Are BMW engines reliable?

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LLoydizle

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Hey everyone,

The wife and I are looking at spacious cars and we’re looking at a 2018 BMW X1 in either 18 or 20d.

I’m not really clued up on engines, but I was told that BMW makes really reliable Diesel engines. Is this statement true? If so, what makes them so reliable?

Thanks!
 
LLoydizle said:
Hey everyone,

The wife and I are looking at spacious cars and we’re looking at a 2018 BMW X1 in either 18 or 20d.

I’m not really clued up on engines, but I was told that BMW makes really reliable Diesel engines. Is this statement true? If so, what makes them so reliable?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
What makes them reliable is that they don't break.
 
Generally speaking yes they are quite reliable.

There are specific model years that usually have very specific issues when it comes to all things engine and otherwise and BMW isn’t exempt from that but don’t fare badly overall.

Research the exact engines for the exact model variant over it’s production cycle and you’ll soon find out if it’s a risk you can live with or not.

Also think further than just engines. Drivetrain is another big one that costs big money and there BMW did have some issue with the driveshafts in some of their cars, but I’m pretty sure that was like 2010 and earlier from memory.

Highly recommend buying a car like this only from a BMW dealer or only with a full dealership service history if going elsewhere.
 
2018 should be a B47D20 engine, previously N47D20 and prior to that was the unstoppable M47 4cyl and M57 6cyl engines.... those M47/M57 was the engines that gave diesel BMW's its bulletproof jacket! even tho way back there was the M51 6 cyl 325TDS which was a freakn GEM
 
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The golden rule with BMW engines is if it has more or less than 6 cylinders its not the best
For some reason BMW makes the best straight 6 in the market but everything else I wont touch and this coming from someone that owned 3 BMWs
 
Nithan15 said:
The golden rule with BMW engines is if it has more or less than 6 cylinders its not the best
For some reason BMW makes the best straight 6 in the market but everything else I wont touch and this coming from someone that owned 3 BMWs
Click to expand...
M43B19

1.9 8 valve engine, simple as can be, reliable as can be, VERY old now, think it had a 1998-2001 life span, great engine, nothing fancy, no crazy speed etc, just solid, cheap and reliable

100% with you on the 6cyl!!!! M50B25 from the E36/E39 were beasts! no fancy vanos ****
 
Most older petrol 2l BMW I see on the roads are smoking, saw an F30 just recently, mint condition but a puff of smoke now and again when it accelerate.

I don't know of any happily after stories that involves the 2l petrol engines.
 
LLoydizle said:
Hey everyone,

The wife and I are looking at spacious cars and we’re looking at a 2018 BMW X1 in either 18 or 20d.

I’m not really clued up on engines, but I was told that BMW makes really reliable Diesel engines. Is this statement true? If so, what makes them so reliable?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Huh?
 
DiabloDane said:
M43B19

1.9 8 valve engine, simple as can be, reliable as can be, VERY old now, think it had a 1998-2001 life span, great engine, nothing fancy, no crazy speed etc, just solid, cheap and reliable

100% with you on the 6cyl!!!! M50B25 from the E36/E39 were beasts! no fancy vanos ****
Click to expand...
True

I also owned a M54B22 with the double vanos - straight 6 2.2litre and I have to say it was pretty reliable. put over 300 000Kms on that engine. The usual BMW issues with leaks that required gasket changes.

Worse engine I owned was the M43 1.7 litre in a E36 316i package.
 
LLoydizle said:
Hey everyone,

The wife and I are looking at spacious cars and we’re looking at a 2018 BMW X1 in either 18 or 20d.

I’m not really clued up on engines, but I was told that BMW makes really reliable Diesel engines. Is this statement true? If so, what makes them so reliable?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
BMW, just like other car manufacturers have made some great engines, but also made some really kak engines.

The 2 things to look out for is;

1. service history - you can take the most reliable engine in the world and ruin it by not looking after it. double check that service intervals were adhered too.

2. stick to the models known to be more reliable. In this case the 2.0d would be my preferred choice in an X1. If you are looking at something bigger, consider the 3.0d in the X3
 
LLoydizle said:
Hey everyone,

The wife and I are looking at spacious cars and we’re looking at a 2018 BMW X1 in either 18 or 20d.

I’m not really clued up on engines, but I was told that BMW makes really reliable Diesel engines. Is this statement true? If so, what makes them so reliable?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Whats your budget?
Whats your usage? Daily Driver? Highway cruiser?

have you tried looking at a 3.0D variant? bigger engines work less harder than smaller engines esp on heavier vehicles therefore increasing reliability
 
the engine isnt the problem, its everything else, with a BMW,
complexity and plastic parts that fail, will ruin any engine no matter how well designed it is.

would go Toyota or Suzuki any day rather than a plastic fantastic BMW.
 
LLoydizle said:
Hey everyone,

The wife and I are looking at spacious cars and we’re looking at a 2018 BMW X1 in either 18 or 20d.

I’m not really clued up on engines, but I was told that BMW makes really reliable Diesel engines. Is this statement true? If so, what makes them so reliable?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
The X1 is not spacious at all.
 
eg2505 said:
the engine isnt the problem, its everything else, with a BMW,
complexity and plastic parts that fail, will ruin any engine no matter how well designed it is.

would go Toyota or Suzuki any day rather than a plastic fantastic BMW.
Click to expand...
As long as OP knows a really good mechanic, he should be fine.
 
eg2505 said:
the engine isnt the problem, its everything else, with a BMW,
complexity and plastic parts that fail, will ruin any engine no matter how well designed it is.

would go Toyota or Suzuki any day rather than a plastic fantastic BMW.
Click to expand...
And have it eat its own diesel injectors.
 
The current X1 is built on the same platform as the Mini Clubman so they are not the most spacious....if you want space rather look at the X3 .

My wife has the current X1 with the 2.0 turbodiesel and it is a gem of an engine. There are just 3 of us in the family so it is adequate for us but the rear storage is not the biggest either.....
 
reliable for up to 100k kms or 5y, whichever comes first, roundabout the second time the value falls considerably. the first being when you signed for it at the dealer
 
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