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MotorFiable

BMW M47 vs BMW N57: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the BMW M47 carries less risk than the BMW N57: 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 N57 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire».

Risk index

BMW M47

79

Very high risk · 3 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

BMW N57

87

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

14 sourcesHow 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 N57 reliable?

The BMW N57 (2008-2019, successor to the M57) is a six-cylinder diesel that is mechanically robust in the basics, but it shares with the N47 and B47 the EGR cooler covered by BMW's service campaign for engine fire risk, and it inherits from the N47 the timing chain at the rear of the block, with wear cases documented mainly from 200,000 km. Without a clear history of these checks, it is worth buying with some caution.[5][6][7]

See the 4 of the BMW N57 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW M47 and BMW N57
BMW M47BMW N57
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement1,995 cm³2,993 cm³
TimingChainChain
Power116–163 hp204–381 hp
Production1998–2007[1][2][8][9]2008–2019[5][10]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)79Very high risk87Very high risk
Documented faults64
Of high or critical severity33
Worst severityCritical severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: Intake swirl flap breakage (swirl flaps)
  2. High severity: Loss of power and turbo faults
  3. Medium severity: Blocked and seized injectors
  1. Critical severity: EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire
  2. Critical severity: Rear timing chain wear
  3. High severity: Loss of thrust on twin-turbo versions due to the vacuum circuit or the actuator
Most expensive documented repairup to €300Faulty air flow meter on the BMW M47 (loss of power)Published figure[11]No reliable data
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][12]
  • N57D30 204-211 hp, single turbo (U0/UL, 2010-2013)[7][13]
  • N57D30 245-258 hp, single turbo (O0/O1, 2008-2019)[7][13]
  • N57D30 299-313 hp twin turbo (T0/T1, 2009-2019)[13][14]
AvoidVersions to avoidNoneNone

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 N57

See the 10 models with the BMW N57

Other comparisons

With the BMW M47

With the BMW N57

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. BMW M47Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  2. BMW M47D20 engine specifications, problems and reliabilityBimmerPulse · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026
  3. Motor BMW M47: problemas y averíasDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  4. BMW 3er E46: typische Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  5. BMW N57Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  6. Motor BMW B47 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  7. 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 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  8. BMW M47Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  9. BMW 3 Series (E46)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  10. BMW N57Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  11. Caudalímetro o sensor MAF: qué es, cómo funciona y cuáles son las averías más frecuentesDiariomotor · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in Spanish
  12. Rover 75Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  13. Motor BMW N57 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  14. Motor BMW N57: problemas, modelos y qué revisarCarexam · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish