BMW M47D20TU2 engine

BMW’s m47 engine lineup is an “inflated” two-liter diesel four, which was produced from 1998 to 2008. The main reason for the development of the m47 series was the technical backwardness of the M41 engines. The 47 series is based on the M43 engine family with amendments to improve efficiency, performance and economy.

Engine specifications M47D20TU2

Advantages

Compared to previous versions, our power unit has an average fuel consumption 15-20 percent less, depending on operation and timely replacement of consumables. The cylinder head is made of light metal, in turn, the cylinder block is made of gray cast iron alloy. All this allows to significantly lighten the power plant. Regarding performance, the engine has four valves per cylinder. There are four cylinders in total. The engine houses the injector, in the center part of the motor. The turbocharger is powered by exhaust gases and has an air cooler.

Performance is enhanced by a direct fuel injection system in each cylinder, which is controlled by a VP44 high-pressure electronic fuel pump. This part was significantly modified in September 2001, when an updated version of the 47 series engine used a Common Rail fuel injection ramp from Bosch. The injector, which is located almost in the center of the powerplant, has two springs and is mounted on them.A film air flow meter is used to regulate exhaust gas recirculation. Additional exhaust gas cleaning is provided by a catalytic converter and the digital electronic engine management system DDE3.0 (later replaced by DDE5.0).

All of this led to the M47 series being considered the most successful and efficient powertrain of the late nineties of the last century. All this helped BMW to win the 1998 Nürburgring race with this power unit. The engine showed serious indicators of resistance to overloads, withstood 24 hours of constant load and brought BMW 320d touring car to victory.This engine was installed on BMW 1 (E87), 3 (E46 (sedan, touring, coupe, cabrio, compact), E90, E91) and 5 series (E39, E60, E61), as well as on the crossover X3 first generation (E83).

Disadvantages

Let’s continue with the problems that can be associated with the operation of the BMW M47 powertrain. The first reason is the failure of the electronic control unit. It is all to blame for the operation of the power unit at a constantly high temperature, which exceeds the working temperature by 20-30 degrees.  The driver must carefully monitor the temperature indicators of the engine, and do not go into the red value on temperatures. The injectors, especially when working at the limit, can fail, which can cause a problem starting the engine.

In addition to the injectors, it is necessary to pay attention to the air flow meter and the fuel system as a whole. It may be clogged with low-quality diesel fuel. If you decide to drastically change the type of oil or refueled at the first gas station, the system may fail. As a result, the engine will stall when reaching 2000 rpm. This is why we recommend using only the fuel and lubricants that are described in the technical regulations together with the vehicle.

The engine may stall when the steering wheel is fully turned. The main cause is low crankshaft speed at idle. The flap mountings may become loose, causing them to collapse. This can result in severe damage to the intake manifold or failure of the entire cylinder head. Therefore, in order not to get to the overhaul of the engine, it is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the flaps. These engines are also characterized by turbocharger failure, and the main reason is the extended oil change period. Carefully monitor this and perform a complete lubricant change in accordance with BMW’s technical regulations.

The most common cause of engine failure is pulley wear. All to blame for the failure of the linkage drive or dual-mass flywheel. It is also worth paying attention to a delaminated damper pulley.

Technical specifications

BMW motorists set out to develop a four-cylinder engine that had four valves per cylinder and was equipped with direct fuel injection. The next goal was to achieve the company’s policy, which was set to take the leading position in powertrain reliability in the class of 4-cylinder diesel engines, which had a displacement of up to 2 liters.

Another issue that was put on the agenda was to reduce fuel consumption, compared to previous models, by at least 10-15 percent.Taking into account the peculiarities of the diesel engine, it was decided to improve the sound insulation system of the power plant, and to ensure smooth operation of the engine.And the most important requirement is the compliance of the power plant to Euro-3 standards, in terms of toxicity of exhaust gases and CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. It is these requirements that the new M47 series must meet.

In sum, all the characteristics of the M47 engine surpass their competitors in the class with direct fuel injection. That led motorists, engineers and the engine itself to the first positions in the ratings of popular publications both in Russia and abroad. Let’s talk about the features of the engine. As we said before, the power plant is represented by an in-line 4-cylinder engine. The cylinder block is made of an alloy of gray cast iron and cylinders, which are made of aluminum alloy. This feature has led to the fact that the engine has become more reliable, but at the same time received a gain in power, compared to the previous version of about 17%.

The injector is centrally located to ensure even access of the fuel mixture to each combustion chamber. The engine builders installed a charge air cooler in the turbocharger to reduce the turbine operating temperature and protect the powertrain from overheating. An electronically controlled high-pressure pump is responsible for the smooth operation of direct fuel injection to the injectors, which are mounted on two springs, which was significantly modified a few years later, which also increased the performance of the unit.

In order to increase the service life of the turbocharger, the motorists have installed additional exhaust gas treatment with a unique catalytic converter. Compared to competitors that do not have this system, the turbine lasts 25-26 percent longer. Another peculiarity is that the vehicle should be serviced every 20,000 kilometers. These figures are recommended by the manufacturer. And they speak for the serious reliability of these power units.

Let’s continue with the dry specs. The exact engine displacement is 1995 cubic centimeters. The maximum power that this powerplant can develop is 163 horsepower. The maximum torque that can accelerate the rear or all-wheel drive vehicle is 340 Newton meters and is achieved at 2,750 rpm. The power plant is fastidious to the quality of fuel, so it is recommended to fill diesel at proven gas stations. The average engine fuel consumption is 5.9 liters for every 100 km in the mixed cycle. This is an inline type of engine, with four cylinders. The diameter of each cylinder is 84 mm, with 4 valves for each. The maximum output is 163 horsepower, which is approximately 120 kW, at 4,000 rpm. Air is forced into the combustion chamber by a turbine. The powerplant has a compression ratio of 19, and the piston strokes 90 mm. Specifically our power unit was installed on BMW fifth series, which were produced in the body E60 from 2004 to 2007.

Modifications

In 2004, the M47 engine was significantly updated. It was produced in several variants that offered its customers from 122 to 163 horsepower. After, since 2006, the powertrain was equipped with a particulate filter, which is available as an option. The 122 horsepower unit was installed on BMW cars such as the E87 118d, 318d E90 and E91 318d, while the top version of the engine was produced for cars that are destined for Europe, India and Thailand.

Chip tuning

Chip tuning can significantly add power to the M47 engine, without mechanical intervention. The issue is solved by loading new firmware into the “brains of the car”. As a result, the standard program in the engine control unit is completely changed. The percentage of engine performance can increase due to disabling faulty engine management system components such as for example: DPF FAP ADBLUE FLAPS particulate filters, exhaust gas recirculation valves (EGR EGR), disable the control of the catalytic converter (if it fails), you can also disable the rear lambda probes (after the catalytic converter).

All of these modifications can increase engine performance by 15-17%, without reducing life. Mechanical interventions will reduce service life, but will significantly increase torque and horsepower.

This engine is installed on the following models:

BMW 5-Series (E60)