BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric) vs Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ (electric): 5-year cost to own in the U.S.
As of August 6, 2026, over 5 years (U.S. average, 12,000 mi/yr), the BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric) is cheaper from day one — about $92,081 over 5 years vs $96,987 for the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ (electric), a $4,906 difference. The expired federal $7,500 EV credit is not applied to either total.
Cheaper to own over 5 yearsBMW i5 eDrive40 (electric) · $92,081 total · $4,906 less than the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ (electric)
BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric) vs Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ (electric) — where the money goes
| Cost component | Electric · BMW i5 eDrive40 | Electric · Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation (estimated) | $46,970 (51%) | $51,681 (53%) |
| Charging / fuel | $5,721 (6%) | $5,884 (6%) |
| ↳ of which charging loss | 12% (~$687) | 12% (~$706) |
| Maintenance | $3,480 (4%) | $5,400 (6%) |
| Insurance | $22,855 (25%) | $19,500 (20%) |
| Financing interest | $12,055 (13%) | $13,522 (14%) |
| Registration & fees | $1,000 (1%) | $1,000 (1%) |
| Total cost of ownership | $92,081 | $96,987 |
The charging-loss row is the ~10–15% of electricity lost to AC charging that you pay for but never reaches the battery — we include it; most calculators don't.
When does the BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric) win?
At 12,000 mi/yr the BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric) is already the cheaper car — drive more or keep it longer and its lead only grows.
The BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric) finishes ahead, but only by $4,906 (about 5%): a lead that lives inside our default assumptions, so test it against your own miles and rates.
What decides the BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric) vs Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ (electric) verdict
The single biggest mover is depreciation: $46,970 on the BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric) against $51,681 on the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ (electric), a $4,711 gap in the BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric)'s favor — the largest slice of the $4,906 verdict. On the BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric), depreciation alone is 51% of its $92,081 total; on the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ (electric) it is 53% of $96,987.
- Insurance: BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric) $22,855, Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ (electric) $19,500 — $3,355 the other way, to the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ (electric).
- Maintenance: BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric) $3,480, Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ (electric) $5,400 — $1,920 more in the BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric)'s favor.
- Financing interest: BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric) $12,055, Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ (electric) $13,522 — $1,467 more in the BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric)'s favor.
Insurance is the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ (electric)'s strong suit: $3,355 back, 68% of the BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric)'s lead — just not enough to turn it. At the dealer the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ (electric) starts $7,800 behind the BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric); running costs claw back $2,894 of that, but the BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric) still ends $4,906 ahead. The BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric) is ahead from the first year — $2,146 after year 1 — and finishes year 5 with the full $4,906 lead; the cumulative lines never cross.
BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric) vs Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ (electric), side by side
BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric)
- 5-yr total cost
- $92,081
- Cost / month
- $1,535
- Cost / mile
- $1.54
- MSRP
- $67,100
- Powertrain
- Electric
- Efficiency
- 35 kWh/100mi
Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ (electric)
- 5-yr total cost
- $96,987
- Cost / month
- $1,616
- Cost / mile
- $1.62
- MSRP
- $74,900
- Powertrain
- Electric
- Efficiency
- 36 kWh/100mi
- Electricity (US avg)
- 18.4¢/kWh EIA
- Gas price (US avg)
- $3.85/gal AAA
Full cost breakdowns
BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric) vs Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ (electric) by state
No state's electricity or gas prices flip this verdict at default assumptions — the BMW i5 eDrive40 (electric) is the cheaper car in all 51 states we track.