MT Auto Parts Blog | Expert Tips for BMW enthusiasts on BMW Parts, Accessories, Engines and More

  Photo by Александр Бендус on Unsplash The BMW N47 engine is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine that powered an enormous range of BMWs from 2007 to around 2014. You’ll find it in the 1, 2, 3, 5 Series, X1, and X3 as the 116d, 118d, 120d, 316d, 318d, 320d, 520d, and various other diesel badge variants. On paper, it’s a strong engine. Good fuel economy, decent torque from low revs, and responsive enough for everyday driving. In practice, it has some well-documented problems — one of which is serious enough that it’s changed how many people feel about buying a used BMW diesel from this era entirely. This guide goes through every major issue, explains what causes it, what the warning signs are, and what your options are for fixing it. We’ve drawn on owner forum reports, technical service bulletins, and the experience of BMW independent specialists across the UK. N47 Engine Problems at a Glance  Problem Severity Most Affected Builds Rear timing chain failure Critical — can d...

Photo by Default on Unsplash If you own or are thinking of buying a BMW from the mid-2000s to the early 2010s with a petrol four-cylinder engine, there’s a very good chance it has the BMW N46 under the bonnet. It’s not a performance engine, and it never made the headlines the way the turbocharged units did. But it has powered an enormous range of BMWs over more than a decade, and it’s an engine that rewards good maintenance and suffers badly from neglect. This guide covers which models got it, what’s different about it compared to other BMW four-cylinders of the era, and what you need to keep an eye on as an owner. What Is the BMW N46 Engine? The N46 is a naturally aspirated inline-four petrol engine, which means no turbo, no supercharger. It came in two sizes: a 1.8 litre (N46B18) and a more common 2.0 litre (N46B20). BMW produced it from 2004 right through to 2015, making it one of their longest-running four-cylinder families of the era. The defining feature of the N46 is Valvetronic...