What Car? Q&A - How can you tell an engine's bhp?

Q: I'm going to view a second-hand, 2004 registered 2.2-litre diesel Nissan Primera at the weekend. I want to be sure that the engine is the 138bhp dCi and not the 126bhp di – the garage seemed uncertain. Is there any way that I will be able to tell, because I don't just want to take their word for it?
Ian Porter

A: The 126bhp di version of the car was discontinued in March 2003. Unless a dealer held on to an unregistered di example for around 10 months and then registered it in 2004, the car you're going to see is certain to be the more powerful dCi model.

In general, the surest way to tell which engine is fitted to any used car you're considering is to call the manufacturer with the vehicle identification number. They'll be able to tell you which engine was fitted on the production line.

You'll also be able to match up the engine and vehicle identification numbers with them to make sure a more powerful unit hasn't been swapped for one with a lesser rating. You should call Nissan's customer services department on 01923 899334.

Contacting the manufacturer with the vehicle and engine numbers is the best way to check you're getting the right engine. Registration documents may have information on them, but this can be incorrect and, for unscrupulous sellers, easy to forge. It's also possible that engine and/or vehicle plates can be doctored to indicate a more powerful engine than is actually fitted.