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1.3 Multijet vs BMW B47: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.3 Multijet carries less risk than the BMW B47: 64/100 versus 73/100 (both high risk). The 1.3 Multijet has 4 documented serious faults, the main one being «Timing chain stretch and tensioner failure»; the BMW B47 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire».

Risk index

1.3 Multijet

64

High risk · 4 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

BMW B47

73

High risk · 3 serious faults

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

11 sourcesHow we work

Is the 1.3 Multijet reliable?

The 1.3 Multijet is a reliable diesel in the basics, but it has a known weak point across all its brands: the timing chain and its tensioner can stretch or fail if oil changes are neglected, with a risk of serious damage. In urban use, the EGR valve, the particulate filter and the variable-geometry turbo add to the list.[1][2][3][4]

See the 5 of the 1.3 Multijet faults

Is the BMW B47 reliable?

The BMW B47 (since 2014, successor to the N47) improves the timing chain tensioner, guides and oil supply and greatly reduces the failure rate of its predecessor, but it is not free of problems: the EGR cooler has been the subject of several BMW technical campaigns for engine fire risk since 2018, and the turbo and particulate filter need careful maintenance.[5][6][7][8]

See the 4 of the BMW B47 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.3 Multijet and BMW B47
1.3 MultijetBMW B47
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement1,248 cm³1,995 cm³
TimingChainChain
Power69–105 hp114–228 hp
Production2003–2024[9][10][11]since 2014[5]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)64High risk73High risk
Documented faults54
Of high or critical severity43
Worst severityCritical severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: Timing chain stretch and tensioner failure
  2. High severity: Incomplete particulate filter regenerations and oil dilution
  3. High severity: Seized variable-geometry turbo
  1. Critical severity: EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire
  2. High severity: Timing chain wear (improved, but is it really at the front?)
  3. High severity: Premature turbo wear from neglected maintenance
Most expensive documented repairup to €1,200Injector and high-pressure pump wear from contaminated fuelPublished figure[3]up to €2,000Premature turbo wear from neglected maintenancePublished figure[7]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNoneNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.3 Multijet 8v (69-105 hp, 2003-2009)[1][2][3]
  • 1.3 Multijet II 16v Euro 5 (75-95 hp, 2009-2015)[2][4]
  • 1.3 Multijet II 16v Euro 6 (95 hp, 2015-2020)[2][4]
  • B47 114-150 hp, single turbo (2014-)[6][8]
  • B47 168-190 hp, single turbo (2014-)[6][8]
  • B47 202-228 hp, twin-turbo (2015-)[6][8]
  • B47C20 (MINI Cooper D/SD and Countryman, 2014-)[5][8]
AvoidVersions to avoidNoneNone

Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them

Cars that each one is fitted to

1.3 Multijet

See the 18 models with the 1.3 Multijet

BMW B47

See the 16 models with the BMW B47

Other comparisons

With the 1.3 Multijet

With the BMW B47

Compare other engines

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. 1.Fiat 1.3 Multijet: ficha técnica, problemas y tuningMotordinámico · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  2. 2.1.3 CDTi Opel (Z13DT) Multijet: ficha técnica, problemas y tuningMotordinámico · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  3. 3.Fiat 1.3 Multijet: problemas, fallos y averías más frecuentesTotalrenting · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  4. 4.Fiat 1.3 JTD/Multijet: corrente folgada e entupimento dos canais de lubrificaçãoProvmec · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Portuguese
  5. 5.BMW B47Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  6. 6.324.000 diésel de BMW tendrán que pasar por el taller en Europa, por un posible riesgo de incendio en la EGRDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 8 August 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  7. 7.Motor BMW B47: problemas, modelos y qué revisarCarexam · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  8. 8.Motor BMW B47 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  9. 9.Fiat JTD engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  10. 10.Moteur Fiat 1.3 MultiJetWikipédia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  11. 11.Motor Fiat 1.3 JTD 16v: más información sobre el motorkm77 · Technical documentation · published September 2002 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish