BMW B38 / B37 vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI carries less risk than the BMW B38 / B37: 7/100 versus 20/100 (both low risk). The BMW B38 / B37 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «B38 crankshaft thrust bearing failure (units before April 2015)»; the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

BMW B38 / B37

Low risk · 1 serious fault

Risk index

1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

Low risk · 0 serious faults

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 202620 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 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI reliable?

MG/SAIC's "1.5" covers two different engines: the naturally aspirated VTi-TECH (106 hp), the entry-level engine in the MG ZS, and the turbocharged T-GDI (162-170 hp), found only in the MG HS and as the petrol engine in its plug-in hybrids. Neither has well-documented engine faults in independent sources yet: the complaints published concern electronics, the automatic gearbox and finish, not the engine block.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9]}

See the 2 of the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW B38 / B37 and 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
Item	BMW B38 / B37	1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,499 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	75–231 hp	106–170 hp
Production	since 2014^[10][11][12]	since 2017^{[4][5][13][14][15]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	20Low risk	7Low risk
Documented faults	3	2
Of high or critical severity	1	0
Worst severity	Critical severity	Low 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	Low severity: Jerky or harsh automatic gearbox shifts when cold or at low speed (MG HS) Low severity: Electronic warnings and occasional sensor faults (MG HS)
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
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^[16] B37TÜ1 1.5 diesel 95-116 hp (from late 2017)^[17]	1.5 VTi-TECH naturally aspirated 106 hp (NSE / NSE Plus, from 2017)^[7]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	B38 1.2 (B38A12, MINI One)^[11] B38 1.5 136 hp up to April 2015 (B38A15)^[1] B38K15T0 231 hp (BMW i8)^[18]	1.5 T-GDI turbo 162 hp (GS61H, 2018-2024)^{[8][9][19][20]} 1.5 T-GDI turbo 170 hp (15FDE / 15FKE, from 2024)^[5]
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

1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

Other comparisons

With the BMW B38 / B37

With the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

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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
MG ZS (crossover)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
MG HSWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Essai complet : MG ZSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du MG ZSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du MG eHSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
MG HS PHEV: guía definitiva de problemas y soluciones del SUV, el híbrido enchufable más vendidoAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 10 November 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
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
MG HSWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
MG HSWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
List of General Motors enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
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
MG – Common problems (llamadas a revisión de la UE y del Reino Unido)car-recalls.eu · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
MG HS SUV (2019-2024) Exclusive 1.5T-GDI 5d: opinión de propietario (10 jun 2022)Parkers · Owners' forum · published 10 June 2022 · consulted 30 October 2026