1.2 TCe vs BMW N52 / N53: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the BMW N52 / N53 carries less risk than the 1.2 TCe: 48/100 (moderate risk) versus 54/100 (high risk). The 1.2 TCe has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Excessive oil consumption and engine failure»; the BMW N52 / N53 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «N53 piezoelectric injector failure».

Risk index

1.2 TCe

High risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

BMW N52 / N53

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

Reviewed on 30 October 202617 sources How we work

Is the 1.2 TCe reliable?

Only with reservations: 1.2 TCe and 1.2 DIG-T engines built between 2012 and mid-2016 can burn a lot of oil because of poor piston ring sealing, with a risk of damaging the valves, stretching the chain or destroying the engine. Renault and Nissan dealt with it through technical notes and case-by-case assistance, without a recall; later production incorporates the fix.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

See the 2 of the 1.2 TCe faults

Is the BMW N52 / N53 reliable?

The BMW N52 (2004-2015, port injection) is considered very reliable for a BMW, with known weak points (electric water pump, oil seals, valve cover). The N53 (2007-2013, direct injection) adds piezoelectric injectors prone to failure, which make it more expensive to maintain.^[6][7][8]

See the 6 of the BMW N52 / N53 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.2 TCe and BMW N52 / N53
Item	1.2 TCe	BMW N52 / N53
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,197 cm³	2,996 cm³
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	100–130 hp	174–272 hp
Production	2012–2018^{[1][2][5][9][10]}	2004–2015^[8][11][12]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	54High risk	48Moderate risk
Documented faults	2	6
Of high or critical severity	2	1
Worst severity	Critical severity	High severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Excessive oil consumption and engine failure High severity: Timing chain stretch and breakage	High severity: N53 piezoelectric injector failure Medium severity: Electric water pump and thermostat failure Medium severity: Oil leak from the oil filter housing gasket
Most expensive documented repair	up to €10,000Excessive oil consumption and engine failurePublished figure^{[1][2][13][14]}	up to €600Electric water pump and thermostat failurePublished figure^[15]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	1.2 TCe 100-130 / 1.2 DIG-T 115 (H5Ft / HRA2DDT, built from mid-2016)^[2][5]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.2 TCe 115-130 / 1.2 DIG-T 115 (H5Ft / HRA2DDT, built up to mid-2016)^[2][3][14]	N52B25 2.5 (2004-2015)^[6][16] N52B30 3.0 (2004-2015)^[6][16] N53B25 2.5 (2007-2010)^[8][17] N53B30 3.0 (2007-2013)^[7][8][17]
AvoidVersions to avoid	None	None

Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them

Cars that each one is fitted to

1.2 TCe

See the 16 models with the 1.2 TCe

BMW N52 / N53

See the 9 models with the BMW N52 / N53

Other comparisons

With the 1.2 TCe

With the BMW N52 / N53

Compare other engines

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

Moteur 1.2 Renault - 400 000 voitures en dangerUFC-Que Choisir (Que Choisir Ensemble) · Consumer association · published 24 May 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Casse moteur Renault 1.2 TCe : 107 000 Renault concernéesL'argus · Motoring press · published 28 March 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Renault 1.2 TCe et Nissan 1.2 DIG-T : des moteurs gourmands en huileL'argus · Motoring press · published 12 October 2016 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Moteur 1.2 Renault - Les constructeurs minimisentUFC-Que Choisir (Que Choisir Ensemble) · Consumer association · published 31 July 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Moteur H Renault-NissanWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
These BMW N52 Years Have The Most ProblemsJalopnik · General press · consulted 5 October 2026
BMW N53 Engine ProblemsBMW Tuning · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Der BMW N53 Motor: Technische Daten, Probleme, Haltbarkeit & FahrzeuglisteCarWiki · Technical documentation · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
Nissan HR engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
H-Typrenaultfans.info · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
BMW N53Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
BMW N52Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Posibles fallos en algunos motores de gasolina de Renault, Dacia y NissanOCU · Consumer association · published 4 June 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Problème moteur Renault-Dacia 1.2 TCe, Nissan 1.2 DIG-T et Mercedes - Vos questions, nos réponsesUFC-Que Choisir (Que Choisir Ensemble) · Consumer association · published 24 May 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Problemas BMW N52Total Renting · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in Spanish
BMW N52 Engine ProblemsBMW Tuning · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
BMW N52 and N53 24 Valve Six Cylinder EnginesUnixnerd · Technical documentation · consulted 5 October 2026