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BMW N57 vs 2.2 i-CTDi: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.2 i-CTDi carries less risk than the BMW N57: 52/100 (high risk) versus 87/100 (very high risk). The BMW N57 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire»; the 2.2 i-CTDi has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Turbocharger failure».

Risk index

BMW N57

87

Very high risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

2.2 i-CTDi

52

High 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

12 sourcesHow we work

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.[1][2][3]

See the 4 of the BMW N57 faults

Is the 2.2 i-CTDi reliable?

The 2.2 i-CTDi is the diesel Honda fitted to the Civic, Accord, CR-V and FR-V in Europe between 2003 and 2011, before the i-DTEC. It uses a timing chain and common-rail injection, an architecture that generally ages well. The best-documented faults are wear of the dual-mass flywheel and clutch, and cracks in the exhaust manifold; there are also cases involving the turbo, EGR and injectors.[4][5][6][7]

See the 5 of the 2.2 i-CTDi faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW N57 and 2.2 i-CTDi
BMW N572.2 i-CTDi
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement2,993 cm³2,204 cm³
TimingChainChain
Power204–381 hp140 hp
Production2008–2019[1][8]2003–2011[4][6][9]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)87Very high risk52High risk
Documented faults45
Of high or critical severity32
Worst severityCritical severityHigh severity
Main faults
  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
  1. High severity: Turbocharger failure
  2. Medium severity: Dual-mass flywheel and clutch wear
  3. High severity: Diesel injector failure or wear
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataNo reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNoneNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • N57D30 204-211 hp, single turbo (U0/UL, 2010-2013)[3][10]
  • N57D30 245-258 hp, single turbo (O0/O1, 2008-2019)[3][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

Other comparisons

With the BMW N57

With the 2.2 i-CTDi

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 N57Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  2. Motor BMW B47 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  3. 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
  4. Honda N engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  5. Fiabilité et pannes Honda Civic (2006-2011)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  6. Avis et fiabilité Honda Accord (2003-2008)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  7. Fiabilité et pannes Honda CR-V (2007-2013)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  8. BMW N57Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  9. Honda Civic (eighth generation)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  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
  12. Honda Civic 8 – Alle bekannten Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German