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BMW N47 vs 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue carries less risk than the BMW N47: 59/100 (high risk) versus 87/100 (very high risk). The BMW N47 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Rear timing chain stretch and breakage»; the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Degradation of the wet timing belt (2.0 EcoBlue)».

Risk index

BMW N47

87

Very high risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue

59

High risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

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

16 sourcesHow we work

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

See the 5 of the BMW N47 faults

Is the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue reliable?

EcoBlue has been Ford's diesel family since 2016, with two very different engines despite the shared name: the 2.0 (codenamed «Panther») debuted a wet timing belt (belt-in-oil) and a second wet belt for the oil pump, the same type of design that has caused problems on other Ford engines; the 1.5, by contrast, uses a conventional dry belt. The 2.0 powers vans, SUVs and large saloons; the 1.5 the smaller models.[5][6]

See the 3 of the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW N47 and 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue
BMW N471.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement1,995 cm³—
TimingChainWet belt (belt-in-oil)
Power90–218 hp85–213 hp
Production2007–2016[1][7][8][9]since 2016[5][10]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)87Very high risk59High risk
Documented faults53
Of high or critical severity32
Worst severityCritical severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: Rear timing chain stretch and breakage
  2. Critical severity: Broken intake manifold swirl flaps
  3. High severity: Turbo and wastegate valve failure
  1. Critical severity: Degradation of the wet timing belt (2.0 EcoBlue)
  2. Critical severity: Wet oil pump belt (2.0 EcoBlue)
  3. Medium severity: Emissions system warnings (AdBlue/EGR) and injector wear
Most expensive documented repairup to €3,000Rear timing chain stretch and breakagePublished figure[11][12][13][14][15]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNone
  • 1.5 EcoBlue 85/95/100/120 (dry timing belt, since 2018)[6]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • N47D20 116 hp (K0/K1, 2007-2014)[1][4]
  • N47D20 143 hp (U0/U1, 2007-2014)[1][4]
  • N47D20 177-184 hp (O0/O1, 2007-2014)[1][4]
  • N47D20 204-218 hp twin-turbo (2007-2014)[1][4]
  • N47C16 90-112 hp (MINI Cooper D, 2010-2016)[8]
  • N47C20 112-143 hp (MINI Cooper SD, 2011-2016)[9]
  • 2.0 EcoBlue single-turbo 105/130/150/170/190, with and without mild hybrid (since 2016)[6][16]
  • 2.0 EcoBlue twin-turbo 213 (Ranger and high-demand applications, since ~2019)[6]
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 N47

See the 12 models with the BMW N47

1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue

See the 13 models with the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue

Other comparisons

With the BMW N47

With the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue

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 N47Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  2. BMW's timing chain problem comes back to haunt carmakerThe Irish Times · General press · consulted 26 September 2026
  3. El problema de la cadena de distribución en los motores N47 de BMWSeis en Línea · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  4. Fallo en la cadena de distribución BMW motores N47Arroyo Auto, Especialista BMW MINI · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  5. Ford EcoBlue engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  6. Which Cars Have a Wet Belt? Full UK Engine List (2026)CarOkay · Other source · published 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026
  7. BMW N47D20 engine specifications, problems and reliabilityBimmerPulse · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026
  8. N47C16A MotorMotorinsel · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026
  9. N47C20A MotorMotorinsel · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026
  10. Nuevo motor Ford 2.0 EcoBlue Diésel: más potente y ahorradorAutopista.es · Motoring press · published April 2016 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  11. Motor N47 - precio cambio cadena BMWTaller Barcelona (Dasercars) · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  12. Precio sustitución cadenas motor N47 BMW MINIArroyo Auto, Especialista BMW MINI · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  13. Motor BMW N47 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  14. Rotura cadena distribución y rotura motor N47OCU · Consumer association · published 2 September 2021 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  15. Problema cadena BMW motor N47, qué hacer y solucionesRecomotor Blog · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  16. Todos los coches afectados ya por problemas de motor a causa de correas de distribución en aceiteAutopista.es · Motoring press · published February 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish