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1.5 dCi vs BMW B57: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the BMW B57 carries less risk than the 1.5 dCi: 22/100 (low risk) versus 63/100 (high risk). The 1.5 dCi has 4 documented serious faults, the main one being «Wear and seizure of the big-end bearings»; the BMW B57 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EGR cooler leaks on the B57 (limited action on the 540d xDrive)».

Risk index

1.5 dCi

63

High risk · 4 serious faults

Risk index

BMW B57

22

Low risk · 3 serious faults

Lower risk

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

23 sourcesHow we work

Is the 1.5 dCi reliable?

The post-2010 1.5 dCi engines, especially the 90 hp, have a good record. The Euro 3 and Euro 4 units (2001-2010) carry serious faults: big-end bearings that can wreck the engine, a Delphi pump that fills the injection system with metal filings and, in some 105/110 hp versions, a timing belt and dual-mass flywheel that fail early.[1][2][3][4]

See the 8 of the 1.5 dCi faults

Is the BMW B57 reliable?

The BMW B57 (2015 onwards) is the six-cylinder diesel that succeeded the N57. The sources consulted document no widespread faults: its most cited weak point is the AdBlue/SCR system, and it was left out of the big EGR campaigns that hit the N47 and N57. The timing chain is still at the back, next to the gearbox.[5][6]

See the 4 of the BMW B57 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.5 dCi and BMW B57
1.5 dCiBMW B57
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement1,461 cm³2,993 cm³
TimingTiming belt (dry)Chain
Power55–116 hp265–400 hp
Productionsince 2001[1][7][8][9][10][11][12]since 2015[13][14]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)63High risk22Low risk
Documented faults84
Of high or critical severity43
Worst severityCritical severityHigh severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: Wear and seizure of the big-end bearings
  2. Critical severity: Premature timing belt failure
  3. High severity: Delphi high-pressure pump that sheds filings and damages the injection
  1. Medium severity: AdBlue/SCR system fault (NOx sensors, heater and pump)
  2. High severity: EGR cooler leaks on the B57 (limited action on the 540d xDrive)
  3. High severity: Timing chain wear on the gearbox side
Most expensive documented repairup to €2,000Premature dual-mass flywheel failure and clutch problemsPublished figure[15][16]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • 1.5 dCi Energy Euro 6 with NOx trap (90 and 110 hp, 2015-2018)[17][18][19]
  • 1.5 dCi in Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti (OM 607 / OM 608, 2012-2020)[12][20]
  • B57D30 265 hp, single turbo (B57D30O0, 2015-2020)[5]
  • B57D30 286-340 hp, twin turbo with 48 V (B57D30O2/T2, 2020 onwards)[5]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.5 dCi Euro 4 (68/70, 85/86 and 105/106 hp, 2005-2010)[1][2][3][9]
  • 1.5 dCi Euro 5 with particulate filter (75, 90, 95 and 110 hp, 2010-2015)[1][3][21]
  • 1.5 Blue dCi with SCR and AdBlue (85, 95, 100 and 115 hp, from 2018)[18][22][23]
  • B57D30 320 hp, twin turbo (B57D30T0, 2015-2020)[5]
  • B57D30 400 hp, four turbos (B57D30S0, 2016-2020)[5]
AvoidVersions to avoid
  • 1.5 dCi Euro 3 (65, 80/82 and 100 hp, 2001-2005)[1][4]
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

1.5 dCi

See the 47 models with the 1.5 dCi

BMW B57

See the 9 models with the BMW B57

Other comparisons

With the 1.5 dCi

With the BMW B57

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. Fiabilité du 1.5 dCiFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published 19 April 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  2. Fiabilité Renault Clio 3 : que vaut le modèle en occasion ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 26 November 2012 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  3. Maxi-fiche fiabilité : que vaut le Renault Scénic 3 en occasion ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 2 February 2016 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  4. Maxi-fiche occasion : que vaut le Renault Scénic 2 en seconde main ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 29 October 2014 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  5. Motor BMW B57: fiabilidad y averíasDasercars · Motoring press · consulted 4 October 2026 · in Spanish
  6. Motor BMW N57: diferencias con el B57Dasercars · Motoring press · consulted 4 October 2026 · in Spanish
  7. Renault K-Type engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  8. Moteur K RenaultWikipédia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  9. Fiabilité Renault Mégane 3 : que vaut le modèle en occasion ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 25 November 2015 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  10. Mercedes abandonne le 1.5 dCi Renault pour un moteur maison, qui émet plus de CO2 !Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 26 October 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  11. Nissan : le Qashqai reçoit un nouveau moteur dCiCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 14 September 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  12. Estos son los motores Renault que usa MercedesDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 22 December 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  13. BMW B57 (Wikipedia en)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026
  14. BMW B57 (Wikipedia de)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026 · in German
  15. Volante bimasa, averías y precio de sustituciónDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 3 November 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  16. Diesels : volant moteur défectueuxFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · published 17 October 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  17. Fiabilité du Renault Kadjar : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 19 November 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  18. Fiabilité du Dacia Duster 2 : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 27 April 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  19. Fiabilité du Renault Captur : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 2 March 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  20. Fiabilité des 180d / 180 CDI MercedesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  21. Fiabilité du Nissan Qashqai 2 : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 22 December 2017 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  22. Fiabilité du 1.5 Blue dCiFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published 18 May 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  23. Maxi-fiche fiabilité - Renault Clio 5 : loin d'être irréprochableCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 19 April 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French