BMW M47 vs 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD): which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD) carries less risk than the BMW M47: 20/100 (low 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 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD) has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

BMW M47

Very high risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)

Low risk · 0 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 30 October 202617 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 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD) reliable?

No serious mechanical faults are documented in the European sources we were able to open: AutoBild saw the 2.8 as more robust than the 3.0 it replaced, although it points to glow plugs that fail early. Its best-documented weak point is the particulate filter, with a lawsuit in Australia but no equivalent recall or legal action in Europe, and there are barely any high-mileage examples from which to judge long-term reliability.^[5][6][7]

See the 4 of the 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD) faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW M47 and 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)
Item	BMW M47	2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,995 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	116–163 hp	150–204 hp
Production	1998–2007^[1][2][8][9]	since 2015^{[10][11][12][13]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	79Very high risk	20Low risk
Documented faults	6	4
Of high or critical severity	3	0
Worst severity	Critical severity	Medium 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	Medium severity: Blocked particulate filter (DPF) due to incomplete regenerations Medium severity: Variable geometry turbo (VNT) seized by soot Medium severity: Diesel dilution of the engine oil from interrupted particulate filter regenerations
Most expensive documented repair	up to €300Faulty air flow meter on the BMW M47 (loss of power)Published figure^[14]	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	M47D20 116-136 hp (1998-2001)^[1][3]	2.8 D-4D 204 (1GD-FTV, 204 hp, from 2020)^[15]
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]	2.4 D-4D 150 (2GD-FTV, 150 hp, from 2016)^[15][17] 2.8 D-4D 177 (1GD-FTV, 177 hp, 2015-2020)^[5][6][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 M47

See the 8 models with the BMW M47

2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)

Other comparisons

With the BMW M47

With the 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)

Compare other engines

First engine

Second engine

That is the comparison you are viewing: change one of the two engines.

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
Toyota Land Cruiser 150: Gebrauchtwagen-TestAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published 20 January 2020 · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Toyota Faces Up To $1.5 Billion Payout To Owners Over Diesel Lawsuit In AustraliaCarscoops · Motoring press · published 7 April 2022 · consulted 9 October 2026
DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 9 October 2026
BMW M47Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
BMW 3 Series (E46)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Toyota GD engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
Toyota HiluxWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
Allgemeine Daten zum Toyota Land Cruiser 2.8 D-4D (5-Türer) (10/20 - 08/24)ADAC Autokatalog · Technical documentation · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Allgemeine Daten zum Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2.4 D-4D Duty 4x4 (08/16 - 09/20)ADAC Autokatalog · Technical documentation · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Caudalímetro o sensor MAF: qué es, cómo funciona y cuáles son las averías más frecuentesDiariomotor · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in Spanish
Toyota upgrades DPF system, no change on dust issuePractical Motoring · Motoring press · published 27 August 2020 · consulted 9 October 2026
Rover 75Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
DPF regeneration: your questions answeredToyota UK Magazine · Manufacturer · consulted 9 October 2026