BMW M47 vs 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi carries less risk than the BMW M47: 38/100 (moderate risk) versus 79/100 (very high risk). The BMW M47 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Intake swirl flap breakage (swirl flaps)»; the 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «High oil consumption from worn piston rings and valve guides (2.2 CRDi)».

Risk index

BMW M47

Very high risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

2.0 and 2.2 CRDi

Moderate risk · 2 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 202616 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 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi reliable?

The R family groups the 2.0 CRDi (D4HA, 136-185 hp) of the compact SUVs (Tucson, ix35, Sportage) and the 2.2 CRDi (D4HB, 197-202 hp) of the large ones (Santa Fe, Sorento): Bosch common rail, variable-geometry turbo and chain-driven timing. The 2.2 CRDi can suffer high oil consumption from 100,000 km in the Santa Fe and a turbo that is expensive to repair between 100,000-150,000 km in the Sorento; for the 2.0 CRDi we have not found sources with a specific serious fault.^[5][6][7]

See the 3 of the 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW M47 and 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi
Item	BMW M47	2.0 and 2.2 CRDi
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,995 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	116–163 hp	136–202 hp
Production	1998–2007^[1][2][8][9]	since 2009^{[5][10][11][12][13][14]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	79Very high risk	38Moderate risk
Documented faults	6	3
Of high or critical severity	3	2
Worst severity	Critical severity	High 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	High severity: High oil consumption from worn piston rings and valve guides (2.2 CRDi) High severity: Variable-geometry turbo failure from 100,000-150,000 km (2.2 CRDi) Medium severity: Particulate filter (DPF) clogged by short journeys
Most expensive documented repair	up to €300Faulty air flow meter on the BMW M47 (loss of power)Published figure^[15]	up to €1,600High oil consumption from worn piston rings and valve guides (2.2 CRDi)Published figure^[6]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	M47D20 116-136 hp (1998-2001)^[1][3]	2.0 CRDi (D4HA, 136-185 hp, Tucson/ix35/Sportage, 2010-2021)^[5]
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][16]	2.2 CRDi (D4HB, 197-202 hp, Santa Fe/Sorento, 2010-2020)^[6][7]
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

2.0 and 2.2 CRDi

See the 8 models with the 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi

Other comparisons

With the BMW M47

With the 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi

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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
Hyundai R engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Hyundai Santa Fe: fallos y averías más frecuentesTotalRenting · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Kia Sorento: problemas, fallos y averías más frecuentesTotalRenting · Other source · consulted 27 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
Hyundai ix35Wikipedia (de.wikipedia.org) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Hyundai TucsonWikipedia (de.wikipedia.org) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Kia SportageWikipedia (de.wikipedia.org) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Hyundai Santa FeWikipedia (es.wikipedia.org) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Kia SorentoWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 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
Rover 75Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026