EA111 1.2 3-cyl MPI (6V: AWY/BMD/BBM/CHFA; 12V: AZQ/BME/BZG/CGPA/CGPB/CJLB) vs 1.8 NA
Side-by-side reliability comparison
Specifications
Character
EA111 1.2 3-cyl MPI (6V: AWY/BMD/BBM/CHFA; 12V: AZQ/BME/BZG/CGPA/CGPB/CJLB)
"The small non-turbo three-cylinder petrol of the VW Polo 9N and 6R, Seat Ibiza 6L and 6J, Skoda Fabia 6Y and 5J and Roomster (2001-2015), in 6-valve (54-60 hp) and 12-valve (60-70 hp) form. Cheap to buy and to run, but rough, noisy and slow on the motorway. Its known weakness is the timing chain: the chain stretches and the tensioner can let it jump, which bends valves; German buyer guides advise avoiding it unless the chain has been renewed. Burnt valves, ignition coils and a dirty throttle body are the other common faults."
1.8 NA
"Simple 1.8-litre 8-valve petrol with single-point Mono-Motronic injection and hydraulic lifters, in the Golf III, Vento, Passat B3/B4, Polo 6N and Seat Ibiza, Cordoba and Toledo. Long-lived: an Auto Bild test car covered 261,724 km in seven years, and specialists quote about 300,000 km. Expect oil leaks from seals and the valve cover, tired lambda and coolant temperature sensors, and an unstable idle from a dirty or split throttle body. Keep the timing belt tensioned and changed on time: a slack belt can jump and wreck the engine."