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MotorFiable

BMW M57 vs BMW N57: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the BMW M57 carries less risk than the BMW N57: 63/100 (high risk) versus 87/100 (very high risk). The BMW M57 has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Broken intake swirl flaps»; the BMW N57 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire».

Risk index

BMW M57

63

High risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

BMW N57

87

Very high risk · 3 serious faults

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

11 sourcesHow we work

Is the BMW M57 reliable?

The BMW M57 (1998-2010) is a six-cylinder diesel with a reputation for great mechanical longevity, capable of exceeding 500,000 km when well maintained, but a good share of the versions built before 2008 -especially with an automatic gearbox- have metal swirl flaps in the intake that can break and wreck the engine; check whether the car has them and what condition they are in before buying.[1][2][3]

See the 5 of the BMW M57 faults

Is the BMW N57 reliable?

The BMW N57 (2008-2019, successor to the M57) is a six-cylinder diesel that is mechanically robust in the basics, but it shares with the N47 and B47 the EGR cooler covered by BMW's service campaign for engine fire risk, and it inherits from the N47 the timing chain at the rear of the block, with wear cases documented mainly from 200,000 km. Without a clear history of these checks, it is worth buying with some caution.[4][5][6]

See the 4 of the BMW N57 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW M57 and BMW N57
BMW M57BMW N57
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement—2,993 cm³
TimingChainChain
Power150–286 hp204–381 hp
Production1998–2010[1][7]2008–2019[4][8]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)63High risk87Very high risk
Documented faults54
Of high or critical severity23
Worst severityCritical severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: Broken intake swirl flaps
  2. High severity: Crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve failure
  3. Medium severity: Cracked exhaust manifold
  1. Critical severity: EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire
  2. Critical severity: Rear timing chain wear
  3. High severity: Loss of thrust on twin-turbo versions due to the vacuum circuit or the actuator
Most expensive documented repairup to €300Faulty air flow meter on the BMW M57 (loss of power)Published figure[9]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNoneNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • M57D25, 2.5 litres (150-197 hp, 2000-2010 depending on application)[2]
  • M57D30, first-generation 3.0 litres (177-193 hp, 1998-2006 depending on application)[2]
  • M57D30TU, first revision 3.0 litres (201-272 hp, 2001-2006)[2]
  • M57D30TU2, second revision 3.0 litres, aluminium block (204-286 hp, 2004-2010)[2]
  • N57D30 204-211 hp, single turbo (U0/UL, 2010-2013)[6][10]
  • N57D30 245-258 hp, single turbo (O0/O1, 2008-2019)[6][10]
  • N57D30 299-313 hp twin turbo (T0/T1, 2009-2019)[10][11]
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 M57

See the 10 models with the BMW M57

BMW N57

See the 10 models with the BMW N57

Other comparisons

With the BMW M57

With the BMW N57

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. BMW M57Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  2. Motor BMW M57 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  3. BMW M57D30 engine specifications, problems and reliabilityBimmerPulse · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026
  4. BMW N57Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  5. Motor BMW B47 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  6. 324.000 diésel de BMW tendrán que pasar por el taller en Europa, por un posible riesgo de incendio en la EGRDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 8 August 2018 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  7. BMW M57Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  8. BMW N57Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  9. Caudalímetro o sensor MAF: qué es, cómo funciona y cuáles son las averías más frecuentesDiariomotor · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in Spanish
  10. Motor BMW N57 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  11. Motor BMW N57: problemas, modelos y qué revisarCarexam · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish