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BMW N57 vs 2.3 dCi (M9T): which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.3 dCi (M9T) carries less risk than the BMW N57: 32/100 (moderate risk) versus 87/100 (very high risk). The BMW N57 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire»; the 2.3 dCi (M9T) has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Clogged or broken EGR valve damaging the turbo».

Risk index

BMW N57

87

Very high risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

2.3 dCi (M9T)

32

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

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

11 sourcesHow we work

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.[1][2][3]

See the 4 of the BMW N57 faults

Is the 2.3 dCi (M9T) reliable?

The 2.3 dCi M9T is a van diesel with good durability if maintenance is kept up. The weak points cited are the EGR and the turbo, the injectors, and the particulate filter in urban use; the sources are mostly opinion websites.[4][5]

See the 5 of the 2.3 dCi (M9T) faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW N57 and 2.3 dCi (M9T)
BMW N572.3 dCi (M9T)
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement2,993 cm³2,300 cm³
TimingChainChain
Power204–381 hp100–180 hp
Production2008–2019[1][6]since 2010[4][5][7]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)87Very high risk32Moderate risk
Documented faults45
Of high or critical severity32
Worst severityCritical severityHigh severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire
  2. Critical severity: Rear timing chain wear
  3. High severity: Loss of thrust on twin-turbo versions due to the vacuum circuit or the actuator
  1. High severity: Clogged or broken EGR valve damaging the turbo
  2. Medium severity: Faulty injectors on the 2.3 dCi
  3. Medium severity: Diesel particulate filter (DPF) clogged in urban use
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataup to €2,300Clogged or broken EGR valve damaging the turboPublished figure[4][8]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNone
  • 2.3 dCi 100-125 hp (M9T)[5]
  • 2.3 dCi 130-145 hp (M9T)[5]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • N57D30 204-211 hp, single turbo (U0/UL, 2010-2013)[3][9]
  • N57D30 245-258 hp, single turbo (O0/O1, 2008-2019)[3][9]
  • N57D30 299-313 hp twin turbo (T0/T1, 2009-2019)[9][10]
  • 2.3 dCi 150-180 hp (M9T, some twin-turbo)[5]
  • 2.3 dCi in the Navara D23 (NP300)[11]
AvoidVersions to avoidNoneNone

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 N57

See the 10 models with the BMW N57

2.3 dCi (M9T)

Other comparisons

With the BMW N57

With the 2.3 dCi (M9T)

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.

  1. BMW N57Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  2. Motor BMW B47 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  3. 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
  4. Renault Master III 2.3 dCi 130: fiabilité, pannes et coûtsCarverif · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
  5. Fiabilité Renault Master 2.3 dCiCarverif · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
  6. BMW N57Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  7. Renault Master (tercera generación)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
  8. Fiabilité du Renault Master RT 2.3 dCi: analyse complèteCarverif · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
  9. Motor BMW N57 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  10. Motor BMW N57: problemas, modelos y qué revisarCarexam · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  11. Nissan Navara wymaga zmian systemu oczyszczania spalinAutokatalog.pl · Motoring press · published 23 August 2023 · consulted 5 October 2026 · in another language