Description

The BMW i5 charging cable you need is decided by one number: the i5 accepts 11 kW on AC as standard, and 22 kW if the car was built with AC Professional Charging. Both are three phase figures. Every i5 carries the same 81.2 kWh usable battery, eDrive40 and M60 xDrive alike, so the version you own changes the range on offer but never the rate the car will take.

Every BMW i5 uses a Type 2 to Type 2 Charging Cable. There is no Type 1 version of this car and no adapter is needed at a public post or a home wallbox.

That 22 kW figure is the one owners ask about, because many i5s have it. AC Professional Charging is standard on the M60 xDrive and on the eDrive40 Sport Edition, and was a cost option on the other eDrive40 trims. It gives the car a three phase charger. A domestic supply in Britain delivers a single phase, so two thirds of that capability has nothing to connect to on a driveway. Whether your i5 is an 11 kW car or a 22 kW car, a home wallbox hands it 7.4 kW, and a 32A single phase cable delivers that in full. The three phase cable earns its price only if you regularly use a three phase AC point at work or at a hotel, and on a 22 kW i5 it is genuinely quick there, 4 hours 15 minutes from empty against 12 hours 30 minutes at home.

A 16A cable caps the car at 3.7 kW and roughly doubles every charge. On an eDrive40 that is 24 hours 45 minutes from empty instead of 12 hours 30 minutes, and about 17 miles put in per hour instead of 35. Across a seven hour overnight window the 32A cable returns around 245 miles and the 16A cable around 119. On a battery this size the cheaper cable costs you a usable amount of range every single night.

A Type 2 to 3 Pin Charging Cable is worth keeping in the boot even with a wallbox at home. It runs at 2.3 kW from any 13A socket, which is about 11 miles an hour on an i5, so it is a top up rather than a fill. It is the cable that gets you home from a cottage with no charge point, or covers you while a wallbox is out of action.

If you are cross shopping the range, the BMW i4 uses the same cable at a lower AC rate, and the BMW 530e covers the plug in hybrid 5 Series. The full BMW EV charging cable range lists every model we stock cables for.

A 2 year manufacturer's warranty comes with every cable we ship. The Type 2 to Type 2 carries an IP55 rating and the 3 Pin an IP67 one, both built to IEC 62196, both certified by CE, and both usable from -30C to +50C, or +60C for the 3-pin. We deliver free across the UK on the next working day.

BMW i5 Charging Times by Battery

81.2 kWh usable, i5 eDrive40, WLTP up to 384 miles

Maximum onboard AC charging speed: 11 kW three phase as standard, 22 kW with AC Professional Charging. Times below assume the standard 11 kW car.

81.2 kWh usable, i5 M60 xDrive, WLTP up to 331 miles

Maximum onboard AC charging speed: 22 kW three phase, standard on the M60 from launch.

Cold weather and motorway speeds will both reduce the miles per hour figure.

BMW i5 Charging Cable FAQs

What charging cable does a BMW i5 need?

A BMW i5 needs a Type 2 to Type 2 charging cable, and a 32A single phase version is the right choice for almost every owner. That matches the 7.4 kW a home wallbox can supply and fills the 81.2 kWh battery in about 12 hours 30 minutes. Lengths of 5m, 10m, 15m and 20m are available.

Is the 22kW three-phase cable worth buying for an i5?

Only if you regularly charge a BMW i5 on a three phase AC point, which usually means a workplace or a destination charger rather than home. A three phase supply is rare in British houses, so at home the car settles at 7.4 kW and the single phase cable delivers that for less money.

Does the i5 M60 charge faster than the eDrive40?

On AC, yes, but only where three phase is available. The BMW i5 M60 xDrive has the 22 kW charger as standard and reaches full in about 4 hours 15 minutes on a three phase supply, while a standard eDrive40 is limited to 11 kW. On a single phase home supply both cars charge at 7.4 kW and take the same 12 hours 30 minutes.

How long a cable does a BMW i5 need?

The BMW i5 has its charge port on the offside rear quarter panel and the Saloon is a little over 5 metres long, so the port sits well back from a wallbox mounted near the house if you drive in nose first. Owners who reverse onto the drive usually manage with 5m. Anyone parking nose in, or charging from a unit on the far side of a garage, is better served by 10m. Measure from the socket to where the rear wing actually sits before choosing.

Can I use my own cable at a public charge point with an i5?

Yes. Untethered public AC posts require you to bring a Type 2 to Type 2 cable, and the same cable you use on a BMW i5 at home works at those posts. Rapid DC chargers have their own fixed cable and do not use it.

How much range does an i5 gain in a seven hour cheap rate window?

A BMW i5 eDrive40 on a 32A single phase cable adds roughly 245 miles across a seven hour off peak window, at about 35 miles for every hour plugged in. The same window on a 16A cable returns around 119 miles.

Pros and cons

• Sustainably produced
• Ideal for everyday use
• May discolor in direct sunlight