BMW M47D20 — 2L I4 16V DOHC Engine
2L I4 16V DOHC · 115-150 hp · 270-330 Nm
Engine overview
Manufacturer
BMW
Displacement
2 L
Configuration
I4 16V DOHC
Power
115-150 hp
Torque
270-330 Nm
Production years
1998-2007
Fuel type
Diesel
Vehicles with this engine
Known failures & weak points
Swirl flaps in intake manifold break → ingested by engine → catastrophic damage. PREVENTIVE removal kit (delete) at first opportunity. Critical.
A factory diesel particulate filter became available on some later M47-engined models, from around the E90/M47N2 generation, and can clog from short city driving, requiring a forced regeneration cycle via diagnostic tools.
EGR cooler cracks → coolant in intake. Common.
Glow plugs strip threads if over-tightened. 12 Nm max.
Timing chain on M47 LATE — relatively reliable, but stretch by 250k km.
Injector seal failure (combustion gas blowback) → black death deposits at injector wells.
Vacuum pump (tandem) leaks oil → vacuum loss → weak brake servo.
Common torque specifications
| Head Bolts | 80 Nm + 90° + 90° + 90° (TTY) unconfirmed |
|---|---|
| Crank Pulley Bolt | 410 Nm (M18, very tight — needs counter-hold) unconfirmed |
| Glow Plug | 12 Nm max unconfirmed |
| Injector Clamp Bolt | 8 Nm + 90° unconfirmed |
Figures marked unconfirmed could not be cross-checked against a workshop source. Verify against the vehicle’s own documentation before tightening.
Factory specifications
Values from the manufacturer documentation for this engine.
Engine (general)
| Engine code | M47 D20 |
| Capacity | 1951 cc |
| Idle speed | 830 ± 50 rpm |
| Oil pressure | > 0.5 bar/rpm |
| Oil pressure | 3.7 - 4.7 bar/rpm |
| Idle speed | 830 ± 100 rpm |
Engine (diesel)
| System (make and type) | DDE 3.0 |
| Injection pump (make and type) | Bosch VR VP 44 |
| Number of cylinders | 4 |
| Injector firing order | 1 - 3 - 4 - 2 |
| Injection pump timing (static) | 0.95 ± 0.03 mm |
| Idle speed, minimum | 730 rpm |
| Idle speed, maximum | 930 rpm |
| Max. no-load governed speed | 4750 - 4850 rpm |
| Exhaust gas analysis | 1.5 - 2.5 m-1 |
| Test time | 0.5 s |
| Exhaust gas analysis test method/probe (Germany only) | B / 1 |
Cooling system
| Cap pressure | 1.4 - 1.6 bar |
| Thermostat opens at | 85 °C |
| Fan on at | 90 - 96 °C |
Electrical
| Battery | 80 Ah |
| Alternator | 115 A |
Brakes
| Disc thickness, front | 22.0 mm |
| Disc thickness, front, min. | 20.4 mm |
| Disc thickness, rear | 19.0 mm |
| Disc thickness, rear, min. | 17.4 mm |
| Brake pad thickness, front, min. | 3.0 mm |
| Brake pad thickness, rear, min. | 3.0 mm |
| Disc run-out, max. | 0.01 mm |
| Parking drum diameter | 160.0 mm |
| Parking drum lining thickness, min. | 1.5 mm |
Steering and wheel alignment
| Reference height, front | A: 576 ± 10 (15") 589 ± 10 (16") 604 ± 10 (17") 617 ± 10 (18") mm |
| Reference height, rear | B: 542 ± 10 (15") 555 ± 10 (16") 570 ± 10 (17") 583 ± 10 (18") mm |
| Toe-in, front | 0°14' ± 08' ° |
| Camber, front | -0°20' ± 20' ° |
| Castor, front | 5°26' ± 30' ° |
| Toe-in, rear | 0°16' ± 06' ° |
| Camber, rear | -1°30' ± 15' ° |
| Reference height, front | A: 561 ± 10 (15") 574 ± 10 (16") 589 ± 10 (17") 602 ± 10 (18") mm |
| Reference height, rear | B: 526 ± 10 (15") 539 ± 10 (16") 554 ± 10 (17") 567 ± 10 (18") mm |
| Camber, front | -0°43' ± 20' ° |
| Castor, front | 5°36' ± 30' ° |
| Camber, rear | -2°04' ± 15' ° |
| Reference height, front | A: 594 ± 10 (15") 606 ± 10 (16") 621 ± 10 (17") 634 ± 10 (18") mm |
| Reference height, rear | B: 562 ± 10 (15") 575 ± 10 (16") 590 ± 10 (17") 603 ± 10 (18") mm |
| Camber, front | 0°08' ± 20' ° |
| Castor, front | 5°17' ± 30' ° |
| Camber, rear | -0°46' ± 15' ° |
| Poor road conditions | (09/2001 ->) |
| Reference height, rear | B: 543 ± 10 (15") 555 ± 10 (16") 570 ± 10 (17") 583 ± 10 (18") mm |
Wheels and tyres
| Tyre size | 195/65 R15 |
| Tyre size | 205/60 R15 |
| Optional | 205/55 R16 |
| Optional | 205/50 R17 |
| Optional | 225/45 R17 |
| Optional | 245/40 R17 |
| Optional | 225/40 R18 |
| Optional | 255/35 R18 |
| Spare tyre size | T125/90 R15 |
| Spare tyre size | T115/90 R16 |
| Spare tyre size | T125/90 R16 |
| Spare tyre size | T125/80 R17 |
Capacities
| Engine sump, incl. filter | 5.0 l |
| Manual transmission | S5D 280Z |
| Gearbox refill | 1.3 l |
| Manual transmission | S5D 320Z |
| Gearbox refill | 1.2 l |
| Differential | 1.0 (188K) l |
| Cooling system | 7.0 l |
| Air-conditioner refrigerant | 680 ± 10 g |
Torque settings
| Cylinder head bolts — Stage 1 | 80 Nm |
| Cylinder head bolts — Stage 2 | 180 ° |
| Cylinder head bolts — Stage 3 | 50 Nm |
| Cylinder head bolts — Stage 4 | 90 ° |
| Cylinder head bolts — Stage 5 | 90 ° |
| Front hub | 290 Nm |
| Rear hub | M24: 250 M27: 300 Nm |
| Wheel bolts | 120 ± 10 Nm |
Emissions
| Emission code | 70/220*1999/102A |
| Emission standard | Euro 3 |
| CO2 average | 149 g/km |
| CO | 0.245 g/km |
| NOx | 0.411 g/km |
| HC NOx | 0.460 g/km |
| Particles | 0.035 g/km |
| Emission code | 70/220*2001/1A |
| Emission code | 70/220*1998/69 |
| Emission standard | Euro 2 (04/2000 ->) |
| CO2 average | 156 g/km |
| Emission standard | Euro 3 (01/2002 ->) |
| CO2 average | 155 g/km |
Workshop procedures for this engine
Step-by-step procedures from the workshop database.
Service intervals
| Timing Chain | Inspect at 200k km — replace if rattle |
|---|---|
| Oil Change Km | 15000 |
| Oil Spec | 5W-30 BMW LongLife-04 (ACEA C3) |
| Oil Capacity L | 5.2 |
| Coolant Spec | BMW blue-green (HOAT) |
| Coolant Capacity L | 8 |
A/C system
| Refrigerant Type | R134a |
|---|---|
| Charge Grams | 550-600 |
| Compressor | Denso 5SE12C |
Pro tips from the field
Use INPA / NCS-Expert / ISTA for diagnostics — generic OBD only reads basic codes.
If buying a used M47-engined car, check swirl flap status first — swirl flap ingestion is a well-documented and potentially catastrophic failure mode on these engines.
Got a M47D20 problem? Ask for free.
Describe the symptoms — TorqFix replies with a diagnosis cited from verified workshop data.
Get free diagnosis →Who makes these pages, and how
TorqFix was built by a mechanic — after a 2,700 km drive with five roadside repairs that no diagnostic tool could explain.
The figures on this page come from manufacturer workshop documentation and are shown as they are. The page is assembled automatically from that data — it is not written by an AI. The AI works in the chat, where it answers for your specific car. It writes nothing here.
Variants of the same model differ. Cross-check torque against the factory manual for your engine before final tightening.
Seen a figure that does not match your manual? Write to us — we correct it and note when. support@torqfix.com
The story behind TorqFix →Workshop data on this page last updated 22 Aug 2026.