BMW N57 vs 1.5 D (TUD5): which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.5 D (TUD5) carries less risk than the BMW N57: 19/100 (low 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 1.5 D (TUD5) has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

BMW N57

Very high risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

1.5 D (TUD5)

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 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 1.5 D (TUD5) reliable?

A small indirect-injection diesel, slow but simple, with a good reputation for durability once its early problems are behind it. Its documented weak point is the cylinder head gasket, with oil leaks that PSA corrected in stages between 1995 and 1998; other issues (high idle, pump leaks, glow plug connector) are occasional.^[4][5][6]

See the 3 of the 1.5 D (TUD5) faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW N57 and 1.5 D (TUD5)
Item	BMW N57	1.5 D (TUD5)
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	2,993 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Timing belt (dry)
Power	204–381 hp	50–58 hp
Production	2008–2019^[1][7]	1988–2004^[8][9][10]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	87Very high risk	19Low risk
Documented faults	4	3
Of high or critical severity	3	0
Worst severity	Critical severity	Medium 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	Medium severity: Oil leaks from the cylinder head gasket and crankshaft seal Medium severity: Injection pump: high idle and leaks Low severity: Glow plug faults: corroded connector and glow plugs
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	N57D30 204-211 hp, single turbo (U0/UL, 2010-2013)^[3][11] N57D30 245-258 hp, single turbo (O0/O1, 2008-2019)^[3][11] N57D30 299-313 hp twin turbo (T0/T1, 2009-2019)^[11][12]	1.4 D 50 hp (TUD3Y, 1993-1994 on the 106)^[4][6] 1.5 D 54-58 hp (TUD5: VJZ, VJY and VJX, 1994-2003)^[4][13][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

1.5 D (TUD5)

Other comparisons

With the BMW N57

With the 1.5 D (TUD5)

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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
Peugeot 106: fiche fiabilitéCaradisiac · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
Citroën Saxo: fiche fiabilitéCaradisiac · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
Quelle citadine d'occasion choisir ?L'argus · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
BMW N57Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
PSA TUD engineWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Peugeot 106Wikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Peugeot 106 1.5 D 58 ch: fiabilité du moteurFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
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
Fiabilité Peugeot 106: pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Citroën Saxo: pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French