If you happen to own a BMW model that has an N47 engine under the hood or want to buy a BMW with that engine type, please read on. I wrote this article to tell you about the most common problems faced by the BMW N47 engine, and I am certain that it will be useful to you. What are the reasons that the BMW N47 engine is unreliable in the long run? Read more below.
Table of Contents
About the BMW N47 Engine
The BMW N47 is a codename of a family of turbocharged four-cylinder engines (engines that come in 1.6 to 2-liter BMW models, the abbreviation N47 stands for this unit type) used by German vehicle manufacturer BMW from 2007 up until 2016. The POP has been troublesome, as well as the timing chain, various oil leaks, etc., but the car is fuel efficient and powerful.
But the engine has come to be identified with one major problem after another, which is no doubt expensive to repair. In this article, we will explain what makes the BMW N47 engine unreliable in the long term and what potential buyers should learn about that. The engine is great … But remember, it is expensive to maintain and is high in the long run! Provided that you agree to pay a lot of money for maintenance.
ATTENTION! Everyone likes high performance engines that are fuel efficient and so forth, but this engine actually is a high performance one which is powerful and has low fuel consumption.
The engine is one of the most powerful and fuel efficient engines of its generation. It’s not an incredibly competitive space, but we’re talking strictly long term reliability, which are reliability issues you’ll have to invest a lot of money in to keep this high performance engine maintained. Interventions are expensive, it will require you to change the timing chain kit to prevent it from breaking and destroy the engine, the valve cover gasket, oil pressure pump, and so on.
Oil Consumption
One of the most widespread problems of the BMW N47 engines is increased oil consumption. Further, we see many complaints about BMW N47 vehicles that are requiring constant oil top-ups and with some, this has to be done daily or even within weeks. This excessive oil consumption can exclusively be attributed to a design delta of the engine piston rings and cylinder walls where oil is allowed into the combustion chamber to burn. This leads to reduced output, and valuable time is wasted as well as expending different parts like the catalytic converters.
Pressure Oil Pump Issues
Its chief purpose is to regulate the amount of oil supplied to other parts of the engine as well as to maintain the oil pressure within a given acceptable limit. However, it is reported that some models of the N47 engine have pressure oil pump problems, which will lead to a variety of problems.
Probably the most frequent problem is oil starvation, which is the result ofthe pressure oil pump not providing enough oil to the moving parts of an engine. This can result in reduced power output, increased drag, and, in extreme circumstances, engine seizures. This is because the engine’s turbocharger is also damaged by low oil pressure since the turbocharger relies on oil to cool and lubricate its bearing.
In addition to the earlier mentioned problems, the pressure oil pump of the N47 engine can seize, which means that the engine will lose oil pressure completely. This can lead to much wear and tear in the engine because parts that ought to be oiled will stick together or rub against each other. At times, a pressure oil pump that has been seized can make the engine cut off at some point or completely stall.
The problems of the BMW N47 engine pressure oil pump have been linked to the following design and manufacturing vices. Otherwise, cracks may develop in the pump’s housing which results in the leakage of oil and a decrease in performance. Moreover, gears inside the pump may degrade at an early age and affect the pressure oil pump of the vehicle.
Due to these problems, BMW has released certain TSBs and has recalled some of the models that have the N47 engine. Such measures range from changing the pressure oil pump to altering the structure of the pump to withstand cracking and also program changing of the engine control systems to enable detection of pressure failure and the extent of damage likely to be caused by the same.
BMW N47 engine users who may have problems with the pressure oil pump should seek to repair it to avoid the worsening of the problem to the engine. This may mean changing the pressure oil pump, getting the engine software reprogrammed, or worse, replacing the whole engine. Although the problems with the N47 engine pressure oil pump have resulted in a great headache for BMW, the company has been able to handle the problem and ensure that they design better engines in the future.
Turbocharger Wastegate Failure
To control the boost pressure, the N47 features a variable turbocharger wastegate system that controls the amount of pressure. However, many users reported that the wastegate either sticks or simply fails, which results in the poor performance of the engine and, in the worst case, complete failure of the engine. The problem is normally worse by the use of low quality lubricants on the wastegate system, and this can cause quick wear and failure.
Coolant Leak Problems
Optical sensors related to the N47 engine also pose a frequent concern among the cars’ users This is because a considerable quantity of consumers reported having issues with coolant leakage. The coolant system has a tendency to leak due to the weakness of its hoses, seals, and the coolant temperature sensor.
Since it changes the combustion temperature, the warmed-up engine may start erratic movements and install proper operating temperature, which if not corrected leads to the worst of the engine. Individual components of a vehicle may be expensive to replace and hence, when there is a leakage of coolant, the repair expenses can be prohibitive.
Timing Chain Issues
However, the timing chain problem has not been limited to the BMW N47 engine since several BMW models have also been known to experience this problem. These timing chains are instituted with a view of synchronizing the movement of the engine’s pistons and valves. The timing chain that has failed or one that has been stretched can lead to bent valves or even damage to the piston. It is therefore important that this timing chain system is well managed so as to avoid future costs of repairs.
If you don’t replace the timing chain kit with a new original one, you risk breaking the existing one and destroying the entire engine. This intervention costs over $2000 and eliminates this risk, and if you destroy the engine because you didn’t change the timing chain kit, you will have to pay $10,000 for a new engine.
Valve Cover Gasket
Valve cover gasket is one of the crucial parts of the vehicle that keeps the valve cover in place and inhibits the leakage of oil which is crucial for the correct working of the engine of the vehicle. But, there is a major issue reported and that is, the N47 engine gasket has been known to fail and give some problems.
It is, however, desirable to note that one of the biggest concerns resulting from the N47 valve cover gasket blunders is the oil leakage. When this gasket wears and wears out it can no longer offer the necessary pressure required to hold the valve cover and cause oil to leak out. Not only does it produce a safety hazard and environmental problem but can cause damage to the engines if not resolved.
Another effect associated with the N47 valve cover gasket is the problem of higher oil use up. When oil from the valve cover comes out and settles in the combustion chamber then engine fuel consumptions increases and the fumes emitted to the atmosphere are also high. This also has a side effect of the engine consuming oil as usual, a process that will require more frequent oil change and is not cheap.
Apart from causing leakage of oil, the valve cover gasket issues in the N47 engine can also contribute to raise the-level of engine noise. The gasket may develop rattle, tap, or hiss sound as it wears out; these sounds will be disturbing to the driver and his passengers.
Last but not the least, the N47 valve cover gasket problems lead to decreased performance of the car. Since oil finds its way into the combustion chamber it may cause congesting of different engine parts which in turn hampers performance power and acceleration. This can be especially inconveniencing to car owners who have taken their time to put their money on a high performance diesel engine car.
Fuel System Problems
Another crop of N47 engine complaints has to do with the fuel system: owners of cars with this engine complained of fuel pump failure and clogged injectors. They cause some of these difficulties, like low performances, rough idle, and hard starting, among others. At times, the fuel pump might totally fail, thereby resulting in total engine power failure. These problems can be avoided if the fuel system is inspected and maintained often.
Conclusion
The BMW N47 was developed as a competent and fuel-efficient engine with high-performance potential, but numerous problems that have plagued its reliability have left a bad taste among car enthusiasts. Ranging from oil consumption, and coolant leaks to wastegate failure of the turbocharger and timing chain breaks, using the N47 engine can prove costly and time-consuming for owners. Such buyers should take these points into consideration whenever they are making a decision to go for a BMW vehicle using the N47 engine.
