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MotorFiable

1.6 TDI vs BMW N57: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.6 TDI carries less risk than the BMW N57: 45/100 (moderate risk) versus 87/100 (very high risk). The 1.6 TDI has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Timing belt and water pump»; the BMW N57 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire».

Risk index

1.6 TDI

45

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

BMW N57

87

Very 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

14 sourcesHow we work

Is the 1.6 TDI reliable?

It depends on the generation. The EA189 (2009-2015, 75-105 hp) is one of the dieselgate engines: it needs the software update and, unlike the 2.0 TDI, an air flow stabiliser, on top of the typical EGR, particulate filter and turbo faults. The later EA288 (from 2012, 80-120 hp) is not singled out by the scandal, but it shares the need to keep an eye on the timing belt and the water pump.[1][2][3][4]

See the 5 of the 1.6 TDI faults

Is the BMW N57 reliable?

The BMW N57 (2008-2019, successor to the M57) is a six-cylinder diesel that is mechanically robust in the basics, but it shares with the N47 and B47 the EGR cooler covered by BMW's service campaign for engine fire risk, and it inherits from the N47 the timing chain at the rear of the block, with wear cases documented mainly from 200,000 km. Without a clear history of these checks, it is worth buying with some caution.[5][6][7]

See the 4 of the BMW N57 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.6 TDI and BMW N57
1.6 TDIBMW N57
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement1,598 cm³2,993 cm³
TimingTiming belt (dry)Chain
Power75–120 hp204–381 hp
Productionsince 2009[3][4][8]2008–2019[5][9]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)45Moderate risk87Very high risk
Documented faults54
Of high or critical severity23
Worst severityHigh severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. Medium severity: Manipulated emissions software (dieselgate) and air flow stabiliser
  2. High severity: Timing belt and water pump
  3. High severity: Variable-geometry turbo seized or with play
  1. Critical severity: EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire
  2. Critical severity: Rear timing chain wear
  3. High severity: Loss of thrust on twin-turbo versions due to the vacuum circuit or the actuator
Most expensive documented repairup to €3,000Clogged particulate filter (DPF)Published figure[10][11]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.6 TDI common rail EA189 (2009-2015)[1][2]
  • N57D30 204-211 hp, single turbo (U0/UL, 2010-2013)[7][13]
  • N57D30 245-258 hp, single turbo (O0/O1, 2008-2019)[7][13]
  • N57D30 299-313 hp twin turbo (T0/T1, 2009-2019)[13][14]
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

1.6 TDI

See the 26 models with the 1.6 TDI

BMW N57

See the 10 models with the BMW N57

Other comparisons

With the 1.6 TDI

With the BMW N57

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. Escándalo de emisiones contaminantes de vehículos VolkswagenWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  2. Información sobre el motor EA189Volkswagen España · Manufacturer · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  3. VW EA189Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  4. VW EA288Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  5. BMW N57Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  6. Motor BMW B47 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  7. 324.000 diésel de BMW tendrán que pasar por el taller en Europa, por un posible riesgo de incendio en la EGRDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 8 August 2018 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  8. List of Volkswagen Group diesel enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  9. BMW N57Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  10. Cuánto cuesta sustituir el filtro de partículas de un coche diéselDiariomotor · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  11. Filtro de partículas: ¿mejor limpiar o sustituir?Autofácil · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  12. Bomba de agua del coche: la avería de más de 1.500 euros que arrastra la correa de distribuciónMotor16 · Motoring press · published 21 September 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  13. Motor BMW N57 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  14. Motor BMW N57: problemas, modelos y qué revisarCarexam · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish