2.0 TDI vs BMW N57: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.0 TDI carries less risk than the BMW N57: 48/100 (moderate risk) versus 87/100 (very high risk). The 2.0 TDI has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Oil pump failure on the pumpe-düse 2.0 TDI»; the BMW N57 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire».

Risk index

2.0 TDI

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

BMW N57

Very high risk · 3 serious faults

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

Reviewed on 27 September 202621 sources How we work

Is the 2.0 TDI reliable?

It depends on the generation. The EA189 (2008-2015) is the dieselgate engine: it needed a software update and has a record of EGR, particulate filter, turbo and injection faults. The earlier pumpe-düse (unit injector) engine has oil pump failures, and on the EA288 and EA288 evo (from 2012) the known faults are minor: coolant leaks and the odd AdBlue tank.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

See the 7 of the 2.0 TDI faults

Is the BMW N57 reliable?

The BMW N57 (2008-2019, successor to the M57) is a six-cylinder diesel that is mechanically robust in the basics, but it shares with the N47 and B47 the EGR cooler covered by BMW's service campaign for engine fire risk, and it inherits from the N47 the timing chain at the rear of the block, with wear cases documented mainly from 200,000 km. Without a clear history of these checks, it is worth buying with some caution.^[7][8][9]

See the 4 of the BMW N57 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 2.0 TDI and BMW N57
Item	2.0 TDI	BMW N57
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,968 cm³	2,993 cm³
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Chain
Power	84–240 hp	204–381 hp
Production	since 2003^{[1][10][11][12][13]}	2008–2019^[7][14]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	48Moderate risk	87Very high risk
Documented faults	7	4
Of high or critical severity	3	3
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Oil pump failure on the pumpe-düse 2.0 TDI Medium severity: Manipulated emissions software (dieselgate) and the subsequent update High severity: High-pressure pump, injectors and diesel leaks on the EA189	Critical severity: EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire Critical severity: Rear timing chain wear High severity: Loss of thrust on twin-turbo versions due to the vacuum circuit or the actuator
Most expensive documented repair	up to €3,000Clogged particulate filter or faulty pressure sensorPublished figure^[3][15][16]	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	2.0 TDI EA288 (from 2012)^[5] 2.0 TDI EA288 evo (from 2019)^[6]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.0 TDI pumpe-düse unit injector (EA188, 2003-2010)^[4][17] 2.0 TDI common rail EA189 (2008-2015)^[3][18][19]	N57D30 204-211 hp, single turbo (U0/UL, 2010-2013)^[9][20] N57D30 245-258 hp, single turbo (O0/O1, 2008-2019)^[9][20] N57D30 299-313 hp twin turbo (T0/T1, 2009-2019)^[20][21]
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

2.0 TDI

See the 41 models with the 2.0 TDI

BMW N57

See the 10 models with the BMW N57

Other comparisons

With the 2.0 TDI

With the BMW N57

Compare other engines

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Sources

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

VW EA189Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
Un Volkswagen Tiguan en occasion : les meilleures versions par budget, et la fiabilitéCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 1 April 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Maxi-fiche fiabilité - Audi A4 (2007-2015) : belle, mais capricieuseCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 1 April 2023 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Audi A6 III (2004-2011) : la fiche express fiabilité de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 4 July 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité de l'Audi A3 (3e génération) : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 19 December 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Maxi-fiche fiabilité - Volkswagen Golf VIII : du genre agaçanteCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 5 April 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
BMW N57Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Motor BMW B47 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
324.000 diésel de BMW tendrán que pasar por el taller en Europa, por un posible riesgo de incendio en la EGRDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 8 August 2018 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
VW EA288Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
VW EA188Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
List of Volkswagen Group diesel enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Three world premieres: Volkswagen presents progressive hybrid, natural gas and diesel systems at the Vienna Motor SymposiumVolkswagen Newsroom · Manufacturer · published 27 April 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026
BMW N57Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Filtro de partículas: ¿mejor limpiar o sustituir?Autofácil · Motoring press · published 7 April 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Cuánto cuesta sustituir el filtro de partículas de un coche diéselDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 17 January 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
VW/Audi 2.0 TDI PD EA188 Engine Specs, Problems, Reliability, Oil, InfoMotorReviewer · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Información sobre el motor EA189Volkswagen España · Manufacturer · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Used Skoda Yeti reviewAuto Express · Motoring press · published 15 June 2016 · consulted 26 September 2026
Motor BMW N57 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Motor BMW N57: problemas, modelos y qué revisarCarexam · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish