BMW B47 vs Td5 2.5: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Td5 2.5 carries less risk than the BMW B47: 29/100 (moderate risk) versus 73/100 (high risk). The BMW B47 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire»; the Td5 2.5 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Cracked flywheel in the first Td5s (2000 recall)».

Risk index

BMW B47

High risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

Td5 2.5

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

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

Reviewed on 2 November 202615 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 Td5 2.5 reliable?

The Td5 is the 2.5-litre, five-cylinder diesel fitted to the Defender from 1998 to 2007 (and to the Discovery II). Land Rover Hub considers it the best diesel the Defender ever had and as reliable as the Tdi; the documented issues are the flywheel recall on the first Td5s and contamination of the injector wiring.^[5][6][7][8]

See the 2 of the Td5 2.5 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW B47 and Td5 2.5
Item	BMW B47	Td5 2.5
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,995 cm³	2,495 cm³
Timing	Chain	Gears
Power	114–228 hp	122–139 hp
Production	since 2014^[1]	1998–2007^{[9][10][11][12][13]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	73High risk	29Moderate risk
Documented faults	4	2
Of high or critical severity	3	1
Worst severity	Critical severity	High 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	High severity: Cracked flywheel in the first Td5s (2000 recall) Medium severity: Injector wiring contamination and Td5 control unit failure
Most expensive documented repair	up to €2,000Premature turbo wear from neglected maintenancePublished figure^[3]	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	Td5 122 hp, 15P engines (Defender, 2002-2007)^[5][7][8]
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]	Td5 122 hp, 10P engines (Defender, 1998-2002)^[6][7][14] Td5 139 hp (Discovery II, 1998-2004)^[15]
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 21 models with the BMW B47

Td5 2.5

Other comparisons

With the BMW B47

With the Td5 2.5

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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
Defender Engines ratedLand Rover Hub (Land Rover Monthly) · Motoring press · published 1 January 2018 · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover Defender: Engine Flywheel May Fragment (R/2000/038)Car-Recalls.co.uk (reproduce DVSA) · Other source · published 5 June 2000 · consulted 2 November 2026
How to buy a Land Rover 90, 110 & Defender (1983-2016)Haynes Manuals UK · Technical documentation · published January 2017 · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover Defender review: common repair issues (AA Mechanic)The AA · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover DefenderWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover DefenderWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Land Rover DiscoveryWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Land Rover DiscoveryWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover DefenderWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
Land Rover Defender Buying GuideHeritage Parts Centre · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover Discovery: Engine Flywheel May Fragment (R/2000/038)Car-Recalls.co.uk (reproduce DVSA) · Other source · published 5 June 2000 · consulted 2 November 2026