What these engines share
BMW's 2.0-litre diesel story in two chapters: the N47 (2007–2014) with its rear-mounted timing chain and the B47 (2014–present) that fixed the design. Both power the 3 Series, 5 Series, X1, and X3 in their respective eras.
B47 vs N47 at a glance
| B47 | N47 | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | BMW | BMW |
| Score | 80/100 | 35/100 |
| Verdict | BUY | AVOID |
| Type | 2.0L Turbo Diesel I4 | 2.0L Turbo Diesel I4 |
| Known issues | 3 | 2 |
B47 — 80/100 (BUY)
Found in: 1 Series, 2 Series, 2 Series Active Tourer, 218d, 3 Series, 320d, 320d GT, 4 Series
Key issues
- DPF blockage — city driving — severity high, cost €1.500, onset 50.000 km
- EGR valve / cooler carbon fouling — severity moderate, cost €800, onset 80.000 km
- Timing chain tensioner (front-mounted) — severity moderate, cost €1.200, onset 100.000 km
N47 — 35/100 (AVOID)
Found in: 1 Series, 120d, 3 Series, 320d, 4 Series, 5 Series, 520d, Clubman
Key issues
- Rear-mounted timing chain — catastrophic failure — severity critical, cost €6.000, onset 80.000 km
- EGR valve failure + DPF blockage — severity high, cost €1.200, onset 60.000 km
Verdict: B47 wins by 45 points
The B47 scores 80/100 vs the N47's 35/100 — a 45-point difference. This is a significant gap. The B47 is clearly the safer choice.
Which one should you buy?
This is one of the clearest upgrade stories in BMW's lineup. The N47's rear-mounted timing chain is a known catastrophic failure point — engine-out replacement, €3.000+. The B47 moved the chain to the front, fixed the swirl flap issues, and added an AdBlue system. Buy a B47 (2014+ LCI models) every time.
Generated from EngineScope's reliability database. Reviewed by the editorial team. Methodology →