BMW PH Introduces A Sub-P4 Million Variant Of The 5 Series

BMW Philippines is introducing a new variant of the 5 Series for a limited time only. This is the new 2025 BMW 520i Essential, in which its most significant news piece is its sub-P4 million price tag.

But the question is, what exactly do you get in exchange for that lower price tag? Well, actually, just two minor items–the alloy wheels. Rather than the previous 19-inch wheels, this one downsized to 18-inch wheels, and the IconicGlow kidney grille illumination has also been removed. On the upside, there are new color choices: Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Cape York Green, and Oxide Grey. 

As for the interior luxury features, it remains largely unchanged from the other 5 Series variants. You still get Veganza perforated and quilted vegan leather upholstery, while the LED ambient lighting allows occupants to set a personalized mood. Other features include four-zone automatic climate control, the dual-screen iDrive 8.5 infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Harman Kardon sound system, among other interior luxury features.

Under the hood of the 2025 BMW 520i Essential is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine, which comes with 48-volt mild hybrid assistance. It has a system output of 208 horsepower and 330 Nm of torque. All of that power is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic and is good enough for a 0-100 kph time of just 7.5 seconds.

Safety is central to the design of all BMW models, and the 520i Essential is no exception. A comprehensive suite of airbags, including front, side, and head curtain airbags, protects both the driver and front passenger. In addition, the car is equipped with a crash sensor that can quickly detect and respond to potential collisions. There’s also a reverse camera, the Parking Assistant semi-autonomous parking feature, and other driver-assistance systems. 

The new 2025 BMW 520i Essential is a value-packed variant that’s priced at P3,990,000. However, the vehicle is only available for a limited time. The reason why it has been priced this way is because this is sourced from Malaysia and not Germany. This follows in the same footsteps as the previous generation 5 Series, in which the facelifted 520i Luxury and 530i M Sport had lower prices due to being sourced from Malaysia. Here’s to hoping that Malaysian-made BMWs are once again a regular staple in the brand’s local lineup for even better prices.