There are benefits and drawbacks to owning a BMW with a diesel engine, so let’s look at reliability to round out the list of additional things to think about. The 530d and 535d BMW Series 5 diesel versions include the same features that make the BMW Series 5 a popular pick with customers, but the diesel engines feature a 6-cylinder turbo diesel engine. The BMW contemporary diesel engine has a number of noteworthy benefits, as we have already mentioned.
Modern diesel engines are far better built and require less maintenance than diesel engines from the past. BMW achieved this feat once more by providing a solid diesel engine in the 530d and 535d.
Consumer Reports rates the engine’s overall reliability for the 2014 model year as “below average,” despite the fact that it may be well-built. As time went on, the 2015 and 2016 models became more dependable, achieving ratings of “above average” for the 535d model years 2015 and 2016 and “average” for the 535d model years 2015 and 2016, respectively. As a result, while you can save money on gasoline, you might also have to do more maintenance than usual, which is common for BMWs generally and not just the F10 diesels.
Therefore, if dependability is a high priority for you, the diesel possibilities might not be the ideal fit for you; instead, you might prefer to go with a commonplace petrol engine, of which BMW provides a wide range. However, if you want an engine that is strong and aggressive and reliability is not a top priority, it can be the right choice for you.
In This Article...
Which of the current BMW engines is trustworthy?
Modern BMW engines are those that made their debut in vehicles built within the last 25 years. A secondhand BMW becomes a classic the older it gets.
One dependable BMW engine, the N52 inline-6 featured in the E90 325i, 328i, and 330i, has already been covered in detail. This engine isn’t ideal, but because it isn’t turbocharged, it doesn’t have the issues of the current N54 engine. Additionally, the N52 is free of the rod-bearing problem that plagued the E90 M3.
Make sure the BMW you’re looking at has the 2009 models’ upgraded cylinder head if it has a N52 engine. According to BMW Tuning, this eliminates the oil-related valve-tick problem that frequently arises in older vehicles. Automobiles manufactured in 2008 and earlier may experience steering lock and ABS module failure.
The M54 inline-6 is another dependable contemporary BMW engine. This engine is found in the 2000–2006 E46 3 Series, as well as modern Z3 and Z4 roadsters and X3 and X5 SUVs, according to BMW Tuning. And it has a reputation for performing dependably even after traveling a great deal of distance.
Having saying that, the M54 engine isn’t entirely faultless. It includes BMW’s VANOS technology, which controls the valvetrain, just like the N52. The system’s solenoids and seals deteriorate and fail over time. The DISA valve on the intake manifold and the plastic valve cover both have a similar tendency to deteriorate.
But contemporary spare components come in better and more durable materials. Additionally, certain M54s have loose oil pump nuts, which could fall off and cause an engine to fail. However, according to BMW Tuning, most have already been better secured with Loctite.
The M44 4-cylinder engine, which can be found in the 1996-1999 BMW Z3 and E36 318ti, is the last option, according to Turner Motorsports. According to UnixNerd, the M44 is descended from the M10 4-cylinder used in the E30 3 Series and was preceded by the M42 and M40 engines.
Although the S14 engine in the M10 and E30 M3 is quite robust, according to BimmerLife, the M44 is more tolerable. Not the least of which is that it features an OBD-II port that is current. It’s also a reliable engine, according to UnixNerd, with the exception of certain age-related gasket and tubing problems.
How durable are the 2.0d engines?
On paper, these engines have a long lifespan. There are BMW enthusiasts who have logged more than 200,000 miles on 2-liter diesel-powered vehicles. According to the manufacturer, this engine has a life expectancy of roughly 140,000 kilometers. However, we must inform you that 100,000 kilometers are plenty. After this point, the engine will drain your wallet of more money than you anticipate.
With an awareness of how much it will cost to maintain the engine after a specific mileage, the longevity should be approximated. And when all is considered, owning a BMW engine is not at all recommended. However, they are doing fairly well up until the 100,000-mile mark. They get incredibly pricey after that.
Although there is nothing seriously wrong with this engine, even minor issues are quite expensive to fix. So let’s just see what issues excessive miles can cause.
Is the BMW 3.0 diesel an effective motor?
It’s an engine that’s rock-solid, incredibly fuel-efficient, and now quite affordable, but some of you didn’t know it existed until recently. The BMW 3.0L M57 inline-six diesel engine has arguably as much performance potential as a Cummins common-rail engine. It made its American debut in 2008 (as a 2009 model offered in the 335d) and came equipped with a special sequential turbo system (compounds), 265 horsepower, and 425 lb-ft of twist—numbers that would turn out to be underwhelming. These fast cars have excellent driveability and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. They can also complete the quarter mile in low-14-second intervals with their standard engines.
When the aftermarket got a hold of the M57’s I-6 architecture and robust internals, the engine’s true potential was eventually realized. The platform has demonstrated its ability to support north of 700 hp at the wheels without the need for bottom-end improvements after the platform’s issues with the emissions system and a few other weak links have been fixed. We spoke with S&S Diesel Motorsport, the common-rail gurus who create larger piezo injectors for them, and Santjer Performance, maker of the most potent 335d in the world, to get the full lowdown on what the M57 is capable of. We immediately discovered that you can create Hellcat-like power for far less than $20,000 (including the cost of the car) without even upgrading the factory transmission. And you can enjoy yourself while driving a vehicle that can achieve almost 40 mpg on the interstate.
Does BMW still produce diesel motors?
Despite the drawbacks, BMW offers a variety of diesel vehicles, introducing the 320d, X5 xDrive 35d, and 540d last year (2018). These cars have substantial benefits, particularly in the area of fuel efficiency. Despite the negative connotations associated with diesel engines, they continue to support them.
Which is better for a BMW, gasoline or diesel?
- Previously, diesel engines were also believed to be slower, noisier, and less environmentally friendly than their petrol-powered counterparts. However, when you consider the technology used in modern car construction, this is no longer the case. As part of the EfficientDynamics program, the BMW Group has recently made considerable investments in improving and optimizing its diesel engine technology.
- New turbo-diesel engine generations are posing a serious threat to their petrol counterparts, according to several automakers. They are comparable to them in terms of performance and noise levels in addition to smoothness.
- Diesels are excellent for overtaking and towing because they create strong torque (pulling power) at low speeds.
- Typically, diesel engines will get more miles per gallon than their petrol counterparts.
- Diesel drivers benefit from lower road tax bands than petrol car owners since diesels emit less CO2.
How durable are BMW diesel engines?
MINES — BMW is a leader in electrification, but it will continue to make significant investments in internal combustion engines for the foreseeable future.
At least 80% of our vehicles will have an internal combustion engine, according to the best estimate of 30 percent of electrified sales (battery-electric cars and plug-in hybrids) by 2025, according to Klaus Froelich, a board member for development at the BMW Group, who was speaking this week in Munich at the company’s NextGen event.
According to Froelich, BMW anticipates that gasoline engines will last at least 30 years and diesels at least another 20.
For another 10 to 15 years, Froelich predicted, gasoline engines will be used in places lacking recharging infrastructure, such Russia, the Middle East, and western China.
In around 10 years, the coastal region of China and major cities like Beijing and Shanghai will only be battery-electric, whereas Europe will be more open to plug-in hybrid vehicles, the CEO projected. Battery-electric vehicles won’t catch on in the United States, with sales concentrated on the West Coast and a small portion of the East Coast. In order to earn emissions credits, BMW’s sporty M subbrand may offer more potent plug-in hybrid vehicles in the United States.
Froelich claimed that “the trend to electrification is overhyped.” “In terms of the cost of battery raw materials, battery-electric vehicles are more expensive. This will continue, and as the need for these basic commodities rises, things could get worse.”
BMW will still sell internal combustion engines for a long, but their product line will substantially decrease.
The 1.5-liter, three-cylinder diesel engine will no longer be offered by the automaker. It will go because it would be too expensive to make it conform with the stricter emissions regulations in Europe. Only Europe offers the engine.
The 400-hp, six-cylinder diesel engine supplied by BMW in the 750d upper-premium automobile won’t be changed either, according to Froelich, who also noted that the engine features four turbochargers.
BMW will keep creating four- and six-cylinder diesel engines, but they will only have three turbos.
According to Froelich, “We have to invest every year to upgrade the V-12 to new emissions rules, notably in China.” And given that Rolls-Royce sells 5,000 V-12 vehicles annually across the globe, the price of these modifications is several thousand euros per vehicle.
Unexpectedly, the BMW official also revealed that the business case for keeping the V-8 gasoline engine is being developed.
According to Froelich, six-cylinder engines with plug-in hybrid applications now produce more than 500 kW (680 hp) of power and enough torque to wreck any transmission.
According to Froelich, the necessity for electrified V-8s stems from the fact that normally aspirated, non-electrified vehicles are subject to significant levies in countries like the UK and France due to their high carbon dioxide emission. More than 220 grams of CO2 are emitted every mile by the V-8 in the BMW 850i coupe.
The BMW diesel engine’s manufacturer.
A straight-six diesel engine called the BMW M21 was created by the BMW engine company in Bavaria. It is based on the M20 gasoline engine and uses swirl chamber injection. From 1983 until 1991, the Upper Austrian Steyr engine facility produced it for BMW. M51 was released in its place.