N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 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 N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0: 14/100 (low risk) versus 57/100 (high risk). The N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Timing chain stretch and tensioner wear»; the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12 has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0

High 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 202623 sources How we work

Is the N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 reliable?

The N42 (2001-2004, E46) and the N45 (2003-2011, 116i and 316i) are four-cylinder 16-valve petrol engines with double VANOS and a timing chain; only the N42 has Valvetronic. The most cited weakness is chain stretch caused by the tensioner, followed by oil leaks and, on the N42, Valvetronic faults.^[1][2][3]

See the 5 of the N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 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 N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 and 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
Item	N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0	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	115–143 hp	116–177 hp
Production	2001–2011^{[1][2][12][13][14][15]}	1999–2010^{[4][6][16][17]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	57High risk	14Low risk
Documented faults	5	1
Of high or critical severity	1	0
Worst severity	Critical severity	Medium severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Timing chain stretch and tensioner wear Medium severity: Oil leaks from the rocker cover and oil consumption Medium severity: Eccentric shaft sensor and Valvetronic motor faults (N42)	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][18][19]} 2.0 16v VVT 140-143 hp (EW10A, RFJ, 2004-2011)^[9][10][20]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	N42B18, 1.8 litres with Valvetronic (115 hp; 2001-2004)^[1][3] N42B20, 2.0 litres with Valvetronic (143 hp; 2001-2004)^[1][3][21] N45B16 and N45NB16, 1.6 litres without Valvetronic (116 hp; 2003-2011)^[2]	2.0 16v VVT 177 hp (EW10J4S, RFK, 2003-2008)^[7][18][20] 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][17][22]} 1.8 16v 115-117 hp (EW7J4, 6FZ, 2000-2005)^[8][19] 1.8 16v 125-127 hp (EW7A, 6FY, 2005-2010)^[9][23]
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

N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0

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 N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0

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 N42 Probleme und HaltbarkeitGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
BMW N45 Probleme und HaltbarkeitGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
BMW N42 Engine Guide: Reliability, Efficiency, Tuning, Pros and ConsBMWBlog · Motoring press · published 21 November 2025 · 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 N42Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
BMW N42Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
BMW N45Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
BMW N45Wikipedia (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
N42 2.0 Motoru: kronik sorunlarAraclo · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in another language
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