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1.4/1.6 VTi engine: faults and reliability

PSA/BMW 1.4 VTi and 1.6 VTi atmosféricos (familia Prince, EP3/EP6) · Peugeot, Citroën, DS and MINI

The 1.4 VTi and 1.6 VTi are the naturally aspirated versions of the Prince family, developed by PSA together with BMW and also used by MINI. They do not have a reputation for particular reliability: fiches-auto.fr documents frequent oil consumption in both displacements and a fragile water pump, later inherited by the turbocharged 1.6 THP; according to a German garage, the timing chain can also wear in any version, although the most reported cases are on the turbo engine.[1][2][3]

Risk index
52
High risk · what it is
Documented faults
3
2 of high or critical severity
Timing
Chain
Technical data[4]
Production
2006–2015
10 models on this site

11 sourcesHow we work

Which 1.4/1.6 VTi versions should you buy?

Our verdict for each version, based on the documented faults.

  • 1.4 16v / VTi (EP3, N12; 90-98 hp)

    2004–2015 · 90–98 hp · EP3, N12

    With caution

    It shares with the rest of the Prince family the risk of timing chain and tensioner wear flagged by a specialist German garage, and fiches-auto.fr documents frequent oil consumption in this displacement; however, it does not inherit the problems specific to the direct injection of the turbo versions.[1][3]

  • 1.6 16v / VTi (EP6/EP6C, N12/N16; 118-121 hp)

    2007–2015 · 118–121 hp · EP6, EP6C, N12, N16

    With caution

    It shares with the rest of the Prince family the risk of timing chain and tensioner wear flagged by a specialist German garage, and fiches-auto.fr documents both frequent oil consumption and a fragile water pump and heat exchanger, shared with MINI and with the turbocharged 1.6 THP.[1][2][3]

Buy: No known serious faults, or they have already been corrected, in this version. With caution: Worth buying if something specific is verified: history, a replaced part or a completed campaign. Avoid: High risk of a serious fault that is hard to check for or prevent.

Known faults of the 1.4/1.6 VTi

Sorted from most to least important (severity × frequency).

  1. 1High severityFrequency: CommonCoolingFragile water pump (and expansion tank or heat exchanger, depending on displacement)Yes: fiches-auto.fr describes a fragile water pump in both the 1.4 VTi (with an expansion tank prone to leaks) and the 1.6 VTi (with the heat exchanger), a cooling problem that the turbocharged 1.6 THP inherits from this naturally aspirated version.
  2. 2Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalTimingWear of the timing chain and tensionerYes, although with fewer documented cases than on the turbocharged 1.6 THP: a German garage says the timing chain and its tensioner can wear in any version of the Prince family, including the naturally aspirated one, although the most reported cases in forums are on the turbo engine.
  3. 3Medium severityFrequency: CommonLubricationOil consumption on the 1.4 and 1.6 VTi versionsYes: fiches-auto.fr documents frequent oil consumption in both the 1.4 VTi (93 of 245 reports) and the 1.6 VTi (173 of 533 reports). We have not found that PSA or BMW have acknowledged a specific campaign or extended warranty for this reason.

Severity colours: low, medium, high, critical. How we rate them

By part

Compare each fault with the same part on other engines: symptoms, cost and affected models.

Symptoms of these faults

What the 1.4/1.6 VTi is

The agreement between PSA Peugeot Citroën and BMW to jointly develop a family of four-cylinder petrol engines, known as "Prince", was announced on 23 July 2002; the first engines were built from 2006. PSA produces the components at its Douvrin plant (France), while BMW and MINI assemble their own versions at Hams Hall (United Kingdom).[4]

The 1.4 VTi (code EP3, 1,397 cc) and 1.6 VTi (code EP6/EP6C, 1,598 cc) are the naturally aspirated versions of the Prince family, with indirect multipoint injection, variable valve timing and a timing chain. The 1.4 VTi produces around 90-98 hp depending on market and model; the 1.6 VTi reaches 120-121 hp, with up to 160 Nm of torque at 4,250 rpm. They are mechanically simpler than the turbocharged, direct-injection 1.6 THP, with which they share the block and family.[4]

They were fitted to a wide range of Peugeot, Citroën, DS and MINI models between 2006 and 2015: among others, the 207, 308, 3008, 208 and 2008 at Peugeot; the C3, C3 Picasso, C4 and DS3 at Citroën/DS; and the One and Cooper of the second-generation MINI (R56) at MINI, with the internal codes N12 (2007-2010) and N16 (2011-2013).[4][5]

Because it shares a family with the turbocharged 1.6 THP, the 1.4/1.6 VTi inherits some of its cooling weaknesses, although its simpler design, with no turbo or direct injection, spares it the problems specific to the direct injection of the turbo versions, such as high-pressure fuel pump failure; according to a German garage specialising in used cars, carbon build-up on the injectors does not affect these naturally aspirated versions either, for the same reason.[2][3]

Manufacturer
PSA (Peugeot Citroën) / BMW
Family
Prince (EP3/EP6)
Fuel
Petrol
Displacement
—
Cylinders
4
Fuel system
Naturally aspirated
Injection
Indirect injection
Timing
Chain
Power
90–121 hp
Peak torque
160 Nm
Production
2006–2015
Makes
Peugeot, Citroën, DS and MINI

Technical data[4]

What changed between versions

  1. 2004–2015

    1.4 16v / VTi (EP3, N12; 90-98 hp)

    Naturally aspirated 1.4-litre version, with indirect multipoint injection and variable valve timing; it was sold as the "1.4 16v" and, later, as the "1.4 VTi", with outputs of 90 to 98 hp depending on model and market (90 hp in the 2004-2010 Citroën C4, 95 hp in the 2010-2014 C4 and in the Citroën C3 Picasso, 98 hp in the Peugeot 308). At MINI it powers the One (and the First in some markets) with the 1.4-litre block of the Prince family.[4][5][6]

  2. 2007–2015

    1.6 16v / VTi (EP6/EP6C, N12/N16; 118-121 hp)

    Naturally aspirated 1.6-litre version, with indirect multipoint injection, variable valve timing and up to 160 Nm of torque; it was sold as the "1.6 VTi 120" at Peugeot, Citroën and DS. BMW fits the same block in the MINI Cooper with the codes N12 (2007-2010, 118 hp/88 kW) and N16 (2011-2013, 121 hp/90 kW).[4][5][7]

Cars fitted with the 1.4/1.6 VTi

10 models sold in Europe. Open each one to see all their faults and the buying checklist.

Citroën

DS

MINI

Peugeot

Compare the 1.4/1.6 VTi

Maintenance parts for the 1.4/1.6 VTi

The parts replaced at services and when the timing belt or chain is changed, searched for this engine. Confirm the part number with the registration plate or VIN.

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Are you buying a car with the 1.4/1.6 VTi?

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Do you have a car with this engine? Tell us which faults you have had, at how many kilometres and how much you paid. Report your fault.

Sources

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

  1. Moteurs essence qui consomment de l'huileFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  2. Liste des moteurs qui ont des soucis de refroidissementFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  3. Tickende Zeitbombe: So zuverlässig ist der Prince-Motor von PSA und BMWGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  4. Prince engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  5. Mini HatchWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  6. Citroën C4Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  7. Citroën DS3Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  8. Peugeot 2008Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  9. Peugeot 308Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  10. Peugeot 3008Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  11. Citroën C3 PicassoWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish