Skip to content
MotorFiable
en

BMW B57 vs 1.6 CDTI: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the BMW B57 carries less risk than the 1.6 CDTI: 22/100 (low risk) versus 36/100 (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 1.6 CDTI has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Noise and early wear of the timing chain and its tensioner».

Risk index

BMW B57

22

Low risk · 3 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

1.6 CDTI

36

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

13 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 1.6 CDTI reliable?

The Opel/Vauxhall 1.6 CDTI (2013-2020, 95-160 hp) has no design fault acknowledged by the manufacturer, but it has built up reports of early wear of the timing chain and its tensioner, two episodes (2016 and 2018) of German investigation into a possible EGR valve shut-off, and AdBlue system faults on its Euro 6 versions.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

See the 3 of the 1.6 CDTI faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW B57 and 1.6 CDTI
BMW B571.6 CDTI
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement2,993 cm³1,598 cm³
TimingChainChain
Power265–400 hp95–160 hp
Productionsince 2015[10][11]2013–2020[3][12]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)22Low risk36Moderate risk
Documented faults43
Of high or critical severity31
Worst severityHigh severityHigh 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. High severity: Noise and early wear of the timing chain and its tensioner
  2. Medium severity: Suspected software shut-off of the EGR valve (emissions investigation)
  3. Medium severity: AdBlue (SCR) system failure on Euro 6 versions
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataup to €2,000AdBlue (SCR) system failure on Euro 6 versionsPublished figure[9][13]
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]
  • 1.6 CDTI 95 hp (B16DTE/B16DTU, 2014-2018)[7][8]
  • 1.6 CDTI 108-110 hp (B16DTL/B16DTN/B16DTU/D16DTI, 2014-2019)[8]
  • 1.6 CDTI 120-122 hp (B16DTJ/B16DTC, 2014-2018)[4][5][6]
  • 1.6 CDTI Turbo ecoFLEX 134-136 hp (B16DTH, 2013-2020)[4][8]
  • 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI ecoFLEX 150-160 hp (B16DTR/D16DTR, 2015-2019)[7][12]
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 8 models with the BMW B57

1.6 CDTI

See the 7 models with the 1.6 CDTI

Other comparisons

With the BMW B57

With the 1.6 CDTI

Compare other engines

That is the comparison you are viewing: change one of the two engines.

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. GM Medium Diesel engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  4. Opel, acusada de desconectar la válvula EGR de su modelo Zafira ¿aumentando las emisiones de NOx?Motorpasión · Motoring press · published 19 May 2016 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  5. Opel está de nuevo en el punto de mira por las emisiones con 60.000 coches afectadosMotorpasión · Motoring press · published 16 July 2018 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  6. La Fiscalía alemana registra las instalaciones de Opel en el marco de una investigación sobre emisionesMotorpasión · Motoring press · published 15 October 2018 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  7. Fiabilité Opel Astra 5 (K) - avis et pannes des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  8. Fiabilité Opel Mokka X - avis et pannes des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  9. El aditivo de AdBlue que debes usar para evitar una reparación de 2.000 euros en tu coche diéselAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 1 April 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  10. BMW B57 (Wikipedia en)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026
  11. BMW B57 (Wikipedia de)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026 · in German
  12. Opel Astra KWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  13. Twin dosing en diésel: el fallo que dispara una avería de más de 1.000 euros en el tallerMotor16 · Motoring press · published 22 September 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish