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BMW B47 vs BMW N57: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the BMW B47 carries less risk than the BMW N57: 73/100 (high risk) versus 87/100 (very high risk). The BMW B47 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire»; the BMW N57 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire».

Risk index

BMW B47

73

High risk · 3 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

BMW N57

87

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

8 sourcesHow we work

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.[1][2][3][4]

See the 4 of the BMW B47 faults

Is the BMW N57 reliable?

The BMW N57 (2008-2019, successor to the M57) is a six-cylinder diesel that is mechanically robust in the basics, but it shares with the N47 and B47 the EGR cooler covered by BMW's service campaign for engine fire risk, and it inherits from the N47 the timing chain at the rear of the block, with wear cases documented mainly from 200,000 km. Without a clear history of these checks, it is worth buying with some caution.[2][4][5]

See the 4 of the BMW N57 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW B47 and BMW N57
BMW B47BMW N57
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement1,995 cm³2,993 cm³
TimingChainChain
Power114–228 hp204–381 hp
Productionsince 2014[1]2008–2019[5][6]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)73High risk87Very high risk
Documented faults44
Of high or critical severity33
Worst severityCritical severityCritical severity
Main faults
  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
  1. Critical severity: EGR cooler leaks with risk of engine fire
  2. Critical severity: Rear timing chain wear
  3. High severity: Loss of thrust on twin-turbo versions due to the vacuum circuit or the actuator
Most expensive documented repairup to €2,000Premature turbo wear from neglected maintenancePublished figure[3]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNoneNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • B47 114-150 hp, single turbo (2014-)[2][4]
  • B47 168-190 hp, single turbo (2014-)[2][4]
  • B47 202-228 hp, twin-turbo (2015-)[2][4]
  • B47C20 (MINI Cooper D/SD and Countryman, 2014-)[1][4]
  • N57D30 204-211 hp, single turbo (U0/UL, 2010-2013)[2][7]
  • N57D30 245-258 hp, single turbo (O0/O1, 2008-2019)[2][7]
  • N57D30 299-313 hp twin turbo (T0/T1, 2009-2019)[7][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

BMW B47

See the 19 models with the BMW B47

BMW N57

See the 10 models with the BMW N57

Other comparisons

With the BMW B47

With the BMW N57

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. BMW B47Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  2. 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
  3. Motor BMW B47: problemas, modelos y qué revisarCarexam · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  4. Motor BMW B47 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  5. BMW N57Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  6. BMW N57Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  7. Motor BMW N57 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  8. Motor BMW N57: problemas, modelos y qué revisarCarexam · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish