1.3 TCe vs BMW N43/N46: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.3 TCe carries less risk than the BMW N43/N46: 36/100 (moderate risk) versus 59/100 (high risk). The 1.3 TCe has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Turbo actuator (wastegate) fault»; the BMW N43/N46 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Wear and breakage of the timing chain guides».

Risk index

1.3 TCe

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

BMW N43/N46

High risk · 1 serious fault

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

Reviewed on 27 September 202613 sources How 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 N43/N46 reliable?

The BMW N43 and N46 (2004-2012) are naturally aspirated four-cylinder engines fitted to the 1 Series E87, 3 Series E90, X1 E84 and Z4 E85/E86, among others. They have a reputation for being solid if properly maintained, but share well-known wear of the timing chain guides and tensioner, of the Valvetronic and of the VANOS valves; the direct-injection N43 adds documented failures of the injectors, ignition coils and the NOx sensor.^[4][5][6][7]

See the 4 of the BMW N43/N46 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.3 TCe and BMW N43/N46
Item	1.3 TCe	BMW N43/N46
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,332 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	109–163 hp	121–170 hp
Production	since 2018^{[3][8][9][10]}	2004–2012^{[4][5][11][12]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	36Moderate risk	59High risk
Documented faults	5	4
Of high or critical severity	2	1
Worst severity	High severity	Critical severity
Main faults	High severity: Turbo actuator (wastegate) fault High severity: Blown fuel pump fuse Medium severity: Unstable idle, juddering and stalling caused by the injectors	Critical severity: Wear and breakage of the timing chain guides Medium severity: Injector, ignition coil and NOx sensor failures (N43) Medium severity: Wear of the Valvetronic and the VANOS solenoid valves
Most expensive documented repair	up 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]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.3 TCe / 1.3 DIG-T 109-163 (H5Ht / HR13DDT / M282, first series 2018-2020)^[1]	N46B20 127-148 hp, indirect injection (2004-2007)^[6][7] N46NB20 150-170 hp, revised ECU (2006-2012)^[6][7][13] N43B16 121 hp, 1.6 litres (2007-2011)^[4][6] N43B20 121-168 hp, 2.0 litres (2007-2013)^[4][6]
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

1.3 TCe

See the 18 models with the 1.3 TCe

BMW N43/N46

Other comparisons

With the 1.3 TCe

With the BMW N43/N46

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Sources

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

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
Fiabilité moteur 1.3 TCeAuto Platinium · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Moteur H Renault-NissanWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
BMW N43Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
BMW N46Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
BMW N43: Bei diesem Benziner ist Ärger vorprogrammiertGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
BMW N46: Typische Probleme & HaltbarkeitGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Nissan HR engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Mercedes-Benz M282 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Renault Scenic Zen TCe 103 kW (140 CV) GPF (2020-2021): precio y ficha técnicakm77 · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
BMW N43Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
BMW N46Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
BMW X1 E84 – Bekannte Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · published 9 May 2023 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German