BMW N54/N55 vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD carries less risk than the BMW N54/N55: 34/100 versus 48/100 (both moderate risk). The BMW N54/N55 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «High-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure»; the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Cracked high-pressure fuel pump (Honda campaign 6YP)».

Risk index

BMW N54/N55

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Risk index

Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

Moderate risk · 2 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 30 October 202611 sources How we work

Is the BMW N54/N55 reliable?

The N54 (2006-2016) is a 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six with many documented faults: high-pressure pump, injectors and wastegates. The N55 (2009-2019) uses a single turbo and is considered simpler, although it shares oil leaks from the filter housing and the electric water pump.^[1][2][3][4]

See the 6 of the BMW N54/N55 faults

Is the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD reliable?

The Honda e:HEV hybrid system (formerly i-MMD) has no serious, widespread faults documented in the sources consulted. The most cited issue is the 12 V battery going flat when the car stands unused and, on the 2.0, a recall for the high-pressure fuel pump.^[5][6][7]

See the 3 of the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW N54/N55 and Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
Item	BMW N54/N55	Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	2,979 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	302–335 hp	109–184 hp
Production	2006–2019^[1][2]	since 2018^[5][8]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	48Moderate risk	34Moderate risk
Documented faults	6	3
Of high or critical severity	1	2
Worst severity	High severity	High severity
Main faults	High severity: High-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure Medium severity: N54 piezoelectric injector failure Medium severity: Turbo wastegate noise and failure	High severity: Cracked high-pressure fuel pump (Honda campaign 6YP) High severity: Faulty fuel pump impeller on the 2019-2020 CR-V hybrid (Honda 6FE campaign) Low severity: 12 V battery going flat and hybrid system failing to start
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	up to €25012 V battery going flat and hybrid system failing to startPublished figure^[5]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	e:HEV 1.5 (LEB-H5) 109-131 hp system output (Jazz IV, HR-V III)^[5][8]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	N54B30 302 hp (2006-2010)^[1][3][9] N54 322 hp (2008-2013)^[1][3][9] N54 335 hp (2011-2016)^[1][3][9] N55B30M0 302 hp (2009-2018)^[2][4][10] N55B30 315 hp (2011-2018)^[2][4][10] N55B30O0 322 hp (2014-2016)^[2][4][10] N55HP 335 hp (2013-2015)^[2][4][10]	i-MMD 2.0 184 hp system output (CR-V V hybrid)^[5][6] e:HEV 2.0 184 hp system output (Civic XI)^[6][11]
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

BMW N54/N55

See the 13 models with the BMW N54/N55

Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

Other comparisons

With the BMW N54/N55

With the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

Compare other engines

First engine

Second engine

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.

BMW N54Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
BMW N55Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Todo lo que necesitas saber sobre el motor BMW N54High Performance Academy · Technical documentation · consulted 5 October 2026 · in Spanish
BMW N55 Typische Probleme und HaltbarkeitGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · published 23 February 2025 · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
Sistema híbrido Honda e:HEV (i-MMD): problemas, fiabilidad y coches que lo llevanMotordex · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Spanish
Honda recalls 1.3 million cars: fuel pump fire risk (KBA 14559R)Car-Recalls.eu · Motoring press · published 17 March 2025 · consulted 29 October 2026
Fiabilité Honda HR-V (2022): pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
Honda LEB-H5 (1.5 i-MMD e:HEV): experiencias, problemas, consumo y consejos de compraAutohints · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Spanish
The Definitive Guide to the BMW N54 EngineFCP Euro · Technical documentation · consulted 5 October 2026
BMW N55 Common ProblemsBMW Tuning · Technical documentation · consulted 5 October 2026
Guide d'achat Honda Civic (nueva campaña 6YP, 4.740 híbridos en Francia)L'argus · Motoring press · published 7 January 2025 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in French