M50 and M52 vs 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC carries less risk than the M50 and M52: 18/100 (low risk) versus 52/100 (high risk). The M50 and M52 has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Cooling system failure (expansion tank, thermostat, pump and radiator)»; the 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC has no documented serious faults.
The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated
Is the M50 and M52 reliable?
The M52 and its predecessor the M50 are six-cylinder petrol engines that the sources describe as durable: Enginescope considers 300,000 km routine with the cooling circuit looked after. Watch the plastic cooling parts, VANOS, crankcase ventilation and oil leaks and, in the aluminium-block M52s built from 1995 to March 1998, cylinder wear caused by sulphur (Nikasil).[1][2][3]
See the 5 of the M50 and M52 faultsIs the 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC reliable?
The GM Daewoo S-TEC engines (0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 naturally aspirated, low power) power the Matiz, Spark, Aveo 1.2, Beat and Sail. The sources consulted document only minor and cheap faults, such as oil leaks and ignition faults on the Matiz, and we have found no structural engine fault.[4][5][6]
See the 2 of the 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | M50 and M52 | 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | — | — |
| Timing | Chain | Timing belt (dry) |
| Power | 150–193 hp | 52–84 hp |
| Production | 1990–2001[7][8][9][10] | 2002–2022[11][12][13][14][15] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 52High risk | 18Low risk |
| Documented faults | 5 | 2 |
| Of high or critical severity | 2 | 0 |
| Worst severity | Critical severity | Medium severity |
| Main faults |
|
|
| Most expensive documented repair | No reliable data | No reliable data |
| Which versions to buy | ||
| BuyRecommended versions | None | |
| With cautionVersions to be cautious about |
| |
| AvoidVersions to avoid | None | None |
Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them
Cars that each one is fitted to
Other comparisons
With the M50 and M52
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 PureTech
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 PureTech
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 TCe
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- M50 and M52 vs 1.3 TCe
- M50 and M52 vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- M50 and M52 vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- M50 and M52 vs 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
- M50 and M52 vs BMW B38 / B37
- M50 and M52 vs BMW B48 / B38
- M50 and M52 vs BMW B58
- M50 and M52 vs M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9
- M50 and M52 vs BMW M54
- M50 and M52 vs BMW N13
- M50 and M52 vs BMW N20
- M50 and M52 vs N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0
- M50 and M52 vs BMW N43/N46
- M50 and M52 vs BMW N52 / N53
- M50 and M52 vs BMW N54/N55
- M50 and M52 vs BMW N62 / N63
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4 T-Jet
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- M50 and M52 vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- M50 and M52 vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- M50 and M52 vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 EcoBoost
- M50 and M52 vs 2.3 EcoBoost
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0-1.6 8v Endura-E, Duratec 8v and RoCam
- M50 and M52 vs 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec-E
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 and 1.2 de 3 cilindros (Onix and Tracker)
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- M50 and M52 vs Family II 2.0 and 2.4 gasolina
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- M50 and M52 vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- M50 and M52 vs Honda IMA híbrido
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 T-GDI
- M50 and M52 vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- M50 and M52 vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- M50 and M52 vs 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha
- M50 and M52 vs 1.8 / 2.0 Beta II
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- M50 and M52 vs 1.8 / 2.0 Nu
- M50 and M52 vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- M50 and M52 vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- M50 and M52 vs MZR gasolina
- M50 and M52 vs Skyactiv-G
- M50 and M52 vs M111
- M50 and M52 vs M112 / M113
- M50 and M52 vs M264/M254
- M50 and M52 vs M266 (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo)
- M50 and M52 vs M260
- M50 and M52 vs M271
- M50 and M52 vs M272/M273
- M50 and M52 vs M270/M274
- M50 and M52 vs M276
- M50 and M52 vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- M50 and M52 vs MIVEC gasolina
- M50 and M52 vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- M50 and M52 vs 1.6 DIG-T
- M50 and M52 vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- M50 and M52 vs 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG
- M50 and M52 vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4 Turbo
- M50 and M52 vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- M50 and M52 vs 2.2 Ecotec gasolina
- M50 and M52 vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- M50 and M52 vs Porsche M96/M97
- M50 and M52 vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- M50 and M52 vs 1.6 THP
- M50 and M52 vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
- M50 and M52 vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU
- M50 and M52 vs 0.9 TCe
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- M50 and M52 vs 1.8 TCe
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 16v
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 8v
- M50 and M52 vs E-Tech Híbrido
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- M50 and M52 vs Rover K-Series
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- M50 and M52 vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- M50 and M52 vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 VVT-i
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 Turbo
- M50 and M52 vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- M50 and M52 vs 1.5 Hybrid
- M50 and M52 vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- M50 and M52 vs 1.8 Hybrid
- M50 and M52 vs 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- M50 and M52 vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- M50 and M52 vs Drive-E gasolina
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 MPI
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 12V
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- M50 and M52 vs 1.8 T 20v
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 FSI
- M50 and M52 vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
- M50 and M52 vs 2.3 VR5 (V5)
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- M50 and M52 vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
- M50 and M52 vs VR6
With the 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.2 PureTech
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.0 PureTech
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.2 TCe
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.3 TCe
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs BMW B38 / B37
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs BMW B48 / B38
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs BMW B58
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs BMW M54
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs BMW N13
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs BMW N20
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs BMW N43/N46
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs BMW N52 / N53
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs BMW N54/N55
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs BMW N62 / N63
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 2.0 EcoBoost
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 2.3 EcoBoost
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.0-1.6 8v Endura-E, Duratec 8v and RoCam
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec-E
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.0 and 1.2 de 3 cilindros (Onix and Tracker)
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs Family II 2.0 and 2.4 gasolina
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.8 / 2.0 Beta II
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.8 / 2.0 Nu
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs MZR gasolina
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs Skyactiv-G
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs M111
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs M112 / M113
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs M264/M254
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs M266 (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo)
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs M260
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs M271
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs M272/M273
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs M270/M274
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs M276
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs MIVEC gasolina
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.4 Turbo
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 2.2 Ecotec gasolina
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs Porsche M96/M97
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.6 THP
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 0.9 TCe
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.8 TCe
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.2 16v
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.2 8v
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs Rover K-Series
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.2 Turbo
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs Drive-E gasolina
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.0 MPI
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.2 12V
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.8 T 20v
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 2.0 FSI
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 2.3 VR5 (V5)
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs VR6
Compare other engines
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- BMW 3 Series E36 320i (M52B20): reliabilityEnginescope · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
- BMW M52 reliabilityAutoscore · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
- BMW M52 Engine: Performance, Reliability, and TuningBMWBlog · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026
- Czy warto kupić: używany Daewoo / FSO Matiz (od 1998 do 2008)AutoCentrum.pl · Motoring press · published 22 August 2013 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in another language
- Chevrolet Spark hatchback reviewAuto Express · Motoring press · published October 2013 · consulted 2 November 2026
- Fiabilité Chevrolet Spark (2009-2015): pannes, rappels et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- BMW M52Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
- BMW M52Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- BMW M50Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
- BMW M50Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Daewoo S-TEC engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
- Chevrolet SparkWikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
- Chevrolet Aveo (T200)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
- Chevrolet AveoWikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Chevrolet MatizWikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Czy warto kupić: używany Chevrolet Aveo (od 2002 do 2011)AutoCentrum.pl · Motoring press · published 5 March 2013 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in another language
- Używany Chevrolet Aveo T200/T250 - typowe awarie i problemyWP Autokult · Motoring press · published 28 January 2012 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in another language
- BMW M50 / M52: problemas conocidosEnginescope · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
- Der BMW M50 Motor: Technische Daten, Probleme, Haltbarkeit & FahrzeuglisteCarWiki.de · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- BMW Z3 Reliability Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before BuyingEuro Premium Parts · Technical documentation · consulted 2 November 2026
- Chevrolet SailWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Spanish
- Chevrolet Sail: conócelo en detalleAutocosmos Chile · Motoring press · published 3 November 2010 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Spanish
- Lanzamiento Chevrolet SailAutoblog Uruguay · Motoring press · published May 2013 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Spanish