BMW M47 vs VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD carries less risk than the BMW M47: 32/100 (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 VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Loss of the crankshaft signal that stalls the engine (Grand Cherokee 3.0 V6 CRD)».

Risk index

BMW M47

Very high risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

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

Reviewed on 8 October 202622 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 VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD reliable?

The VM Motori 2.8 CRD (four-cylinder) and 3.0 CRD V6 diesels from Jeep, Chrysler and Lancia show no systemic fault in open sources: they describe injector wear, a dirty EGR and a high-mileage turbo, and AUTO BILD says durability complaints about the 3.0 are very rare. The UK DVSA identifies only one engine campaign for the 3.0 (2025).^[5][6][7][8]

See the 4 of the VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW M47 and VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD
Item	BMW M47	VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,995 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	—
Power	116–163 hp	150–250 hp
Production	1998–2007^{[1][2][9][10]}	2003–2020^{[11][12][13][14][15][16]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	79Very high risk	32Moderate risk
Documented faults	6	4
Of high or critical severity	3	1
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: Loss of the crankshaft signal that stalls the engine (Grand Cherokee 3.0 V6 CRD) Medium severity: Wear of the injectors and the high-pressure pump Medium severity: Turbocharger failure and intake hoses
Most expensive documented repair	up to €300Faulty air flow meter on the BMW M47 (loss of power)Published figure^[17]	up to €1,400Wear of the injectors and the high-pressure pumpPublished figure^[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]	2.8 CRD R 428 (ENR, 110 kW / 150 hp, 2003-2008)^[5][18] 2.8 CRD RA 428 Euro 4 (ENS, 163-177 hp, 2007-2011)^[5][21] 2.8 CRD A 428 Euro 5 (147 kW / 200 hp and 163-178 hp, 2010-2018)^[5][21] 3.0 V6 CRD A 630 Euro 5 (190 and 239-241 hp, 2011-2013)^[6][8] 3.0 V6 CRD A 630 Euro 5+ (190 and 250 hp, 2013-2020)^[6][7] 3.0 V6 Diesel A 630 HP Maserati (250 and 275 hp, 2013–2020)^[6][22]
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

VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD

See the 13 models with the VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD

Other comparisons

With the BMW M47

With the VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD

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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
Jeep Wrangler 2.8 Diesel ProblemsCarsGuide · Motoring press · published 11 December 2020 · consulted 8 October 2026
Jeep Grand Cherokee IV: Gebrauchtwagen-TestAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published 11 April 2018 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 8 October 2026
Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 con kilometraje: se puede comprar, pero con maticesZa Rulyom (zr.ru) · Motoring press · published 28 April 2023 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in another language
BMW M47Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
BMW 3 Series (E46)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
VM MotoriWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
VM MotoriWikipedia (it) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Italian
Jeep Wrangler 2.8 CRD Sport (2007-2008): precio y ficha técnicakm77 · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2.8 CRD Mountain Aut. (2012): precio y ficha técnicakm77 · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK2)Wikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
First drive: oil burner adds to Cherokee rangeGoAuto · Motoring press · published 11 March 2003 · consulted 8 October 2026
Caudalímetro o sensor MAF: qué es, cómo funciona y cuáles son las averías más frecuentesDiariomotor · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in Spanish
Problemas Jeep Wrangler 2.8 CRDTotal Renting · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
Problemas Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRDTotal Renting · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
Rover 75Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Zahnriemenwechsel Jeep Wranglerrepareo.de · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Problemas Maserati Ghibli DiéselTotal Renting · Other source · consulted 31 October 2026 · in Spanish