BMW N57 vs Isuzu 2.5 / 3.0 / 1.9 Ddi: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Isuzu 2.5 / 3.0 / 1.9 Ddi carries less risk than the BMW N57: 43/100 (moderate 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 Isuzu 2.5 / 3.0 / 1.9 Ddi has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Broken teeth on the camshaft gear (2017 campaign)».

Risk index

BMW N57

Very high risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

Isuzu 2.5 / 3.0 / 1.9 Ddi

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 2 November 202614 sources How 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 Isuzu 2.5 / 3.0 / 1.9 Ddi reliable?

These are the diesels of the Isuzu D-Max: the 2.5 twin-turbo (4JK1) and the 1.9 Ddi (RZ4E) of the European range, and the 2.5 and 3.0 of the Latin American Chevrolet D-Max. Auto Express speaks of enviable reliability; what is documented is diesel in the oil of the 2.5 on short journeys, soot in the EGR and a 2017 campaign for the camshaft gear.^[4][5][6][7]

See the 3 of the Isuzu 2.5 / 3.0 / 1.9 Ddi faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW N57 and Isuzu 2.5 / 3.0 / 1.9 Ddi
Item	BMW N57	Isuzu 2.5 / 3.0 / 1.9 Ddi
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	2,993 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Gears
Power	204–381 hp	117–177 hp
Production	2008–2019^[1][8]	since 2012^{[7][9][10][11]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	87Very high risk	43Moderate risk
Documented faults	4	3
Of high or critical severity	3	2
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical severity
Main faults	Critical severity: EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire Critical severity: Rear timing chain wear High severity: Loss of thrust on twin-turbo versions due to the vacuum circuit or the actuator	Critical severity: Broken teeth on the camshaft gear (2017 campaign) High severity: Diesel in the oil and clogged particulate filter on short journeys Medium severity: EGR valve blocked by soot
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	1.9 Ddi 163 hp (RZ4E, European D-Max from 2017)^[4][7]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	N57D30 204-211 hp, single turbo (U0/UL, 2010-2013)^[3][12] N57D30 245-258 hp, single turbo (O0/O1, 2008-2019)^[3][12] N57D30 299-313 hp twin turbo (T0/T1, 2009-2019)^[12][13]	2.5 TD twin-turbo 163 hp (4JK1, European D-Max 2012-2017)^[5][7] 2.5 and 3.0 TD (4JK1 and 4JJ1, Latin American Chevrolet D-Max 2012-2020)^[6][14]
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 N57

See the 10 models with the BMW N57

Isuzu 2.5 / 3.0 / 1.9 Ddi

Other comparisons

With the BMW N57

With the Isuzu 2.5 / 3.0 / 1.9 Ddi

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

BMW N57Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Motor BMW B47 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
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
Isuzu D-Max reviewAuto Express · Motoring press · published 16 October 2026 · consulted 2 November 2026
Tips for buying a second-hand pickup: Isuzu D-MaxFarmers Weekly · Motoring press · published 17 December 2020 · consulted 2 November 2026
Isuzu MU-X & D-Max common problems and solutionsUnsealed 4X4 · Motoring press · published 12 June 2026 · consulted 2 November 2026
Isuzu D-Max: Camshaft Gear Teeth May Break (R/2017/194)Car-Recalls.co.uk (reproduce DVSA) · Other source · published 10 July 2017 · consulted 2 November 2026
BMW N57Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Isuzu D-MaxWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Isuzu D-MAX 2. Generation (2012-2017): Modelle, Technische DatenADAC Autokatalog · Technical documentation · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Isuzu D-MAX 2. Generation, 1. Facelift (2017-2020): Modelle, Technische DatenADAC Autokatalog · Technical documentation · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Motor BMW N57 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Motor BMW N57: problemas, modelos y qué revisarCarexam · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Isuzu D-Max ProblemsCarsGuide · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026