Diesel · 2015–2023
Enter your VIN and mileage and get a plan built for your exact engine and gearbox.
All about the Renault Espace 5All about the 1.6 dCi (Renault-Nissan R9M, also Mercedes OM626) engine
The 1.6 dCi (Renault-Nissan R9M, also Mercedes OM626) engine was fitted to the Renault Espace 5 (2015–2023). In the EU that is 62.9 % of all new cars of this generation.
Versions: 1.6 160 hp, 1.6 131 hp, 1.6.
The most expensive known risk is EGR cooler or EGR pipe cracks, exhaust smell in the cabin (mainly twin-turbo): it usually appears at 60,000–200,000 km and costs €400–2,000 to fix.
✓ The faults of this engine were checked against sources (10/2026). Each item has at least two independent sources or an official recall or parts-maker technical note.
Signs: Loss of power, limp mode, underboost or overboost codes (P0299 / P0234), whistling
Fix: Check boost hoses, the vacuum or electric actuator and the pressure sensor first; free or replace the sticking vanes / turbo if the geometry is seized
Signs: Jerky acceleration, power loss, engine light with EGR codes; worse with short town trips
Fix: Check EGR position in live data; clean the valve and intake or replace the valve if it sticks
Signs: Smell of exhaust in the cabin or engine bay, ticking or hissing leak, sometimes coolant loss
Fix: Find the leak with the engine running; replace the cracked EGR cooler or pipe and check with the dealer by VIN for any campaign on the EGR pipe
Signs: DPF warning, frequent or interrupted regenerations, limp mode; mostly cars used for short trips
Fix: Check the differential pressure sensor and EGR first, then forced regeneration, cleaning or replacement; use low-ash RN0720 oil
Signs: Hard starting, rough idle, smoke, misfire, injector correction or rail pressure fault codes
Fix: Read injector corrections and do a return-flow test; replace the faulty injector(s) with new seals and code them to the ECU
Signs: Metallic rattle for a few seconds after a cold start, camshaft/crankshaft correlation codes; a jumped chain damages the valves
Fix: Keep to the oil spec and do not stretch oil intervals; at the first rattle replace the chain kit (chain, guides, tensioner, sprockets)
Signs: Oil wetting at the front of the engine or around the filter housing, drops under the car
Fix: Find the source; reseal the timing cover or replace the oil filter housing gasket
Signs: Usually none; the NOx trap loses efficiency through sulphur build-up, sometimes poorer performance
Fix: Have a Renault dealer check by VIN that the free ECU reprogramming was done
Signs: Freezes, reboots
Fix: Software update
Signs: Harsh shifts
Fix: Repair; keep oil changes at 60,000 km
Typical routine maintenance cost for 100,000 km: €2,450–6,000. Sum of the services and wear parts in the plan above (about 15,000 km a year, independent workshop), without faults.
Intervals and typical prices for the Renault Espace 5 with the 1.6 dCi (Renault-Nissan R9M, also Mercedes OM626) engine. The app gives the exact plan for your mileage.
| Item | Interval | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| DPF health check (soot / ash load)Emissions | every 20,000 km | €0–60 |
| Engine oil + oil filterEngine | every 15,000 km or every 12 months | €70–150 |
| Cabin (pollen) filterClimate | every 15,000 km or every 12 months | €15–40 |
| Brake fluidBrakes | every 24 months | €50–95 |
| A/C service (regas + desiccant)Climate | every 24 months | €70–150 |
| Air filterEngine | every 30,000 km or every 24 months | €15–45 |
| Fuel filterFuel | every 30,000 km or every 24 months | €40–110 |
| DSG/DCT oil + filterTransmission | every 60,000 km | €70–250 |
| Glow plugsEngine | every 100,000 km | €120–300 |
| Auxiliary (serpentine) beltEngine | every 120,000 km | €70–180 |
| Coolant replacementCooling | every 150,000 km or every 96 months | €70–150 |
| Timing chain inspection (listen on cold start)Engine | every 150,000 km | €0–120 |
| Front brake padsBrakes | usually at 30,000–60,000 km | €60–150 |
| Front brake discs + padsBrakes | usually at 60,000–120,000 km | €150–320 |
| Rear brake padsBrakes | usually at 50,000–90,000 km | €50–130 |
| Tyres (set of 4)Wheels | usually at 40,000–60,000 km | €320–700 |
| Wiper bladesBody | checked at service | €20–50 |
| 12V batteryElectrical | checked at service | €100–220 |
| Version | Share | Years | CO₂ | Fuel use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Diesel1,598 cm³ · 118 kW (160 hp) | 51.5 % | 2015–2021 | 120 g/km | — |
| 1.6 Diesel1,598 cm³ · 96 kW (131 hp) | 7.3 % | 2015–2023 | 116 g/km | — |
| 1.6 Diesel1,598 cm³ | 4.1 % | 2015–2017 | 119 g/km | — |
Source: European Environment Agency (EEA), monitoring of CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars, CC BY 4.0. CO₂ and fuel use are official type-approval values (WLTP from 2021), not real-world consumption.
The faults with the highest risk: EGR cooler or EGR pipe cracks, exhaust smell in the cabin (mainly twin-turbo) (60,000–200,000 km, €400–2,000); timing chain stretch (rattle on cold start) (100,000–200,000 km, €1,000–2,000); DPF clogging, failed regenerations (80,000–200,000 km, €150–1,800); injector faults (piezo injectors) (100,000–250,000 km, €400–1,600).
Chain.
5W-30 / 0W-30 · Renault RN0720 · ~5.5 L · every 15,000 km.
Nissan Qashqai (J11) 2013–2021Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W205) 2014–2021Renault Kadjar 2015–2022Renault Trafic III 2014–Opel Vivaro B 2014–2019Nissan X-Trail (T32) 2013–2022Renault Scénic III 2009–2016Renault Talisman 2015–2022Renault Scénic IV 2016–2022Renault Koleos II 2016–
Main sources for the faults of this engine:
Faults, intervals and prices are indicative and collected from public sources and owner experience; always rely on the service book and a qualified workshop. Test statistics: DVSA – Anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0. Dutch tests: RDW Open Data (CC0). Engine versions: EEA, monitoring of CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars (CC BY 4.0, DG CLIMA). Owner complaints: NHTSA ODI (public domain). Recalls: DVSA Vehicle Safety Branch Recalls Database, OGL v3.0. Brand and model names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to describe the vehicles. How we check the data →
Updated 29/10/2026