BMW N47 is a four-cylinder common rail diesel engine that has many improvements over its predecessor, the
M47. In 2014 it was replaced with the
B47.
First use
The N47 engine debuted in March 2007 in the facelifted
1 Series BMW E87 and E81 and was available in the
1 Series BMW E82 and E88, which were introduced later in the same year.
Usage in other models
The engine also became available in the
5 Series BMW E60 and E61 from September 2007, several months after the 5 series was face lifted, during which time the older M47 remained available.
In the 2008 model year
3 Series E90/E91/E92/E93 when the entire 3 series range gained the company's
Efficient Dynamics technology. Not long after it became available in the
X3 and has since then became available in the
X1.
The N47 comes as a (D16) and (D20) unit, the latter identical in capacity to the M47TU/TU2 series.
1.6 L (97.5 cu in, 1,598 cc, D16)
70 kW version
The tune was used in the
F20 F20, F-20, F.XX, or F-XX may refer to:
* F20 manual transmission, a General Motors transmission
* Northrop F-20 Tigershark, a combat aircraft
* Farmall F-20, a model of Farmall tractor
* Fokker F.XX, a Dutch airliner
* Fujifilm FinePix F20, a dig ...
114d.
85 kW version
The tune was used in the
F20 F20, F-20, F.XX, or F-XX may refer to:
* F20 manual transmission, a General Motors transmission
* Northrop F-20 Tigershark, a combat aircraft
* Farmall F-20, a model of Farmall tractor
* Fokker F.XX, a Dutch airliner
* Fujifilm FinePix F20, a dig ...
116d EfficientDynamics version.
It features the exact same performance figures on paper as the regular 116d (which utilises the D20 in an 85 kW variant) despite the smaller engine size.
2.0 L (121.7 cu in, 1,995 cc, D20)
85 kW version
The tune is for the entry level
E81 and
E87 116d, as well as the entry level
3 Series E90 316d. It was also used in the
3 Series F30 316d.
105 kW version
The model was used in the following:
* E81, E82, E87 and E88 118d
* E90 and E91 318d
* F20 118d
* F30 and F31 318d
* 2009-2015
BMW E84
The E84 BMW X1 is a subcompact luxury crossover SUV and was produced from 2009 to 2015. It is the first generation model of the BMW X1 range, and was replaced by the F48 BMW X1 in mid-2015.
Development and launch
Development of the vehicle s ...
sDrive18d and xDrive18d
* 2010–2016 MINI Countryman Cooper SD (R60)
* 2010–2014 MINI Cooper SD (R56)
* 2010–2015 MINI Cabrio Cooper SD (R57)
* 2010–2015 MINI Coupe Cooper SD (R58)
* 2012–2015 MINI Roadster Cooper SD (R59)
* 2013–2016 MINI Paceman Cooper SD (R61)
* 2014–2015
F22 218d
*
X3 sDrive18d.
120 kW version
A new derivative was introduced in September 2009 for the 2010
model year
The model year (sometimes abbreviated "MY") is a method of describing the version of a product which has been produced over multiple years. The model year may or may not be the same as the calendar year in which the product was manufactured.
...
. This version featured exceptionally low emissions of only and
fuel consumption
A fuel is any material that can be made to react with other substances so that it releases energy as thermal energy or to be used for work. The concept was originally applied solely to those materials capable of releasing chemical energy but ...
of 68.9 mpg.
This version was used in the
E90 BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics.
130 kW version
The "standard" x20d model has extra power, producing but of torque less at . This is found in the
*
E81/E82/E87/E88 120d
*
E90/E91/E92/E93 320d
*
5 Series E60 and E61 520d
*
E84 X1 X1 sDrive20d, X1 xDrive20d and
E83 X3 xDrive20d.
* 2014–2015
F22 220d
In Europe, this particular version is one of the most popular engines in the entire range; the best selling 3 series is the 320d, while the 520d is the UK's best selling 5 series.
The updated version of this engine introduced in March 2010 produces at 4000 rpm and at 1750-2750 rpm.
Twin power turbo version
In October 2007, BMW introduced a
twin sequential turbo model. With , it is the first production diesel on sale to achieve a specific output of over per liter. It uses the same turbo technology first shown in the
E60 535d.
The model was used in the
*
E81/E82/E87/E88 123d
*
E84 X1 xDrive 23d
* 2014–2015
F22 225d
Later, the engine received an update which boosted the output to and was used on these models:
*
F20 F20, F-20, F.XX, or F-XX may refer to:
* F20 manual transmission, a General Motors transmission
* Northrop F-20 Tigershark, a combat aircraft
* Farmall F-20, a model of Farmall tractor
* Fokker F.XX, a Dutch airliner
* Fujifilm FinePix F20, a dig ...
125d
*
F22 225d
*
F30 325d
*
F32 425d
*
F10 525d
*
E84 X1 xDrive 25d
Variants
Timing chain problems
The N47 engine family is prone to excessive
timing chain
In a piston engine, either a timing belt (also called a ''cambelt'') or timing chain or set of timing gears is used to synchronize the rotation of the crankshaft and the camshaft. This synchronisation ensures that the engine's valves open and cl ...
wear and premature failure. Rattling noise from the rear of the engine is indicative of the condition. Timing chain failure may call for engine replacement or a costly repair. The most seriously affected units which require the most extensive repairs were produced from 01.03.2007 to 05.01.2009. However, there have been frequent reports of timing chain failure in 1, 3 and 5 series BMW engines manufactured from as early as 2004 until at least 2011 in diesel versions. At times the failure has resulted in a dangerous cut out of the engine while the vehicle was being driven - sometimes at relatively high speed. A "Quality Enhancement" was issued by BMW for some, but not all vehicles, but has since been discontinued.
Other issues
The return spring on the turbo's
wastegate
A wastegate is a valve that controls the flow of exhaust gases to the turbine wheel in a turbocharged engine system.Robson, D. (2018). Aircraft General Knowledge. Aviation Theory Centre Pty Ltd. .
Diversion of exhaust gases regulates the turbine ...
was not originally lubricated or covered, this frequently resulted in early failure causing the waste-gate to remain partially or fully open. With the subsequent loss in compression, fuel consumption increased by 30–50%. The problem was described by BMW engineers as a "known fault" and was immediately repaired (BMW mobile engineers even carried boxes of an improved spring), however BMW refused to compensate customers for the excessive fuel consumption and denied this fault was their liability.
As the cars equipped with this engine are coming of age, some hoses in the engine bay can start to break down. This is not to be ignored, even though this does not illuminate the
CEL
A cel, short for celluloid, is a transparent sheet on which objects are drawn or painted for traditional, hand-drawn animation. Actual celluloid (consisting of cellulose nitrate and camphor) was used during the first half of the 20th century, bu ...
, it just sets a code in the
ECU. If the vacuum hose supplying the
EGR cooler bypass valve gets a hole rubbed in it, or breaks down from old age and oil spray, the
EGR cooler won't get bypassed during the engine warmup period. This causes excessive buildup in the cooler matrix, and when the engine warms up these solid chunks of buildup can detach from the
EGR cooler and get sucked into the plastic intake tube, melting holes in the intake tube, causing a massive boost leak and in very rare cases an engine fire. BMW has issued a recall to over 1.6 million vehicles in 2018 for the EGR issues.
References
External links
* The UnixNerd'
BMW N47 engine page with photos, history and common problems.
{{BMW automotive diesel engines: 1980s to 2000s
N47
Diesel engines by model
Straight-four engines