How to tell which engine a bmw has

canhefixit

I am looking at a 07 320 d se and am trying to find out which engine it has, is there a way to check? i dont have the reg just the year and model, its a lovely car in showroom condition with only 60k on the clock and the price is very attractive, but I dont want to even go look at it if it has the troublesome n47 engine

cheers

pa990

if it has the 177BHP engine, then its prone to the timing chain problem.

check the reg on the likes of cartell.ie , it might tell you what power the engine has or even the engine type

pa990

for example, cartell shows 07c3510
as having an M47 engine, which is what you are looking for

Registration 07C3510
Make BMW
Model 520
Description D SE Z5SJ 4DR E60 SALOON M47 2.0 41
Fuel Type Diesel



https://www.cartell.ie/ssl/servlet/beginStarLookup?registration=07c3510

canhefixit

Thanks but I havent got the reg to check it the owner has it photoshoped out, just wanted to have my homework done before I considered calling the seller doubt he would give reg over phone anyhow

biko

Ring and ask. If the owner knows what engine the car has he's probably someone who will know more than just fill it with petrol and drive..
Also ask when brake fluid was changed last and if it has full service history.

You can tell a lot about a car by asking the owner questions. If they be clueless about maintenance the car might have been neglected.

bazz26

The N47 engine was introduced in September 2007 in the E90. The easiest way to tell are as follows:

1. Exhaust pipe - Cars with the oval shaped exhaust pipe have the N47 engine and DPF fitted. Older M47 engined cars have a narrower exhaust pipe that turns down towards the ground and have no DPF fitted.
2. Start/stop - Cars fitted with the N47 engine also have Efficient Dynamics which means the engine will cut out automatically to save fuel when stationery in traffic and car is put in neutral. When you engage the clutch again the engine starts. It will also have a button located below the stereo to switch this function off. The button will have a symbol like an A with a circle around it on it.

N47 engines were 143bhp (318d) and 177bhp (320d). M47 engines were 122bhp (318d) and 163bhp (320d). If the car is rattily on idle below 2000rpm then chances are the timing chain is on it's way out.

Hope this helps.

dingding

pa990 wrote: »

for example, cartell shows 07c3510
as having an M47 engine, which is what you are looking for

Registration 07C3510
Make BMW
Model 520
Description D SE Z5SJ 4DR E60 SALOON M47 2.0 41
Fuel Type Diesel



https://www.cartell.ie/ssl/servlet/beginStarLookup?registration=07c3510

Also noticed in some cases if the car is imported the description field is smaller such as 520 D SE

https://www.cartell.ie/ssl/servlet/beginStarLookup?registration=08So2364

Victor Meldrew

bazz26 wrote: »

The N47 engine was introduced in September 2007 in the E90. The easiest way to tell are as follows:

1. Exhaust pipe - Cars with the oval shaped exhaust pipe have the N47 engine and DPF fitted. Older M47 engined cars have a narrower exhaust pipe that turns down towards the ground and have no DPF fitted.
2. Start/stop - Cars fitted with the N47 engine also have Efficient Dynamics which means the engine will cut out automatically to save fuel when stationery in traffic and car is put in neutral. When you engage the clutch again the engine starts. It will also have a button located below the stereo to switch this function off. The button will have a symbol like an A with a circle around it on it.

My (now departed) 2010 E60 520D had the N47 177bhp motor, but no stop start in traffic.

bazz26

Victor Meldrew wrote: »

My (now departed) 2010 E60 520D had the N47 177bhp motor, but no stop start in traffic.

OP is asking about the E90 though which has it.

OldmanMondeo

The problem with the reg look up is the details can be entered wrong. I had a car the other day, given the reg, call the details back as a coupe, turns out it was an estate. This usually happens with imports. Getting a body type is rare enough, but engine code are constantly wrong. BMW and VAG are the worse for it.

whiterebel

Anyone know of problems with the BMW X1 diesels? Wife has decided thats what she wants, and I'm nervous of them with their recent history.

bazz26

If it is the 2.0d then it will have the N47 engine so they can suffer from timing chain failures too.

Victor Meldrew

whiterebel wrote: »

Anyone know of problems with the BMW X1 diesels? Wife has decided thats what she wants, and I'm nervous of them with their recent history.

Open the driver's door. the engine is on the black sticker in the door frame.

Depends on year of the X1. they may have fixed it mid 2011.

livingthedream

Hi,

You could ring the guy and ask for the last 7 digits of the VIN and stick them into the Serial number field here: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do

That will tell you absolutely everything you want to know about the car.

Or you could do it on the day when you view the car via a smartphone....


LTD.

whiterebel

Are the 1.8d affected by this?

bazz26

whiterebel wrote: »

Are the 1.8d affected by this?

There is no 1.8d BMW diesel engine. x16d/x18d/x20d/x23d in the 1, 3, 5 Series, X1 and X3 are all 2.0 litre.

fm

bazz26 wrote: »

The N47 engine was introduced in September 2007 in the E90. The easiest way to tell are as follows:

1. Exhaust pipe - Cars with the oval shaped exhaust pipe have the N47 engine and DPF fitted. Older M47 engined cars have a narrower exhaust pipe that turns down towards the ground and have no DPF fitted.
2. Start/stop - Cars fitted with the N47 engine also have Efficient Dynamics which means the engine will cut out automatically to save fuel when stationery in traffic and car is put in neutral. When you engage the clutch again the engine starts. It will also have a button located below the stereo to switch this function off. The button will have a symbol like an A with a circle around it on it.

N47 engines were 143bhp (318d) and 177bhp (320d). M47 engines were 122bhp (318d) and 163bhp (320d). If the car is rattily on idle below 2000rpm then chances are the timing chain is on it's way out.

Hope this helps.

what about the 320d 184bhp model from 2010 on?

bazz26

Its the same engine but apparently it has been modified but it's really too early to know for sure if the problem has been fixed entirely on these are they are only 3 years old.