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1.5 dCi vs BMW B47: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.5 dCi carries less risk than the BMW B47: 63/100 versus 73/100 (both high risk). The 1.5 dCi has 4 documented serious faults, the main one being «Wear and seizure of the big-end bearings»; the BMW B47 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire».

Risk index

1.5 dCi

63

High risk · 4 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

BMW B47

73

High risk · 3 serious faults

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

23 sourcesHow we work

Is the 1.5 dCi reliable?

The post-2010 1.5 dCi engines, especially the 90 hp, have a good record. The Euro 3 and Euro 4 units (2001-2010) carry serious faults: big-end bearings that can wreck the engine, a Delphi pump that fills the injection system with metal filings and, in some 105/110 hp versions, a timing belt and dual-mass flywheel that fail early.[1][2][3][4]

See the 8 of the 1.5 dCi faults

Is the BMW B47 reliable?

The BMW B47 (since 2014, successor to the N47) improves the timing chain tensioner, guides and oil supply and greatly reduces the failure rate of its predecessor, but it is not free of problems: the EGR cooler has been the subject of several BMW technical campaigns for engine fire risk since 2018, and the turbo and particulate filter need careful maintenance.[5][6][7][8]

See the 4 of the BMW B47 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.5 dCi and BMW B47
1.5 dCiBMW B47
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement1,461 cm³1,995 cm³
TimingTiming belt (dry)Chain
Power55–116 hp114–228 hp
Productionsince 2001[1][9][10][11][12][13][14]since 2014[5]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)63High risk73High risk
Documented faults84
Of high or critical severity43
Worst severityCritical severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: Wear and seizure of the big-end bearings
  2. Critical severity: Premature timing belt failure
  3. High severity: Delphi high-pressure pump that sheds filings and damages the injection
  1. Critical severity: EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire
  2. High severity: Timing chain wear (improved, but is it really at the front?)
  3. High severity: Premature turbo wear from neglected maintenance
Most expensive documented repairup to €2,000Premature dual-mass flywheel failure and clutch problemsPublished figure[15][16]up to €2,000Premature turbo wear from neglected maintenancePublished figure[7]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • 1.5 dCi Energy Euro 6 with NOx trap (90 and 110 hp, 2015-2018)[17][18][19]
  • 1.5 dCi in Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti (OM 607 / OM 608, 2012-2020)[14][20]
None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.5 dCi Euro 4 (68/70, 85/86 and 105/106 hp, 2005-2010)[1][2][3][11]
  • 1.5 dCi Euro 5 with particulate filter (75, 90, 95 and 110 hp, 2010-2015)[1][3][21]
  • 1.5 Blue dCi with SCR and AdBlue (85, 95, 100 and 115 hp, from 2018)[18][22][23]
  • B47 114-150 hp, single turbo (2014-)[6][8]
  • B47 168-190 hp, single turbo (2014-)[6][8]
  • B47 202-228 hp, twin-turbo (2015-)[6][8]
  • B47C20 (MINI Cooper D/SD and Countryman, 2014-)[5][8]
AvoidVersions to avoid
  • 1.5 dCi Euro 3 (65, 80/82 and 100 hp, 2001-2005)[1][4]
None

Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them

Cars that each one is fitted to

1.5 dCi

See the 47 models with the 1.5 dCi

BMW B47

See the 19 models with the BMW B47

Other comparisons

With the 1.5 dCi

With the BMW B47

Compare other engines

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Fiabilité du 1.5 dCiFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published 19 April 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  2. Fiabilité Renault Clio 3 : que vaut le modèle en occasion ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 26 November 2012 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  3. Maxi-fiche fiabilité : que vaut le Renault Scénic 3 en occasion ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 2 February 2016 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  4. Maxi-fiche occasion : que vaut le Renault Scénic 2 en seconde main ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 29 October 2014 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  5. BMW B47Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  6. 324.000 diésel de BMW tendrán que pasar por el taller en Europa, por un posible riesgo de incendio en la EGRDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 8 August 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  7. Motor BMW B47: problemas, modelos y qué revisarCarexam · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  8. Motor BMW B47 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  9. Renault K-Type engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  10. Moteur K RenaultWikipédia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  11. Fiabilité Renault Mégane 3 : que vaut le modèle en occasion ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 25 November 2015 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  12. Mercedes abandonne le 1.5 dCi Renault pour un moteur maison, qui émet plus de CO2 !Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 26 October 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  13. Nissan : le Qashqai reçoit un nouveau moteur dCiCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 14 September 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  14. Estos son los motores Renault que usa MercedesDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 22 December 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  15. Volante bimasa, averías y precio de sustituciónDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 3 November 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  16. Diesels : volant moteur défectueuxFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · published 17 October 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  17. Fiabilité du Renault Kadjar : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 19 November 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  18. Fiabilité du Dacia Duster 2 : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 27 April 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  19. Fiabilité du Renault Captur : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 2 March 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  20. Fiabilité des 180d / 180 CDI MercedesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  21. Fiabilité du Nissan Qashqai 2 : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 22 December 2017 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  22. Fiabilité du 1.5 Blue dCiFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published 18 May 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  23. Maxi-fiche fiabilité - Renault Clio 5 : loin d'être irréprochableCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 19 April 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French