BMW B47 vs 1.7 CDTI: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.7 CDTI carries less risk than the BMW B47: 36/100 (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 1.7 CDTI has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Dual-mass flywheel and clutch wear».

Risk index

BMW B47

High risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

1.7 CDTI

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

Lower risk

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

Reviewed on 27 September 202613 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 1.7 CDTI reliable?

The 1.7 CDTI (Isuzu, 2003-2015) is a simple, widely used diesel, but it has built up accounts of soot-fouled EGR valves and injectors, a clogged diesel particulate filter (DPF) with oil dilution, wear of the dual-mass flywheel and clutch, and of the Hitachi-brand alternator; it also requires the timing belt to be changed every 150,000 km or 6 years to avoid a serious failure.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

See the 5 of the 1.7 CDTI faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW B47 and 1.7 CDTI
Item	BMW B47	1.7 CDTI
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,995 cm³	1,686 cm³
Timing	Chain	Timing belt (dry)
Power	114–228 hp	100–130 hp
Production	since 2014^[1]	2003–2015^[5][12][13]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	73High risk	36Moderate 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	High severity: Dual-mass flywheel and clutch wear High severity: Clogged diesel particulate filter (DPF) and oil dilution Critical severity: Timing belt: risk of serious failure if not changed on time
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	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]	1.7 CDTI 100-101 hp (Z17DTH, 2003-2007)^[10][11] 1.7 CDTI 110 hp (Z17DTJ/A17DTJ/A17DTC/A17DTE, 2007-2014)^[10][11] 1.7 CDTI 125 hp (Z17DTR/A17DTR, 2006-2013)^[6][7] 1.7 CDTI 130 hp (A17DTS, 2010-2015)^[10][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

1.7 CDTI

See the 7 models with the 1.7 CDTI

Other comparisons

With the BMW B47

With the 1.7 CDTI

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.

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
Circle L engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Essai complet Opel Astra (H) : fiabilité et avisFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Essai complet Opel Zafira 2 : fiabilité et avisFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Essai complet Opel Meriva : fiabilité et avisFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Opel Astra H (A04): Probleme & KaufberatungGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Opel Meriva A: ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Opel Meriva B: ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Opel Corsa DWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Opel MerivaWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German