199B1 1.3 MultiJet
The small MultiJet that GM also sold as the 1.3 CDTI, which makes it one of the most common diesels in Europe. It returns remarkable economy for the size, and the turbo and the filter both punish short journeys.
| Configuration | I4, turbocharged | Displacement | 1248 cc |
| Fuel | diesel | Injection | common rail |
| Shared components | DPF · EGR cooler · variable-vane turbo | ||
Cars using this engine
| Variant | Chassis | Body | Years | Power | Risk | Good buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 MultiJet | 312 | hatchback | 2007–2015 | 75 PS | R3 | €3,750 |
Engine and component issues
Warning light, limp mode, oil level rising above the maximum mark from fuel dilution. The filter needs sustained hot running to regenerate. A car used for short urban trips never completes a regeneration cycle.
Check: Read the DPF soot load and the distance since the last regeneration on a scan tool, and check the engine oil level and smell it for diesel. Ask what the car was used for. A short-trip city diesel is the wrong car regardless of mileage.
Sudden loss of power on a hard pull, limp mode that clears on restart, underboost or overboost codes. Soot binds the variable vanes or the actuator linkage seizes.
Check: Do a full-throttle pull in third from 1,500 rpm to the limiter. Hesitation or a drop into limp mode is this fault. Do this twice.
Coolant loss with no visible external leak, white smoke, sweet smell. The EGR cooler cracks internally and leaks coolant into the intake. BMW recalled affected diesels over a fire risk from glycol deposits igniting.
Check: Check coolant level and look for unexplained top-ups in the service history. Verify the recall was carried out. It's free and searchable by VIN.
Chassis, gearbox and body issues aren't listed here. They depend on which car the engine is fitted to. Open a variant page for the merged list.