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MotorFiable

BMW B57 vs TDV6 / SDV6: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the BMW B57 carries less risk than the TDV6 / SDV6: 22/100 (low risk) versus 46/100 (moderate risk). The BMW B57 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EGR cooler leaks on the B57 (limited action on the 540d xDrive)»; the TDV6 / SDV6 has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Crankshaft breakage and spinning main bearing shells».

Risk index

BMW B57

22

Low risk · 3 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

TDV6 / SDV6

46

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

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

9 sourcesHow we work

Is the BMW B57 reliable?

The BMW B57 (2015 onwards) is the six-cylinder diesel that succeeded the N57. The sources consulted document no widespread faults: its most cited weak point is the AdBlue/SCR system, and it was left out of the big EGR campaigns that hit the N47 and N57. The timing chain is still at the back, next to the gearbox.[1][2]

See the 4 of the BMW B57 faults

Is the TDV6 / SDV6 reliable?

The Land Rover and Jaguar TDV6/SDV6 diesel V6 engines, shared with Peugeot and Citroën, have a serious documented fault: crankshaft and main bearing shells on the 3.0, and the belt-driven oil pump on the 2.7. Insist on a service history and weigh up the repair cost before buying.[3][4][5]

See the 3 of the TDV6 / SDV6 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW B57 and TDV6 / SDV6
BMW B57TDV6 / SDV6
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement2,993 cm³2,720 cm³
TimingChainWet belt (belt-in-oil)
Power265–400 hp188–302 hp
Productionsince 2015[6][7]2004–2018[8]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)22Low risk46Moderate risk
Documented faults43
Of high or critical severity32
Worst severityHigh severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. Medium severity: AdBlue/SCR system fault (NOx sensors, heater and pump)
  2. High severity: EGR cooler leaks on the B57 (limited action on the 540d xDrive)
  3. High severity: Timing chain wear on the gearbox side
  1. Critical severity: Crankshaft breakage and spinning main bearing shells
  2. Critical severity: Broken oil pump housing and timing belt jumping on the 2.7
  3. Medium severity: Turbo and pneumatic actuator failure on the 3.0 TDV6/SDV6
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataNo reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • B57D30 265 hp, single turbo (B57D30O0, 2015-2020)[1]
  • B57D30 286-340 hp, twin turbo with 48 V (B57D30O2/T2, 2020 onwards)[1]
None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • B57D30 320 hp, twin turbo (B57D30T0, 2015-2020)[1]
  • B57D30 400 hp, four turbos (B57D30S0, 2016-2020)[1]
  • 2.7 TDV6 (276DT/DT17, 2004-2010)[5][9]
  • 3.0 TDV6/SDV6 (306DT, 2009-2018)[3][4]
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

BMW B57

See the 9 models with the BMW B57

TDV6 / SDV6

See the 15 models with the TDV6 / SDV6

Other comparisons

With the BMW B57

With the TDV6 / SDV6

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. Motor BMW B57: fiabilidad y averíasDasercars · Motoring press · consulted 4 October 2026 · in Spanish
  2. Motor BMW N57: diferencias con el B57Dasercars · Motoring press · consulted 4 October 2026 · in Spanish
  3. Land Rover Discovery TDV6 engine failures making headlinesLandyOnline · Other source · published October 2015 · consulted 5 October 2026
  4. Land Rover & Jaguar SDV6/TDV6 Crankshaft RepairJLR Engines · Technical documentation · consulted 5 October 2026
  5. Land Rover 2.7 TDV6 Timing Belt Replacement GuideBudget Parts (roverparts.eu) · Technical documentation · consulted 5 October 2026
  6. BMW B57 (Wikipedia en)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026
  7. BMW B57 (Wikipedia de)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026 · in German
  8. Ford AJD-V6/PSA DT17 engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
  9. TdV6 Timing BeltLes Richmond Automotive (lrautomotive.com.au) · Technical documentation · consulted 5 October 2026