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1.3 TCe vs BMW B38 / B37: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the BMW B38 / B37 carries less risk than the 1.3 TCe: 20/100 (low risk) versus 36/100 (moderate risk). The 1.3 TCe has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Turbo actuator (wastegate) fault»; the BMW B38 / B37 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «B38 crankshaft thrust bearing failure (units before April 2015)».

Risk index

1.3 TCe

36

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

BMW B38 / B37

20

Low 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

15 sourcesHow we work

Is the 1.3 TCe reliable?

The 1.3 TCe / 1.3 DIG-T (H5Ht at Renault and Dacia, HR13DDT at Nissan, M282 at Mercedes-Benz), developed with Daimler since 2018, has a clearly better record than its predecessor, the 1.2 TCe: no oil consumption or chain problems have been documented. It had manufacturing defects that have since been corrected (injectors, calibration, turbo, timing) and, on the Captur II and Clio V, a fuel pump fuse failure with no confirmed official fix.[1][2][3]

See the 5 of the 1.3 TCe faults

Is the BMW B38 / B37 reliable?

BMW and MINI's three-cylinder B38 (petrol) and B37 (diesel) have no serious, widespread documented fault. The only problem reported in the press is the crankshaft thrust bearing on early B38 units (up to April 2015), corrected by BMW. BMW's EGR campaigns affect four- and six-cylinder diesels, not the B37.[4][5][6]

See the 3 of the BMW B38 / B37 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.3 TCe and BMW B38 / B37
1.3 TCeBMW B38 / B37
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement1,332 cm³1,499 cm³
TimingChainChain
Power109–163 hp75–231 hp
Productionsince 2018[3][7][8][9]since 2014[10][11][12]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)36Moderate risk20Low risk
Documented faults53
Of high or critical severity21
Worst severityHigh severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. High severity: Turbo actuator (wastegate) fault
  2. High severity: Blown fuel pump fuse
  3. Medium severity: Unstable idle, juddering and stalling caused by the injectors
  1. Critical severity: B38 crankshaft thrust bearing failure (units before April 2015)
  2. Medium severity: Coolant leaks and water pump or thermostat failure on the B38
  3. Low severity: Carbon build-up on the B38's intake valves and injectors
Most expensive documented repairup to €700Turbo actuator (wastegate) faultPublished figure[1][2]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • 1.3 TCe / 1.3 DIG-T 109-163 and Mild Hybrid (H5Ht / HR13DDT / M282, corrected production from 2020)[1]
  • B38 1.5 136-140 hp from April 2015 (B38A15 / B38B15)[4]
  • B37 1.5 diesel 95-116 hp (B37C15K0 / B37C15U0), up to 2017[13]
  • B37TÜ1 1.5 diesel 95-116 hp (from late 2017)[14]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.3 TCe / 1.3 DIG-T 109-163 (H5Ht / HR13DDT / M282, first series 2018-2020)[1]
  • B38 1.2 (B38A12, MINI One)[11]
  • B38 1.5 136 hp up to April 2015 (B38A15)[4]
  • B38K15T0 231 hp (BMW i8)[15]
AvoidVersions to avoidNoneNone

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

Cars that each one is fitted to

1.3 TCe

See the 18 models with the 1.3 TCe

BMW B38 / B37

See the 16 models with the BMW B38 / B37

Other comparisons

With the 1.3 TCe

With the BMW B38 / B37

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.

  1. Renault-Dacia. Quel bilan fiabilité pour le moteur 1.3 TCe ?L'argus · Motoring press · published 5 April 2021 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  2. Fiabilité moteur 1.3 TCeAuto Platinium · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  3. Moteur H Renault-NissanWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  4. BMW Dreizylinder: Dauertest-Probleme des B38 behoben?BimmerToday · Motoring press · published 5 October 2017 · consulted 4 October 2026 · in German
  5. 2024: BMW recall due to EGR coolers extended againcar-recalls.eu · Motoring press · published 28 March 2024 · consulted 4 October 2026
  6. BMW diésel Europa: llamada a revisión por el EGR y riesgo de incendioDiariomotor · Motoring press · consulted 4 October 2026 · in Spanish
  7. Nissan HR engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  8. Mercedes-Benz M282 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  9. Renault Scenic Zen TCe 103 kW (140 CV) GPF (2020-2021): precio y ficha técnicakm77 · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  10. BMW B38 (Wikipedia)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026
  11. BMW B38 (Wikipedia, alemán)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026 · in German
  12. BMW B37 (Wikipedia)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026
  13. Project one M: MINI Cooper D F56 fährt eine Million Kilometer in 12 JahrenBimmerToday · Motoring press · published 24 June 2026 · consulted 4 October 2026 · in German
  14. BMW Baukasten-Diesel: Mehr Infos zur TÜ1 für B47 und B37BimmerToday · Motoring press · published 20 November 2017 · consulted 4 October 2026 · in German
  15. BMW i8 (Wikipedia)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026