive M suspension and Variable Sport Steering
- 17-speaker Harman Kardon audio and contactless powered boot
- RM136,000 higher purchase price
- Annual road tax is RM760 higher
- No head-up display, alarm or airbag-disable function
What the i4 has over the i4 M50
What the i4 M50 has over the i4
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM294,800✓ | RM430,800 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM305✓ | RM1,065 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM3,010/mo✓ | RM4,400/mo |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM7,913✓ | RM11,449 |
| Electricity / year (est.) | RM1,249✓ | RM1,462 |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM6.25✓ | RM7.31 |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM47,335✓ | RM69,877 |
| Charging (estimated) | ||
| AC charge 0–100% (est.) | 6.4 hours✓ | 7.6 hours |
| DC charge 10–80% (est.) | 25 min✓ | 30 min |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 5th-generation BMW eDrive, 400V architecture | 5th-generation BMW eDrive, 400V architecture |
| Fuel | Electric | Electric |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 2 |
| Motor Horsepower | 282 hp | 537 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 400 Nm | 795 Nm✓ |
| Battery Capacity | 70.3 kWh | 83.9 kWh✓ |
| EV Range | 500 km | 510 km✓ |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 11 kW | 11.0 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 180 kW | 200.0 kW✓ |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | eDrive |
| Gears | — | 1 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | BMW AG |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 6 seconds | 3.9 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 190 km/h | 225 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,783 mm | 4,783 mm |
| Width | 1,852 mm | 1,852 mm |
| Height | 1,448 mm | 1,448 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,856 mm | 2,856 mm |
| Weight | 2,075 kg | 2,290 kg |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 470 litres | 470 litres |
| Front Tyre | 245/40R19 | 245/35R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/40R19 | 255/35R20 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 Run-flat |
| Wiper Blade (Driver) | 24 inch | 24 inch |
| Wiper Blade (Passenger) | 19 inch | 19 inch |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multilink |
| Front Wheels | 19" Style-996M Bi-colour | 20" Aerodynamic Style 862 2-tone Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Style-996M Bi-colour | 20" Aerodynamic Style 862 2-tone Alloy |
| Steering | Rack & Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Adaptive M Suspension, Variable Sport Steering |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | — |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2nd Row Seats | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, with Pedestrian, Cyclist and Cross Traffic Detection (5 km/h to 250 km/h) |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Exterior Loudspeaker for Pedestrians, Active Protection |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED Projectors | LED Projector with Adaptive Laser High Beam |
| Taillamps | BMW Laser LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats, Driver's Side Memory | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | — | Front, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 USB-A Front, 1 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear | 1 Boot, 1 Front USB, 1 Front USB-C, 2 Rear USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (6 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 10-Speaker HiFi Loudspeaker 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 | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist and Stop and Go |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes | Yes, Parallel and Perpendicular, with Reversing Assist |
| 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 | — | 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 | 8-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty | 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. Running-cost estimates assume 20,000 km/year. Electricity at RM0.44/kWh (TNB domestic, home charging); public DC charging costs around RM1.30/kWh. Charging times estimated from battery capacity and peak charging rates. Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked November 2026.
Used i4 & i4 M50 for sale
Our reviews & guides
BMW i4
i4 vs i4 M50 FAQ
Is the BMW i4 or BMW i4 M50 better?
The BMW i4 is better for cost-conscious ownership, retaining 500 km of range. The BMW i4 M50 is better for performance, cutting 0-100 km/h from 6.0 to 3.9 seconds and adding all-wheel drive.
What is the price difference?
The BMW i4 M50 costs RM136,000 more than the BMW i4. Its annual road tax is also RM1,065, compared with RM305 for the BMW i4.
Which BMW i4 charges faster?
The BMW i4 M50 has the higher maximum DC charging rate at 200 kW versus 180 kW for the BMW i4. Both have 11 kW AC charging.
How long does charging take?
The i4's 70.3 kWh battery takes about 6.4 hours for a full AC charge, and an estimated 25 minutes from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger at its 180 kW peak. The i4 M50's 83.9 kWh battery takes about 7.6 hours for a full AC charge, and an estimated 30 minutes from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger at its 200 kW peak.