BMW M47 vs BMW N47: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the BMW M47 carries less risk than the BMW N47: 79/100 versus 87/100 (both very high risk). The BMW M47 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Intake swirl flap breakage (swirl flaps)»; the BMW N47 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Rear timing chain stretch and breakage».

Risk index

BMW M47

Very 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 27 September 202620 sources How we work

Is the BMW M47 reliable?

The BMW M47 (1998-2007, a 4-cylinder diesel fitted to the 3 Series E46/E90, 1 Series E87, 5 Series E60, X3 E83, the Rover 75 and the Land Rover Freelander) is solid in its basic mechanicals, but the common rail versions, built since 2001, carry a serious and well-documented problem: the intake manifold swirl flaps can break and enter the cylinder, with a risk of engine damage. The turbo and injectors also account for known faults.^[1][2][3][4]

See the 6 of the BMW M47 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 M47 and BMW N47
Item	BMW M47	BMW N47
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,995 cm³	1,995 cm³
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	116–163 hp	90–218 hp
Production	1998–2007^{[1][2][9][10]}	2007–2016^{[5][11][12][13]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	79Very high risk	87Very high risk
Documented faults	6	5
Of high or critical severity	3	3
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Intake swirl flap breakage (swirl flaps) High severity: Loss of power and turbo faults Medium severity: Blocked and seized injectors	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 €300Faulty air flow meter on the BMW M47 (loss of power)Published figure^[14]	up to €3,000Rear timing chain stretch and breakagePublished figure^{[15][16][17][18][19]}
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	M47D20 116-136 hp (1998-2001)^[1][3]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	M47D20TU 116-150 hp (2001-2004)^[1][3][4] M47D20TU2 122-163 hp (2004-2007)^[1] M47R 116-131 hp (Rover 75, MG ZT and Land Rover Freelander, 1998-2006)^[1][20]	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)^[12] N47C20 112-143 hp (MINI Cooper SD, 2011-2016)^[13]
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 M47

See the 8 models with the BMW M47

BMW N47

See the 12 models with the BMW N47

Other comparisons

With the BMW M47

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 M47Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
BMW M47D20 engine specifications, problems and reliabilityBimmerPulse · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026
Motor BMW M47: problemas y averíasDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
BMW 3er E46: typische Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
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 M47Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
BMW 3 Series (E46)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
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
Caudalímetro o sensor MAF: qué es, cómo funciona y cuáles son las averías más frecuentesDiariomotor · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in Spanish
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
Rover 75Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026