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EP6DTEP6DTSEP6CDTN14N18

1.6 THP medium output (EP6DT/EP6DTS/EP6CDT, N14/N18; 140-190 hp) engine: faults and reliability

PSA/BMW 1.6 THP and 1.6 VTi (familia Prince, EP6) version

With caution

Real risk of stretching of the timing chain and tensioner on pre-2012 units, which can be checked by listening to the engine cold and reviewing the service history; it also shares the oil consumption and the high-pressure pump failures documented across the whole turbo family.[1][2][3]

Years
2006–2018
Power
140–190 hp
Faults that affect it
5
2 of high or critical severity
Cars that use it
14
in our database

15 sourcesHow we work

What changes in this version

Intermediate output step of the turbo versions, with direct injection and a turbocharger: it covers everything from the entry-level THP140/150 to the THP175/190 of the MINI Cooper S variants (N14 block and, after the 2010-2011 redesign, N18). This is the output step where the timing chain problem documented by fiches-auto.fr on units built before 2012 is concentrated.[1][4][5][6][7][8][9]

Engine codes of this version: EP6DT, EP6DTS, EP6CDT, N14, N18.

Faults of the EP6DT engine

The documented engine faults that affect this version and its years, from most to least important.

  1. 1Critical severityFrequency: CommonTimingTiming chain and tensioner stretch (turbo versions, before 2012)Yes: on the turbo versions of the 1.6 THP, built mostly before 2012, the timing chain and its tensioner wear out prematurely; if the chain jumps teeth, the engine can go out of time or seize. BMW, co-designer of the block, issued a technical bulletin on this fault in 2013.
  2. 2High severityFrequency: CommonCoolingFragile water pump and heat exchangerYes: both the naturally aspirated 1.6 VTi and the turbo 1.6 THP share, according to fiches-auto.fr, a water pump and a heat exchanger described as fragile; in the most serious cases, the resulting overheating has gone as far as damaging the cylinder head.
  3. 3Medium severityFrequency: CommonInjectionHigh-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure on the turbo versionsThe high-pressure pump that feeds the direct injection of the turbo (THP) versions can fail. MINI, which uses the same block in the Cooper S, extended the warranty on this part in 2010 to 10 years or 192,000 km for 2007-2009 models in the US, without the need for a recall.
  4. 4Medium severityFrequency: CommonLubricationOil consumption on the turbo versionsYes: oil consumption between changes is one of the defects that the French motoring press repeatedly associates with the turbo versions of the 1.6 THP, used by Peugeot, Citroën and MINI. We have not found that PSA or BMW acknowledged a specific campaign or extended warranty for this reason.
  5. 5Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalIgnitionSpark plugs and ignition coils that wear out early on the 1.6 THPOn the 1.6 THP turbo a noticeable minority of owners replace spark plugs and coils earlier than expected: fiches-auto.fr records ignition warnings in 12% of opinions on the 200 hp THP. It causes judder and the engine warning light.

Cars fitted with the EP6DT engine

Open each car to see all its faults with this engine and what to check before buying it.

Citroën

DS

  • DS DS 31.6 VTi 120 · 1.6 THP 155 · DS3 Performance THP 208 · DS3 Racing THP 2102009–2019[13]
  • DS DS 4 ITHP 155 · THP 163 · THP 2002011–2018[14]

MINI

Peugeot

Frequently asked questions

Is the EP6DT engine reliable?

Our verdict is “With caution”. Real risk of stretching of the timing chain and tensioner on pre-2012 units, which can be checked by listening to the engine cold and reviewing the service history; it also shares the oil consumption and the high-pressure pump failures documented across the whole turbo family.[1][2][3]

What faults does the EP6DT engine have?

The documented ones that affect this version, by importance: timing chain and tensioner stretch (turbo versions, before 2012) (critical severity), fragile water pump and heat exchanger (high severity), high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure on the turbo versions (medium severity), oil consumption on the turbo versions (medium severity) and spark plugs and ignition coils that wear out early on the 1.6 THP (medium severity).

Which cars use the EP6DT engine?

Peugeot 207 (2006–2014), Peugeot 308 I (2007–2013), Peugeot 308 II (2013–2021), Peugeot 3008 II (2016–2023), Peugeot 508 I (2010–2018), Peugeot RCZ (2010–2015), Citroën C4 I (2004–2010), Citroën C4 II (2010–2018), Citroën C5 II (2008–2017) and DS DS 3 (2009–2019), among 4 others.[4][5][6][7][10][11][12][13]

Are you buying a car with the EP6DT engine?

We will put you in touch with a partner only if you authorise it in the form.

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

Sources

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

  1. Distribution : les moteurs à problèmesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published April 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  2. Moteurs essence qui consomment de l'huileFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published April 2024 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  3. BMW Recalls Fuel Pumps. Mini Does NotMotoringFile · Motoring press · published 27 October 2010 · consulted 27 September 2026
  4. Prince engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  5. Peugeot 308Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  6. Citroën C4Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  7. Peugeot 508Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  8. Mini HatchWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  9. Mini CountrymanWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  10. Peugeot 207Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  11. Peugeot RCZWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  12. Citroën C5Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  13. Citroën DS3Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  14. Citroën DS4Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  15. Mini Clubman (2007)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026