BMW M57 vs BMW N47: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the BMW M57 carries less risk than the BMW N47: 63/100 (high risk) versus 87/100 (very high risk). The BMW M57 has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Broken intake swirl flaps»; the BMW N47 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Rear timing chain stretch and breakage».

Risk index

BMW M57

High risk · 2 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 27 September 202616 sources How we work

Is the BMW M57 reliable?

The BMW M57 (1998-2010) is a six-cylinder diesel with a reputation for great mechanical longevity, capable of exceeding 500,000 km when well maintained, but a good share of the versions built before 2008 -especially with an automatic gearbox- have metal swirl flaps in the intake that can break and wreck the engine; check whether the car has them and what condition they are in before buying.^[1][2][3]

See the 4 of the BMW M57 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.^[4][5][6][7]

See the 5 of the BMW N47 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW M57 and BMW N47
Item	BMW M57	BMW N47
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	—	1,995 cm³
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	150–286 hp	90–218 hp
Production	1998–2010^[1][8]	2007–2016^{[4][9][10][11]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	63High risk	87Very high risk
Documented faults	4	5
Of high or critical severity	2	3
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Broken intake swirl flaps High severity: Crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve failure Medium severity: Cracked exhaust manifold	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	No reliable data	up to €3,000Rear timing chain stretch and breakagePublished figure^{[12][13][14][15][16]}
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	M57D25, 2.5 litres (150-197 hp, 2000-2010 depending on application)^[2] M57D30, first-generation 3.0 litres (177-193 hp, 1998-2006 depending on application)^[2] M57D30TU, first revision 3.0 litres (201-272 hp, 2001-2006)^[2] M57D30TU2, second revision 3.0 litres, aluminium block (204-286 hp, 2004-2010)^[2]	N47D20 116 hp (K0/K1, 2007-2014)^[4][7] N47D20 143 hp (U0/U1, 2007-2014)^[4][7] N47D20 177-184 hp (O0/O1, 2007-2014)^[4][7] N47D20 204-218 hp twin-turbo (2007-2014)^[4][7] N47C16 90-112 hp (MINI Cooper D, 2010-2016)^[10] N47C20 112-143 hp (MINI Cooper SD, 2011-2016)^[11]
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

BMW M57

See the 9 models with the BMW M57

BMW N47

See the 12 models with the BMW N47

Other comparisons

With the BMW M57

With the BMW N47

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Sources

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

1.BMW M57Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
2.Motor BMW M57 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
3.BMW M57D30 engine specifications, problems and reliabilityBimmerPulse · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026
4.BMW N47Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
5.BMW's timing chain problem comes back to haunt carmakerThe Irish Times · General press · consulted 26 September 2026
6.El problema de la cadena de distribución en los motores N47 de BMWSeis en Línea · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
7.Fallo en la cadena de distribución BMW motores N47Arroyo Auto, Especialista BMW MINI · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
8.BMW M57Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
9.BMW N47D20 engine specifications, problems and reliabilityBimmerPulse · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026
10.N47C16A MotorMotorinsel · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026
11.N47C20A MotorMotorinsel · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026
12.Motor N47 - precio cambio cadena BMWTaller Barcelona (Dasercars) · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
13.Precio sustitución cadenas motor N47 BMW MINIArroyo Auto, Especialista BMW MINI · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
14.Motor BMW N47 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
15.Rotura cadena distribución y rotura motor N47OCU · Consumer association · published 2 September 2021 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
16.Problema cadena BMW motor N47, qué hacer y solucionesRecomotor Blog · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish