M112 / M113 vs 1.6 THP: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the M112 / M113 carries less risk than the 1.6 THP: 32/100 (moderate risk) versus 64/100 (high risk). The M112 / M113 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Crankshaft pulley (vibration damper) failure»; the 1.6 THP has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Timing chain and tensioner stretch (turbo versions, before 2012)».

Risk index

M112 / M113

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

Risk index

1.6 THP

High risk · 2 serious faults

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

Reviewed on 8 October 202615 sources How we work

Is the M112 / M113 reliable?

The M112 (V6, 2.4 to 3.7 litres) and the M113 (V8, 4.3 to 5.5 litres) are Mercedes-Benz petrol engines from 1997 to 2011 (the V6 ends earlier, around 2006). The sources treat them as reliable if maintained: the documented faults are mainly oil leaks from the covers, the crankshaft sensor and, on some units, the crankshaft pulley.^[1][2][3]

See the 5 of the M112 / M113 faults

Is the 1.6 THP reliable?

The 1.6 THP turbo and its naturally aspirated sibling, the 1.6 VTi, make up the Prince family, developed together with BMW and also used by MINI: they do not have a reputation for reliability. Turbo versions built before 2012 carry a known problem of timing chain stretch, and the whole block shares a water pump described as fragile; the turbo versions add oil consumption and high-pressure fuel pump failures.^[4][5][6][7]

See the 5 of the 1.6 THP faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of M112 / M113 and 1.6 THP
Item	M112 / M113	1.6 THP
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	—	1,598 cm³
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	170–582 hp	120–270 hp
Production	1997–2011^[1][8][9]	2006–2018^[4][10][11]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	32Moderate risk	64High risk
Documented faults	5	5
Of high or critical severity	1	2
Worst severity	High severity	Critical severity
Main faults	High severity: Crankshaft pulley (vibration damper) failure Medium severity: Crankshaft position sensor failure Medium severity: Accessory belt tensioner pulley failure	Critical severity: Timing chain and tensioner stretch (turbo versions, before 2012) High severity: Fragile water pump and heat exchanger Medium severity: High-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure on the turbo versions
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	M112 naturally aspirated V6 2.4 to 3.7 (E24, E26, E28, E32, E37; 1997-2006)^[2][3][12] M112 E32 ML supercharged (C 32 AMG, SLK 32 AMG; 2000-2004)^[2][13] M113 naturally aspirated V8 4.3, 5.0 and 5.4 AMG (E43, E50, E55; 1997-2010)^[2][12][14] M113K supercharged V8 5.4 (AMG 55 Kompressor; 2002-2011)^[2][8]	1.6 VTi 120 / 1.6 16v (EP6/EP6C, N12/N16, naturally aspirated)^[7] 1.6 THP medium output (EP6DT/EP6DTS/EP6CDT, N14/N18; 140-190 hp)^[5][6][15] 1.6 THP high performance (EP6CDXD/EP6FDTR/EP6CDTR, John Cooper Works N14/N18; 200-270 hp)^[5][6][7]
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

M112 / M113

See the 14 models with the M112 / M113

1.6 THP

See the 16 models with the 1.6 THP

Other comparisons

With the M112 / M113

With the 1.6 THP

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Sources

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

Mercedes-Benz M112 engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Mercedes M-Klasse W163: Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · published 4 June 2023 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Mercedes E-Klasse W211, S211: Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · published 12 February 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Prince engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Distribution : les moteurs à problèmesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published April 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Moteurs essence qui consomment de l'huileFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published April 2024 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Liste des moteurs qui ont des soucis de refroidissementFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published April 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Mercedes-Benz M113 / M155 engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Mercedes-Benz M 112Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Peugeot 308Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Peugeot RCZWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Mercedes-Benz W210Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Fiabilité Mercedes SLK (1996-2004)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Motorinstandsetzung M113: Mercedes G-KlasseVÄTH Motorentechnik · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
BMW Recalls Fuel Pumps. Mini Does NotMotoringFile · Motoring press · published 27 October 2010 · consulted 27 September 2026