2.0 TSI / TFSI vs BMW B38 / B37: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the BMW B38 / B37 carries less risk than the 2.0 TSI / TFSI: 20/100 (low risk) versus 54/100 (high risk). The 2.0 TSI / TFSI has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «High oil consumption»; the BMW B38 / B37 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «B38 crankshaft thrust bearing failure (units before April 2015)».

Risk index

2.0 TSI / TFSI

High risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

BMW B38 / B37

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

Reviewed on 30 October 202618 sources How we work

Is the 2.0 TSI / TFSI reliable?

It depends above all on the generation. The earliest units (2008-2012, without Valvelift) have more oil consumption complaints and somewhat more chain and tensioner wear; from 2012 the Valvelift design reduced oil consumption but kept carbon build-up on the intake valves as a weak point until, around 2016, supplementary indirect injection was added. The thermostat housing with the integrated water pump leaks coolant in several generations.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

See the 5 of the 2.0 TSI / TFSI 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.^[6][7][8]

See the 3 of the BMW B38 / B37 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 2.0 TSI / TFSI and BMW B38 / B37
Item	2.0 TSI / TFSI	BMW B38 / B37
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,984 cm³	1,499 cm³
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	170–320 hp	75–231 hp
Production	since 2008^[1][9]	since 2014^[10][11][12]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	54High risk	20Low risk
Documented faults	5	3
Of high or critical severity	2	1
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical severity
Main faults	High severity: High oil consumption Critical severity: Timing chain and tensioner wear Medium severity: Carbon build-up on the intake valves	Critical severity: B38 crankshaft thrust bearing failure (units before April 2015) Medium severity: Coolant leaks and water pump or thermostat failure on the B38 Low severity: Carbon build-up on the B38's intake valves and injectors
Most expensive documented repair	up to €4,000High oil consumptionPublished figure^[13]	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	2.0 TSI/TFSI Gen 3B / evo, with added indirect injection (2016 onwards, 190-320 hp)^[1][5][14]	B38 1.5 136-140 hp from April 2015 (B38A15 / B38B15)^[6] B37 1.5 diesel 95-116 hp (B37C15K0 / B37C15U0), up to 2017^[15] B37TÜ1 1.5 diesel 95-116 hp (from late 2017)^[16]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.0 TSI/TFSI Gen 1, without Valvelift (2008-2012, 170-220 hp)^{[2][3][14][17]} 2.0 TSI/TFSI Gen 2/3, with Valvelift and direct injection only (2012-2016, 180-230 hp)^[2][3][14]	B38 1.2 (B38A12, MINI One)^[11] B38 1.5 136 hp up to April 2015 (B38A15)^[6] B38K15T0 231 hp (BMW i8)^[18]
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

2.0 TSI / TFSI

See the 43 models with the 2.0 TSI / TFSI

BMW B38 / B37

See the 16 models with the BMW B38 / B37

Other comparisons

With the 2.0 TSI / TFSI

With the BMW B38 / B37

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Sources

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

Volkswagen EA888 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Fiabilité Volkswagen (datos de propietarios por modelo)fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Audi (datos de propietarios por modelo)fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Motores TFSI: características, ventajas e inconvenientesAutofácil · Motoring press · published 18 May 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Motor 2.0 TFSI 190 CV (ficha técnica)km77 · Technical documentation · published 13 May 2015 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
BMW Dreizylinder: Dauertest-Probleme des B38 behoben?BimmerToday · Motoring press · published 5 October 2017 · consulted 4 October 2026 · in German
2024: BMW recall due to EGR coolers extended againcar-recalls.eu · Motoring press · published 28 March 2024 · consulted 4 October 2026
BMW diésel Europa: llamada a revisión por el EGR y riesgo de incendioDiariomotor · Motoring press · consulted 4 October 2026 · in Spanish
Audi TTWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
BMW B38 (Wikipedia)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026
BMW B38 (Wikipedia, alemán)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026 · in German
BMW B37 (Wikipedia)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026
Tu coche quema aceite: 6 señales de alarma y la solución definitiva para salvar tu motorAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 19 June 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Témoignages fiabilité Audifiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
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
BMW Baukasten-Diesel: Mehr Infos zur TÜ1 für B47 und B37BimmerToday · Motoring press · published 20 November 2017 · consulted 4 October 2026 · in German
Témoignages fiabilité Volkswagenfiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
BMW i8 (Wikipedia)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026