BMW N62 / N63 vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 carries less risk than the BMW N62 / N63: 14/100 (low risk) versus 54/100 (high risk). The BMW N62 / N63 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «N63 oil consumption from worn valve stem seals»; the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

BMW N62 / N63

High risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

2.0 and 2.2 16v 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 30 October 202625 sources How we work

Is the BMW N62 / N63 reliable?

The N62 (naturally aspirated V8, 2001-2010) is considered a solid engine, with the coolant hoses and valve stem seals as points to watch. The N63 (twin-turbo V8, since 2008) has a worse reputation: oil consumption from the seals, the timing chain and coolant loss; the post-July 2013 N63TU is considered more reliable.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

See the 6 of the BMW N62 / N63 faults

Is the 2.0 and 2.2 16v 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.^{[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]}

See the of the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 fault

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW N62 / N63 and 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
Item	BMW N62 / N63	2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	—	—
Timing	Chain	Timing belt (dry)
Power	272–450 hp	135–177 hp
Production	since 2001^{[3][14][15][16]}	1999–2010^{[6][8][17][18]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	54High risk	14Low risk
Documented faults	6	1
Of high or critical severity	3	0
Worst severity	Critical severity	Medium severity
Main faults	High severity: N63 oil consumption from worn valve stem seals Critical severity: N63 timing chain stretch and guide breakage Critical severity: Additional turbo coolant pump with a risk of short circuit and fire	Medium severity: Faulty ignition coils
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	N62B48TU 4.8 naturally aspirated 355-367 hp (550i, 650i, 750i, X5 4.8i; 2005-2010)^[2][4]	2.0 16v 136 hp (EW10J4, RFN/RFR, 1999-2005)^{[6][7][9][10][19][20]} 2.0 16v VVT 140-143 hp (EW10A, RFJ, 2004-2011)^[11][12][21]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	N62B36 3.6 naturally aspirated 272 hp (735i, 2001-2005)^[1][4] N62B40 4.0 naturally aspirated 306 hp (540i and 740i, 2005-2010)^[1][5] N62B44 4.4 naturally aspirated 320-333 hp (545i, 645Ci, 745i, X5 4.4i; 2001-2006)^[1][5][22] N62B48 4.8 naturally aspirated 360 hp (X5 4.8is, 2004-2006)^[23] N63B44O1 (N63TU) 4.4 twin-turbo 450 hp (2013-2019)^[3]	2.0 16v VVT 177 hp (EW10J4S, RFK, 2003-2008)^[9][19][21] 2.0 HPi 140 hp direct injection (EW10D, RLZ, 2001-2004)^[10][12] 2.2 16v 158-163 hp (EW12J4, 3FZ/3FY, 1999-2010)^{[10][11][13][18][24]}
AvoidVersions to avoid	N63B44O0 4.4 twin-turbo 408 hp (2008-2014)^[3][25]	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 N62 / N63

See the 12 models with the BMW N62 / N63

2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

See the 13 models with the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

Other comparisons

With the BMW N62 / N63

With the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

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Sources

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

BMW 5er E60, E61 – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 26 April 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
BMW X5 E70 – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 5 January 2023 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
BMW 5er F10, F11: Typische Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
BMW 6er E63, E64 – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 5 January 2023 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
BMW 650i: Gebrauchtwagen-TestAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published 4 December 2015 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
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 N62Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
BMW N63Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
BMW N62Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 8 October 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
BMW 745i (E65): Test über 100.000 kmAUTO ZEITUNG · Motoring press · published 12 January 2018 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
BMW X5 E53 – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 4 January 2023 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 607 2000-2011 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Bmw Serie 5 (2010-2016) (252 témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French