BMW N47 engine

Characteristics of the N47D20 engine

Reliability, problems and repair of the BMW N47 engine

BMW N47D20The BMW N47 diesel engine, which replaced the M47, was introduced in 2007 in the BMW 1-series E87 body. Unlike its predecessor, the N47 uses a new lightweight closed aluminum cylinder block with cast iron liners, two balancer shafts and a cylinder diameter of 84 mm. Inside the block is a forged crankshaft with a 90mm piston stroke and forged connecting rods. Compression height of the pistons is 47 mm, and compression ratio is 16.5. Together this gives a working volume of 2 liters.

On top of the block is an aluminum 16-valve head with two camshafts. Inlet valves are 27.2 mm in diameter, exhaust valves are 24.6 mm, and valve stem thickness is 5 mm.

BMW N47 engines received Common rail injection system and turbocharging with intercooler. The turbine used on the first versions (116 hp and 143 hp) is Garrett GTB1749VK with variable geometry.

The timing drive here is chain and the chain is located at the rear of the motor. The timing chain resource on N47 is designed for the whole life of the motor, but in reality the durability is not good, about problems with the chain is written below. There is also an exhaust gas recirculation valve, dual mass flywheel and Bosch DDE7.0/DDE 7.1 control unit.

In parallel with this motor was produced a version with a working volume of 1.6 liters – N47D16, as well as a 6-cylinder diesel N57.

Since 2014, the N47 engine was smoothly replaced by a more modern diesel engine B47.

Modifications of the BMW N47 engine

1. N47D20K0 (2007 – 2012) is the weakest version of the N47 with a Garrett GTB1749VK turbo. Power 116 hp at 4000 rpm, torque 260 Nm at 1750-2500 rpm. This motor is used in BMW 116d E87 and 316d E90.
2. N47D20U0 (2007 – 2013) – version with 143 hp at 4000 rpm, torque 300 Nm at 1750-2500 rpm. The DDE7.0 ECU is used here, Garrett GTB1749VK turbocharger, and the boost pressure is 1.5 bar. As on the weaker motor, the N47D20U0 uses solenoid injectors. This power unit was used in BMW 118d E87, 318d E90, X1 E84 and X3 E83.
3. N47D20O0 (2007 – 2013) – modification with an output of 177 hp at 4000 rpm, torque 340 Nm at 1750-3000 rpm. The control unit on the engine is DDE7.1, and the turbine is MHI TF035HL, which blows 1.55 bar, piezoelectric injectors with higher pressure in the ramp are also used. You can find this engine in the BMW 120d E87, 320d E90, 520d E60 and X1 E84 and X3 E83.
4. N47D20T0 / N47TOP (2007 – 2013) is the most powerful N47 engine. It is a Twin Turbo version with two BorgWarner KP35 and K16 turbochargers, boost pressure of 2 bar, there is also a new exhaust, piezo injectors with even higher pressure in the ramp, and the ECU used is DDE 7.1. The output of N47 TOP is 204 hp at 4400 rpm, torque is 400 Nm at 2000-2250 rpm. Such engines were on the BMW 123d E87 and X1 E84.
5. N47D20K1 / N47TU (2011 – 2015) – the motor that replaced the N47D20K0. It is equipped with IHI RHV4-T39 turbine and ECU DDE7.1. Compared to its predecessor, this motor is more economical, fuel consumption is reduced by 3%. Power output is 116 hp at 4000 rpm and torque is 260 Nm at 2500 rpm. You can find this engine under the hood of the BMW 116d F20, 316d F30 and X1 E84.
6. N47D20U1 / N47TU (2011 – 2015) is the engine that replaced the N47D20U0. It has a turbocharger IHI RHV4-T39 and ECU DDE7.1 Power 143 hp at 4000 rpm, torque 320 Nm at 1750-2500 rpm. Despite almost identical performance to the regular N47, the N47TU has slightly more power at mid-range rpm. This dvs meets Euro 5 environmental standards, and Euro 6 for the 218d and 418d versions. It is installed in BMW 118d F20, 218d F22, 318d F30, 418d F36, 518d F10, X1 E84 and X3 F25.
7. N47D20O1 / N47TU (2010 – 2017) – This engine replaced the N47D20O0. It uses MHI TF035HL turbine and ECU DDE7.1. Power output is 184 hp at 4000 rpm, torque 380 Nm at 1750-2750 rpm. It was put on BMW 120d F20, 220d F22, 320d F30/E90, 328d F30, 420d F32, 520d F10, X1 E84 and X3 F25. For the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics and X1 EfficientDynamics, a version was produced with the same turbocharger and programmatically smothered at 163 hp at 4,000 rpm and 380 Nm of torque at 1,750-2,750 rpm.”
8. N47D20T1 / N47TU TOP / N47S1 (2012 – 2016) – the top version of the N47TU TwinTurbo replacing the N47D20T0. This motor was equipped with BorgWarner K16 and KP35 turbines, modified intake and exhaust, and control unit here is DDE 7.31. Power is 218 hp at 4400 rpm, torque is 450 Nm at 1750-2500 rpm. It was used in BMW 125d F20, 225d F22, 325d F30, 425d F32, 525d F10, X1 E84 and X5 F15.
9. N47C20U1 (2011 – 2014) is the N47D20U1 version for the Mini Cooper SD.

BMW N47 engine problems and disadvantages

• Noise from the rear of the engine. The most famous disease N47, which is caused by a stretched timing chain, its service life in practice is about 100 thousand kilometers. Often the problem occurs much earlier. There is only one solution – replacement and it is not worth it to procrastinate otherwise a breakage may occur. Additional trouble with the replacement of the chain on the diesel N47 is the need to remove the engine, because the chain is located at the rear. In motors up to 2009, the chain is changed together with the crankshaft.
• The crankshaft damper can cause extraneous sounds, it serves about 100 thousand kilometers, sometimes more, then requires replacement.
• Vortex flaps. Similar to the M47, here in the intake manifold are installed vortex flaps, but unlike the same M47, they can not get into the engine. Nevertheless, from the operation of the EGR system, the flaps can be completely covered with carbon deposits. To prevent this from happening, it is better to plug the EGR valve, and clean the flaps together with the manifold or, even better, remove them and put plugs. To make the engine work adequately, after this operation, you need to flash the control unit to work without all this goodness.

In addition, overheating of this motor can lead to the formation of cracks in the block between the cylinders, which you can try to weld, but there is a high probability that this will not help and will have to look for a cylinder block without cracks. The resource of turbines is about 200 thousand kilometers, but it can be more.

The resource of the BMW N47 engine depends on the service and if you cure the diseases in time, it can exceed 250-300 thousand kilometers and more.

To reduce the likelihood of problems with the motor, it is desirable to change the engine oil more often, use only the original recommended by the manufacturer, also pour normal fuel, in time to be serviced and do not race at full speed.

Tuning the BMW N47 engine

Chip tuning

To increase the power of your engine it is enough to go to a tuning office and pour a new firmware. Re-flashing of N47 on 116d and 118d in E87 and E90 bodies gives a power increase of 35-50 hp. Versions with index 20d in E87, E90, E60, E84 and E83 bodies can be boosted up to 210-220 hp. Motor N47 TOP allows to remove 240-250 hp with the help of chip tuning.

Engines N47TU with an output of 116 hp and 143 hp give an opportunity to get 185-200 hp on a standard turbine.

N47TU 184 hp versions are stitched in 215, and with downpipe in 230 hp.

The top-of-the-line N47S1 gives you a chance to get 240+ hp flashed, and with downpipe 280 hp.

ENGINE RATING: 4-