BMW B47 vs BMW N47: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the BMW B47 carries less risk than the BMW N47: 73/100 (high risk) versus 87/100 (very high risk). The BMW B47 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire»; the BMW N47 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Rear timing chain stretch and breakage».

Risk index

BMW B47

High risk · 3 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

BMW N47

Very 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

Reviewed on 26 September 202616 sources How we work

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.^[1][2][3][4]

See the 4 of the BMW B47 faults

Is the BMW N47 reliable?

The BMW N47 (2007-2016, including its MINI derivatives N47C16/N47C20) is mechanically sound in the basics, but it carries a serious, well-documented design flaw: the rear timing chain wears or breaks prematurely on many units, especially those built between 2007 and 2009, with repairs from €1,500 to over €8,000 if the engine ends up damaged. Without a clear timing history, great caution is needed.^[5][6][7][8]

See the 5 of the BMW N47 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW B47 and BMW N47
Item	BMW B47	BMW N47
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,995 cm³	1,995 cm³
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	114–228 hp	90–218 hp
Production	since 2014^[1]	2007–2016^{[5][9][10][11]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	73High risk	87Very high risk
Documented faults	4	5
Of high or critical severity	3	3
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical severity
Main faults	Critical severity: EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire High severity: Timing chain wear (improved, but is it really at the front?) High severity: Premature turbo wear from neglected maintenance	Critical severity: Rear timing chain stretch and breakage Critical severity: Broken intake manifold swirl flaps High severity: Turbo and wastegate valve failure
Most expensive documented repair	up to €2,000Premature turbo wear from neglected maintenancePublished figure^[3]	up to €3,000Rear timing chain stretch and breakagePublished figure^{[12][13][14][15][16]}
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	B47 114-150 hp, single turbo (2014-)^[2][4] B47 168-190 hp, single turbo (2014-)^[2][4] B47 202-228 hp, twin-turbo (2015-)^[2][4] B47C20 (MINI Cooper D/SD and Countryman, 2014-)^[1][4]	N47D20 116 hp (K0/K1, 2007-2014)^[5][8] N47D20 143 hp (U0/U1, 2007-2014)^[5][8] N47D20 177-184 hp (O0/O1, 2007-2014)^[5][8] N47D20 204-218 hp twin-turbo (2007-2014)^[5][8] N47C16 90-112 hp (MINI Cooper D, 2010-2016)^[10] N47C20 112-143 hp (MINI Cooper SD, 2011-2016)^[11]
AvoidVersions to avoid	None	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

BMW B47

See the 19 models with the BMW B47

BMW N47

See the 12 models with the BMW N47

Other comparisons

With the BMW B47

With the BMW N47

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Sources

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

BMW B47Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
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
Motor BMW B47: problemas, modelos y qué revisarCarexam · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Motor BMW B47 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
BMW N47Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
BMW's timing chain problem comes back to haunt carmakerThe Irish Times · General press · consulted 26 September 2026
El problema de la cadena de distribución en los motores N47 de BMWSeis en Línea · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Fallo en la cadena de distribución BMW motores N47Arroyo Auto, Especialista BMW MINI · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
BMW N47D20 engine specifications, problems and reliabilityBimmerPulse · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026
N47C16A MotorMotorinsel · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026
N47C20A MotorMotorinsel · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026
Motor N47 - precio cambio cadena BMWTaller Barcelona (Dasercars) · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Precio sustitución cadenas motor N47 BMW MINIArroyo Auto, Especialista BMW MINI · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Motor BMW N47 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Rotura cadena distribución y rotura motor N47OCU · Consumer association · published 2 September 2021 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Problema cadena BMW motor N47, qué hacer y solucionesRecomotor Blog · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish