BMW B38 / B37 vs BMW N52 / N53: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the BMW B38 / B37 carries less risk than the BMW N52 / N53: 20/100 (low risk) versus 48/100 (moderate risk). The BMW B38 / B37 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «B38 crankshaft thrust bearing failure (units before April 2015)»; the BMW N52 / N53 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «N53 piezoelectric injector failure».

Risk index

BMW B38 / B37

Low risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

Risk index

BMW N52 / N53

Moderate 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 30 October 202617 sources How we work

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.^[1][2][3]

See the 3 of the BMW B38 / B37 faults

Is the BMW N52 / N53 reliable?

The BMW N52 (2004-2015, port injection) is considered very reliable for a BMW, with known weak points (electric water pump, oil seals, valve cover). The N53 (2007-2013, direct injection) adds piezoelectric injectors prone to failure, which make it more expensive to maintain.^[4][5][6]

See the 6 of the BMW N52 / N53 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW B38 / B37 and BMW N52 / N53
Item	BMW B38 / B37	BMW N52 / N53
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,499 cm³	2,996 cm³
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	75–231 hp	174–272 hp
Production	since 2014^[7][8][9]	2004–2015^[6][10][11]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	20Low risk	48Moderate risk
Documented faults	3	6
Of high or critical severity	1	1
Worst severity	Critical severity	High severity
Main faults	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	High severity: N53 piezoelectric injector failure Medium severity: Electric water pump and thermostat failure Medium severity: Oil leak from the oil filter housing gasket
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	up to €600Electric water pump and thermostat failurePublished figure^[12]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	B38 1.5 136-140 hp from April 2015 (B38A15 / B38B15)^[1] B37 1.5 diesel 95-116 hp (B37C15K0 / B37C15U0), up to 2017^[13] B37TÜ1 1.5 diesel 95-116 hp (from late 2017)^[14]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	B38 1.2 (B38A12, MINI One)^[8] B38 1.5 136 hp up to April 2015 (B38A15)^[1] B38K15T0 231 hp (BMW i8)^[15]	N52B25 2.5 (2004-2015)^[4][16] N52B30 3.0 (2004-2015)^[4][16] N53B25 2.5 (2007-2010)^[6][17] N53B30 3.0 (2007-2013)^[5][6][17]
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

BMW B38 / B37

See the 14 models with the BMW B38 / B37

BMW N52 / N53

See the 9 models with the BMW N52 / N53

Other comparisons

With the BMW B38 / B37

With the BMW N52 / N53

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Sources

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

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
These BMW N52 Years Have The Most ProblemsJalopnik · General press · consulted 5 October 2026
BMW N53 Engine ProblemsBMW Tuning · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Der BMW N53 Motor: Technische Daten, Probleme, Haltbarkeit & FahrzeuglisteCarWiki · Technical documentation · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
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
BMW N53Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
BMW N52Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Problemas BMW N52Total Renting · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in Spanish
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
BMW i8 (Wikipedia)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026
BMW N52 Engine ProblemsBMW Tuning · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
BMW N52 and N53 24 Valve Six Cylinder EnginesUnixnerd · Technical documentation · consulted 5 October 2026