1.3 TCe vs BMW N62 / N63: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.3 TCe carries less risk than the BMW N62 / N63: 36/100 (moderate risk) versus 54/100 (high risk). The 1.3 TCe has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Turbo actuator (wastegate) fault»; the BMW N62 / N63 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «N63 oil consumption from worn valve stem seals».

Risk index

1.3 TCe

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

BMW N62 / N63

High risk · 3 serious faults

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

Reviewed on 8 October 202617 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 N62 / N63 reliable?

The N62 (naturally aspirated V8, 2001-2010) is considered a solid engine, with the coolant hoses and valve stem seals as points to watch. The N63 (twin-turbo V8, since 2008) has a worse reputation: oil consumption from the seals, the timing chain and coolant loss; the post-July 2013 N63TU is considered more reliable.^{[4][5][6][7][8]}

See the 6 of the BMW N62 / N63 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.3 TCe and BMW N62 / N63
Item	1.3 TCe	BMW N62 / N63
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,332 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	109–163 hp	272–450 hp
Production	since 2018^{[3][9][10][11]}	since 2001^{[6][12][13][14]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	36Moderate risk	54High risk
Documented faults	5	6
Of high or critical severity	2	3
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	High severity: N63 oil consumption from worn valve stem seals Critical severity: N63 timing chain stretch and guide breakage Critical severity: Additional turbo coolant pump with a risk of short circuit and fire
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]	N62B48TU 4.8 naturally aspirated 355-367 hp (550i, 650i, 750i, X5 4.8i; 2005-2010)^[5][7]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.3 TCe / 1.3 DIG-T 109-163 (H5Ht / HR13DDT / M282, first series 2018-2020)^[1]	N62B36 3.6 naturally aspirated 272 hp (735i, 2001-2005)^[4][7] N62B40 4.0 naturally aspirated 306 hp (540i and 740i, 2005-2010)^[4][8] N62B44 4.4 naturally aspirated 320-333 hp (545i, 645Ci, 745i, X5 4.4i; 2001-2006)^[4][8][15] N62B48 4.8 naturally aspirated 360 hp (X5 4.8is, 2004-2006)^[16] N63B44O1 (N63TU) 4.4 twin-turbo 450 hp (2013-2019)^[6]
AvoidVersions to avoid	None	N63B44O0 4.4 twin-turbo 408 hp (2008-2014)^[6][17]

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 N62 / N63

See the 12 models with the BMW N62 / N63

Other comparisons

With the 1.3 TCe

With the BMW N62 / N63

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.

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 5er E60, E61 – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 26 April 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
BMW X5 E70 – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 5 January 2023 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
BMW 5er F10, F11: Typische Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
BMW 6er E63, E64 – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 5 January 2023 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
BMW 650i: Gebrauchtwagen-TestAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published 4 December 2015 · consulted 8 October 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 N62Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
BMW N63Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
BMW N62Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
BMW 745i (E65): Test über 100.000 kmAUTO ZEITUNG · Motoring press · published 12 January 2018 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
BMW X5 E53 – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 4 January 2023 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Fiabilité Bmw Serie 5 (2010-2016) (252 témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French