M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9 vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12 carries less risk than the M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9: 14/100 (low risk) versus 42/100 (moderate risk). The M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Failure of the plastic parts in the cooling system»; the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12 has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Risk index

1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12

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 2 November 202622 sources How we work

Is the M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9 reliable?

The M43 (1993-2002) is an 8-valve petrol four-cylinder with a timing chain that Autohints describes as one of BMW’s most durable engines of the nineties. The faults the sources cite are with ancillaries: plastic cooling parts, oil leaks from the gaskets, rough idle, ignition and, in some versions, the DISA valve.^[1][2][3]

See the 5 of the M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9 faults

Is the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12 reliable?

The EW10 (2.0) and EW12 (2.2) are naturally aspirated 16-valve petrol engines with a timing belt, which PSA fitted between 1999 and 2010 to the 206, 307, 406, 407, 607, 807, C4, C5 and C8, among others. According to owners there are no frequent internal failures: the most-cited problems are the ignition coils (the only fault also reported by the press), the exhaust and, on the 2.2, oil consumption.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

See the of the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12 fault

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9 and 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
Item	M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9	1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	—	—
Timing	Chain	Timing belt (dry)
Power	102–118 hp	116–177 hp
Production	1993–2002^[2][12][13]	1999–2010^{[4][6][14][15]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	42Moderate risk	14Low risk
Documented faults	5	1
Of high or critical severity	1	0
Worst severity	High severity	Medium severity
Main faults	High severity: Failure of the plastic parts in the cooling system Medium severity: DISA intake manifold valve with play and noise Low severity: Oil leaks from gaskets (rocker cover, front cover and crankcase breather)	Medium severity: Faulty ignition coils
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	2.0 16v 136 hp (EW10J4, RFN/RFR, 1999-2005)^{[4][5][7][8][16][17]} 2.0 16v VVT 140-143 hp (EW10A, RFJ, 2004-2011)^[9][10][18]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	M43B16, 1.6 litre (102 hp; 1993-1999)^[1][2][3] M43B18, 1.8 litre (115 hp; 1993-1999)^[1][19] M43TUB19, 1.9 litre (105 hp; 1998-2002)^[1][3][20] M43TUB19, 1.9 litre (118 hp; 1998-2002)^[1][3][20]	2.0 16v VVT 177 hp (EW10J4S, RFK, 2003-2008)^[7][16][18] 2.0 HPi 140 hp direct injection (EW10D, RLZ, 2001-2004)^[8][10] 2.2 16v 158-163 hp (EW12J4, 3FZ/3FY, 1999-2010)^{[8][9][11][15][21]} 1.8 16v 115-117 hp (EW7J4, 6FZ, 2000-2005)^[8][17] 1.8 16v 125-127 hp (EW7A, 6FY, 2005-2010)^[9][22]
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

M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9

1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12

See the 19 models with the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12

Other comparisons

With the M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9

With the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12

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.

BMW M43B18 1.8L 115hp inline-4 cylinder engineAutoHints · Technical documentation · consulted 2 November 2026
Der BMW M43 Motor: Technische Daten, Probleme, Haltbarkeit & FahrzeuglisteCarWiki.de · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
BMW M43: problemas conocidosEnginescope · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
PSA EW/DW engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Peugeot 307 Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 2 November 2022 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Peugeot 407 problems (reseña de Graham Smith)CarsGuide (Australia) · Motoring press · published 17 March 2015 · consulted 8 October 2026
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 307 2001-2008 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 406 1995-2004 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 407 2004-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C5 2001-2008 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C8 2002-2015 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
BMW M43Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
BMW M43Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Peugeot 406Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Peugeot 307 2.0 16V 140 ch: courroie de distribution (intervalo, tiempo y riesgo)Mecazen · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 206 1998-2006 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën Xsara Picasso 1999-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C4 2004-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
BMW 3 Series E36 Reliability Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before BuyingEuro Premium Parts · Technical documentation · consulted 2 November 2026
316i M43: 17 Jahre, Standhaftigkeit erhöhen (E46)BMW-Syndikat (foro) · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 607 2000-2011 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C5 2008-2017 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French