2.0 TDI vs BMW N47: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.0 TDI carries less risk than the BMW N47: 48/100 (moderate risk) versus 87/100 (very high risk). The 2.0 TDI has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Oil pump failure on the pumpe-düse 2.0 TDI»; the BMW N47 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Rear timing chain stretch and breakage».

Risk index

2.0 TDI

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

BMW N47

Very 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

Reviewed on 26 September 202627 sources How we work

Is the 2.0 TDI reliable?

It depends on the generation. The EA189 (2008-2015) is the dieselgate engine: it needed a software update and has a record of EGR, particulate filter, turbo and injection faults. The earlier pumpe-düse (unit injector) engine has oil pump failures, and on the EA288 and EA288 evo (from 2012) the known faults are minor: coolant leaks and the odd AdBlue tank.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

See the 7 of the 2.0 TDI faults

Is the BMW N47 reliable?

The BMW N47 (2007-2016, including its MINI derivatives N47C16/N47C20) is mechanically sound in the basics, but it carries a serious, well-documented design flaw: the rear timing chain wears or breaks prematurely on many units, especially those built between 2007 and 2009, with repairs from €1,500 to over €8,000 if the engine ends up damaged. Without a clear timing history, great caution is needed.^{[7][8][9][10]}

See the 5 of the BMW N47 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 2.0 TDI and BMW N47
Item	2.0 TDI	BMW N47
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,968 cm³	1,995 cm³
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Chain
Power	84–240 hp	90–218 hp
Production	since 2003^{[1][11][12][13][14]}	2007–2016^{[7][15][16][17]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	48Moderate risk	87Very high risk
Documented faults	7	5
Of high or critical severity	3	3
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Oil pump failure on the pumpe-düse 2.0 TDI Medium severity: Manipulated emissions software (dieselgate) and the subsequent update High severity: High-pressure pump, injectors and diesel leaks on the EA189	Critical severity: Rear timing chain stretch and breakage Critical severity: Broken intake manifold swirl flaps High severity: Turbo and wastegate valve failure
Most expensive documented repair	up to €3,000Clogged particulate filter or faulty pressure sensorPublished figure^[3][18][19]	up to €3,000Rear timing chain stretch and breakagePublished figure^{[20][21][22][23][24]}
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	2.0 TDI EA288 (from 2012)^[5] 2.0 TDI EA288 evo (from 2019)^[6]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.0 TDI pumpe-düse unit injector (EA188, 2003-2010)^[4][25] 2.0 TDI common rail EA189 (2008-2015)^[3][26][27]	N47D20 116 hp (K0/K1, 2007-2014)^[7][10] N47D20 143 hp (U0/U1, 2007-2014)^[7][10] N47D20 177-184 hp (O0/O1, 2007-2014)^[7][10] N47D20 204-218 hp twin-turbo (2007-2014)^[7][10] N47C16 90-112 hp (MINI Cooper D, 2010-2016)^[16] N47C20 112-143 hp (MINI Cooper SD, 2011-2016)^[17]
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

2.0 TDI

See the 38 models with the 2.0 TDI

BMW N47

See the 12 models with the BMW N47

Other comparisons

With the 2.0 TDI

With the BMW N47

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.VW EA189Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
2.Un Volkswagen Tiguan en occasion : les meilleures versions par budget, et la fiabilitéCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 1 April 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
3.Maxi-fiche fiabilité - Audi A4 (2007-2015) : belle, mais capricieuseCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 1 April 2023 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
4.Audi A6 III (2004-2011) : la fiche express fiabilité de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 4 July 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
5.Fiabilité de l'Audi A3 (3e génération) : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 19 December 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
6.Maxi-fiche fiabilité - Volkswagen Golf VIII : du genre agaçanteCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 5 April 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
7.BMW N47Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
8.BMW's timing chain problem comes back to haunt carmakerThe Irish Times · General press · consulted 26 September 2026
9.El problema de la cadena de distribución en los motores N47 de BMWSeis en Línea · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
10.Fallo en la cadena de distribución BMW motores N47Arroyo Auto, Especialista BMW MINI · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
11.VW EA288Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
12.VW EA188Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
13.List of Volkswagen Group diesel enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
14.Three world premieres: Volkswagen presents progressive hybrid, natural gas and diesel systems at the Vienna Motor SymposiumVolkswagen Newsroom · Manufacturer · published 27 April 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026
15.BMW N47D20 engine specifications, problems and reliabilityBimmerPulse · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026
16.N47C16A MotorMotorinsel · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026
17.N47C20A MotorMotorinsel · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026
18.Filtro de partículas: ¿mejor limpiar o sustituir?Autofácil · Motoring press · published 7 April 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
19.Cuánto cuesta sustituir el filtro de partículas de un coche diéselDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 17 January 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
20.Motor N47 - precio cambio cadena BMWTaller Barcelona (Dasercars) · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
21.Precio sustitución cadenas motor N47 BMW MINIArroyo Auto, Especialista BMW MINI · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
22.Motor BMW N47 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
23.Rotura cadena distribución y rotura motor N47OCU · Consumer association · published 2 September 2021 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
24.Problema cadena BMW motor N47, qué hacer y solucionesRecomotor Blog · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
25.VW/Audi 2.0 TDI PD EA188 Engine Specs, Problems, Reliability, Oil, InfoMotorReviewer · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
26.Información sobre el motor EA189Volkswagen España · Manufacturer · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
27.Used Skoda Yeti reviewAuto Express · Motoring press · published 15 June 2016 · consulted 26 September 2026