BMW B38 / B37 vs E-Tech Híbrido: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the BMW B38 / B37 carries less risk than the E-Tech Híbrido: 14/100 (low risk) versus 32/100 (moderate risk). The BMW B38 / B37 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «B38 crankshaft thrust bearing failure (units before April 2015)»; the E-Tech Híbrido has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Multi-mode gearbox failure (risk of breakage)».

Risk index

BMW B38 / B37

Low risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

Risk index

E-Tech Híbrido

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

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

Reviewed on 4 October 202617 sources How we work

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.^[1][2][3]

See the of the BMW B38 / B37 fault

Is the E-Tech Híbrido reliable?

The E-Tech combines a combustion engine (1.6 H4M naturally aspirated or 1.2 HR12 turbo) with electric motors and a multi-mode gearbox with no clutch or torque converter. Its best-documented weak point is the gearbox itself: reports from the Clio, Captur, Arkana, Austral, Duster and Jogger describe warnings of a risk of breakage, and Renault has launched two campaigns since 2020 (an electrical fault and a primary shaft seal). The 12 V battery also fails fairly often.^[4][5][6]

See the 4 of the E-Tech Híbrido faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW B38 / B37 and E-Tech Híbrido
Item	BMW B38 / B37	E-Tech Híbrido
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,499 cm³	1,598 cm³
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	75–231 hp	140–200 hp
Production	since 2014^[7][8][9]	since 2020^[4][10][11]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	14Low risk	32Moderate risk
Documented faults	1	4
Of high or critical severity	1	2
Worst severity	Critical severity	High severity
Main faults	Critical severity: B38 crankshaft thrust bearing failure (units before April 2015)	High severity: Multi-mode gearbox failure (risk of breakage) High severity: Stalling and injection warnings on the 1.2 E-Tech 200 (HR12) Medium severity: Hybrid system electrical fault with "DANGER" warning and car won't start
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	B38 1.5 136-140 hp from April 2015 (B38A15 / B38B15)^[1] B37 1.5 diesel 95-116 hp (B37C15K0 / B37C15U0), up to 2017^[12] B37TÜ1 1.5 diesel 95-116 hp (from late 2017)^[13]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	B38 1.2 (B38A12, MINI One)^[8] B38 1.5 136 hp up to April 2015 (B38A15)^[1] B38K15T0 231 hp (BMW i8)^[14]	1.6 E-Tech Full Hybrid 140-145 (H4M, 2020+)^[5][15] 1.6 E-Tech Plug-in Hybrid 160 (H4M, 2020-2023)^[16] 1.2 E-Tech Full Hybrid 200 (HR12 turbo, 2022+)^[6][17]
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

BMW B38 / B37

See the 14 models with the BMW B38 / B37

E-Tech Híbrido

See the 11 models with the E-Tech Híbrido

Other comparisons

With the BMW B38 / B37

With the E-Tech Híbrido

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Sources

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

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
Renault Clio VWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 5Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du Renault AustralFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
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
Renault Captur IIWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Renault AustralWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
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
BMW i8 (Wikipedia)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 4 October 2026
Fiabilité et pannes du Renault ArkanaFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du Renault Captur IIFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du Renault Espace 6Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French