1.2 PureTech vs BMW B38 / B37: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the BMW B38 / B37 carries less risk than the 1.2 PureTech: 14/100 (low risk) versus 96/100 (very high risk). The 1.2 PureTech has 6 documented serious faults, the main one being «Oil-bath timing belt degradation»; the BMW B38 / B37 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «B38 crankshaft thrust bearing failure (units before April 2015)».

Risk index

1.2 PureTech

Very high risk · 6 serious faults

Risk index

BMW B38 / B37

Low risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

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

Reviewed on 4 October 202625 sources How we work

Is the 1.2 PureTech reliable?

The belt-driven 1.2 PureTech (2012-2025) has a problem acknowledged by Stellantis: the oil-bath timing belt can degrade, block lubrication and, on the 2013-2018 turbos, damage the brake servo vacuum pump. The 2014-2023 turbos can also use oil. Stellantis offers 10 years or 180,000 km of cover; the chain-driven generation (from 2023) no longer uses that belt.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

See the 6 of the 1.2 PureTech faults

Is the BMW B38 / B37 reliable?

BMW and MINI's three-cylinder B38 (petrol) and B37 (diesel) have no serious, widespread documented fault. The only problem reported in the press is the crankshaft thrust bearing on early B38 units (up to April 2015), corrected by BMW. BMW's EGR campaigns affect four- and six-cylinder diesels, not the B37.^[6][7][8]

See the of the BMW B38 / B37 fault

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.2 PureTech and BMW B38 / B37
Item	1.2 PureTech	BMW B38 / B37
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,199 cm³	1,499 cm³
Timing	Wet belt (belt-in-oil)	Chain
Power	68–155 hp	75–231 hp
Production	since 2012^[9][10]	since 2014^[11][12][13]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	96Very high risk	14Low risk
Documented faults	6	1
Of high or critical severity	6	1
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Oil-bath timing belt degradation Critical severity: Loss of braking assistance from vacuum pump damage High severity: Excessive oil consumption from carbon on the piston rings or oil separator failure	Critical severity: B38 crankshaft thrust bearing failure (units before April 2015)
Most expensive documented repair	up to €1,200Oil-bath timing belt degradationPublished figure^{[2][14][15][16]}	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	B38 1.5 136-140 hp from April 2015 (B38A15 / B38B15)^[6] B37 1.5 diesel 95-116 hp (B37C15K0 / B37C15U0), up to 2017^[17] B37TÜ1 1.5 diesel 95-116 hp (from late 2017)^[18]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.2 VTi / PureTech naturally aspirated 68-83 hp (EB2, EB2F, EB2FA..., from 2012)^[1][3][19] 1.2 PureTech turbo 110 and 130 hp Euro 6.1 (EB2DT, EB2DTS, 2013-2018)^{[2][3][4][20]} 1.2 PureTech turbo 100-155 hp Euro 6.2/6.3/6d (2018-2022)^[2][4][21] 1.2 PureTech turbo 100 and 130 hp with revised belt (2022-2025)^[1][2][22] 1.2 Turbo / Hybrid third generation with chain, 100-145 hp (from 2023)^[23][24]	B38 1.2 (B38A12, MINI One)^[12] B38 1.5 136 hp up to April 2015 (B38A15)^[6] B38K15T0 231 hp (BMW i8)^[25]
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

1.2 PureTech

See the 49 models with the 1.2 PureTech

BMW B38 / B37

See the 14 models with the BMW B38 / B37

Other comparisons

With the 1.2 PureTech

With the BMW B38 / B37

Compare other engines

First engine

Second engine

That is the comparison you are viewing: change one of the two engines.

Sources

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

Stellantis ofrece medidas a los afectados por los motores PureTech tras miles de demandaskm77 · Motoring press · published 28 November 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Moteur PureTech. Stellantis généralise sa garantie de 10 ans ou 180 000 kmL'argus · Motoring press · published 26 May 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Safety Gate, alerta A12/01505/20: Peugeot 208, 308, 2008, 3008, 5008 y Partner (copia en PDF)Comisión Europea – Safety Gate · Official body · published November 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026
Fiabilité Stellantis 1.2 PureTech. De nouvelles solutions contre la consommation d'huileL'argus · Motoring press · published 23 June 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Stellantis 1.2 Puretech engine: list of belt and chain modelsItalPassion · Motoring press · published 2 February 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026
BMW Dreizylinder: Dauertest-Probleme des B38 behoben?BimmerToday · Motoring press · published 5 October 2017 · consulted 4 October 2026 · in German
2024: BMW recall due to EGR coolers extended againcar-recalls.eu · Motoring press · published 28 March 2024 · consulted 4 October 2026
BMW diésel Europa: llamada a revisión por el EGR y riesgo de incendioDiariomotor · Motoring press · consulted 4 October 2026 · in Spanish
Moteur EBWikipédia (francés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
El Peugeot 208 estrena motor Turbo 100 con distribución por cadenaDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 16 March 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
BMW B38 (Wikipedia)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026
BMW B38 (Wikipedia, alemán)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026 · in German
BMW B37 (Wikipedia)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026
1.2 PureTech: precio y cambio de correa de distribuciónAutopista · Motoring press · published 2 August 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Stellantis reacciona a los motores PureTech defectuosos: amplía la garantía de manera retroactiva a 10 añosXataka · Motoring press · published 27 March 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
La correa bañada en aceite: cámbiala cada 60.000 km y evita una avería de 3.000 eurosMotor16 · Motoring press · published 27 August 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Project one M: MINI Cooper D F56 fährt eine Million Kilometer in 12 JahrenBimmerToday · Motoring press · published 24 June 2026 · consulted 4 October 2026 · in German
BMW Baukasten-Diesel: Mehr Infos zur TÜ1 für B47 und B37BimmerToday · Motoring press · published 20 November 2017 · consulted 4 October 2026 · in German
Rappel des moteurs 1.2 Puretech 110 et 130 chFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Peugeot-Citroën-DS-Opel. Nouveau rappel de grande ampleur pour le moteur 1.2 PureTechL'argus · Motoring press · published 28 January 2023 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Peugeot, sobre los motores PureTech: «Reconocemos que hemos hecho las cosas mal»Xataka · Motoring press · published 4 June 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
10 años o 175.000 km de garantía para los modelos de Stellantis con motor PureTechAutofácil · Motoring press · published 27 March 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Confirmado: Stellantis llama a revisión a más de 200.000 coches con el motor gasolina sucesor del 1.2 PureTech: «Y también se hará en España»Motorpasión · Motoring press · published 15 July 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Fiabilité du 1.2 PuretechFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
BMW i8 (Wikipedia)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026