BMW B48 / B38 vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera): which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the BMW B48 / B38 carries less risk than the Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera): 24/100 (low risk) versus 55/100 (high risk). The BMW B48 / B38 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Timing chain on the early units (2014-2018), redesigned in the B48TU»; the Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera) has 5 documented serious faults, the main one being «Cracked plastic coolant pipes on the Cayenne V8».

Risk index

BMW B48 / B38

Low risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

Risk index

Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)

High risk · 5 serious faults

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

Reviewed on 9 October 202625 sources How we work

Is the BMW B48 / B38 reliable?

The BMW B48 (2.0 turbo, from 2014) and its three-cylinder sibling, the B38 (1.5), have a reputation as reliable engines within BMW's modern range: there is no serious, widespread fault on record, unlike the timing chain on the N47 diesel or the EGR fire risk on the B47. Keep an eye on the cooling circuit, the oil seals near the turbo and the VANOS, and the carbon build-up typical of direct injection; BMW revised the timing chain in 2018 (B48TU update).^[1][2][3]

See the 4 of the BMW B48 / B38 faults

Is the Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera) reliable?

There are no public failure statistics for these engines. The sources agree on three points: the plastic coolant pipes of the first Cayenne V8s, cylinder bore scoring in the naturally aspirated 4.5, and the timing chain of the VR6 V6s. On the 4.8 and the Panamera, the camshaft adjuster bolts (a 2012 workshop campaign) and leaks weigh more.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

See the 7 of the Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera) faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW B48 / B38 and Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
Item	BMW B48 / B38	Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,998 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	136–312 hp	250–570 hp
Production	since 2014^[1][12][13]	2002–2017^{[4][14][15][16]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	24Low risk	55High risk
Documented faults	4	7
Of high or critical severity	1	5
Worst severity	High severity	Critical severity
Main faults	Medium severity: Deterioration of hoses and seals in the cooling circuit, with coolant loss Medium severity: Oil leaks or seepage from seals and covers, near the turbo and the VANOS High severity: Timing chain on the early units (2014-2018), redesigned in the B48TU	High severity: Cracked plastic coolant pipes on the Cayenne V8 High severity: Timing chain stretch on the Cayenne VR6 V6 engines Critical severity: Cylinder bore scoring in the Cayenne 4.5 V8 block
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	B38 1.5 136 hp (MINI Cooper, 118i)^[2] B48 2.0 178-197 hp (120i, 220i, 320i, 520i, X1/X2/X3 20i, MINI Cooper S)^[2] B48 2.0 252-258 hp (330i, 530i, X3/X4 xDrive30i)^[2][17] B48 2.0 up to 302-312 hp, high performance (MINI John Cooper Works, BMW X1 M35i)^[2]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	None	3.2 V6 VR6 250 hp (Cayenne I, 2004-2007)^[6][7][18] 3.6 V6 VR6 FSI 290 hp (Cayenne I, 2007-2010)^[6][7][19] 3.6 V6 VR6 300 hp (Cayenne II, 2010-2017)^[18][20] 4.5 V8 S 340 hp (M48.00, Cayenne I, 2002-2007)^[4][5][6][8] 4.5 V8 Turbo 450 hp and Turbo S 521 hp (M48.50, Cayenne I, 2002-2007)^[4][5][6][8] 4.8 V8 S 385 hp and GTS 405 hp (M48.01, Cayenne I, 2007-2010)^[6][7][19] 4.8 V8 Turbo 500 hp and Turbo S 550 hp (M48.51, Cayenne I, 2007-2010)^[19][21] 4.8 V8 S 400 hp, GTS 420 hp, Turbo 500/520 hp and Turbo S 550/570 hp (Cayenne II, 2010-2017)^{[9][10][20][22]} 3.6 V6 300/310 hp (Panamera and Panamera 4, 2010-2016)^{[9][14][23][24]} 4.8 V8 S, 4S and GTS 400-440 hp (M48.20, Panamera, 2009-2016)^[9][11][24] 4.8 V8 Turbo and Turbo S 500-570 hp (M48.70, Panamera, 2009-2016)^[9][24][25]
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 B48 / B38

See the 17 models with the BMW B48 / B38

Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)

Other comparisons

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With the Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)

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Sources

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

BMW B48Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Motor BMW B48: defectos, mantenimiento y guía de compraRecambios y Accesorios BMW (blog) · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
BMW Reliability Has Changed, But the Internet Hasn't Caught UpBMWBLOG · Other source · published January 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026
Porsche Cayenne (generaciones 955/957 y 958, motores y problemas conocidos)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
Alusil (aleación de aluminio y silicio para cilindros)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
Gebrauchtwagen-Kaufberater: Was kann der Porsche Cayenne 9PA?AutoScout24 · Motoring press · published 10 January 2022 · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Porsche Cayenne I 9PA - Probleme und KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Buying, owning, improving the Porsche Cayenne 958Car Mechanics · Motoring press · published 24 September 2025 · consulted 9 October 2026
Part 573 Safety Recall Report 17V-368 (Porsche AH08, reguladores de los árboles de levas)NHTSA / Porsche Cars North America · Official body · published 21 February 2023 · consulted 9 October 2026
Amended Chronology For Recall AH08 (cronología de la campaña de los reguladores de levas)Porsche Cars North America (documento en NHTSA) · Manufacturer · published 20 July 2017 · consulted 9 October 2026
1st Gen Porsche Panamera Buyer's GuideStuttcars · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
BMW B38Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
BMW B48Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Porsche Panamera (primera generación, 970)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
Porsche-Achtzylindermotoren: historia de los V8 de PorschePorsche Newsroom · Manufacturer · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Porsche V8 engines (familia M48)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
5 BMWs That Prove the B48 Four-Cylinder Engine Is Better Than You ThinkBMWBLOG · Other source · published April 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026
Probleme mit dem Porsche Cayenne (9PA y 92A) inklusive RückrufaktionenCarWiki.de · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Fiabilité Porsche Cayenne (2002-2010): pannes et témoignagesfiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 9 October 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Porsche Cayenne 2 (2010-2017): pannes et témoignagesfiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 9 October 2026 · in French
Porsche Cayenne 4.8 500 ch 2012: moteur cassé, vis d'arbre à cames desserrée à 147.000 kmfiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · published 9 May 2018 · consulted 9 October 2026 · in French
Porsche Cayenne Coolant Pipe Failure: Causes, Symptoms, and Repair CostsForeign Automotive (taller de Ontario, Canadá) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
Fiabilité Porsche Panamera (2009-2016): pannes et témoignagesfiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 9 October 2026 · in French
970 Porsche Panamera Common ProblemsYOUCANIC · Other source · published 6 November 2024 · consulted 9 October 2026
DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 9 October 2026