BMW N20 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 BMW N20: 18/100 (low risk) versus 63/100 (high risk). The BMW N20 has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Timing chain guide and tensioner wear (2011-2015)»; 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 BMW N20 reliable?
The BMW N20 (2011-2017) was the first turbocharged four-cylinder with which BMW replaced its naturally aspirated six-cylinders in models such as the 320i, 328i and X3, and it is generally mechanically sound. Its best-documented weak point is the timing chain guides and tensioner on units built before 2015; oil leaks, the electric water pump and, to a lesser extent, the turbo and the high-pressure fuel pump are also known issues.[1][2]
See the 5 of the BMW N20 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.[3][4][5]
See the 2 of the 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | BMW N20 | 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | 1,997 cm³ | — |
| Timing | Chain | Timing belt (dry) |
| Power | 156–245 hp | 52–84 hp |
| Production | 2011–2017[1][6] | 2002–2022[7][8][9][10][11] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 63High 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 BMW N20
- BMW N20 vs 1.2 PureTech
- BMW N20 vs 1.0 PureTech
- BMW N20 vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- BMW N20 vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- BMW N20 vs 1.2 TCe
- BMW N20 vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- BMW N20 vs 1.3 TCe
- BMW N20 vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- BMW N20 vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- BMW N20 vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- BMW N20 vs 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
- BMW N20 vs BMW B38 / B37
- BMW N20 vs BMW B48 / B38
- BMW N20 vs BMW B58
- BMW N20 vs M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9
- BMW N20 vs M50 and M52
- BMW N20 vs BMW M54
- BMW N20 vs M60 and M62
- BMW N20 vs BMW N13
- BMW N20 vs N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0
- BMW N20 vs BMW N43/N46
- BMW N20 vs BMW N52 / N53
- BMW N20 vs BMW N54/N55
- BMW N20 vs BMW N62 / N63
- BMW N20 vs 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire
- BMW N20 vs 1.4 T-Jet
- BMW N20 vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- BMW N20 vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- BMW N20 vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- BMW N20 vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- BMW N20 vs 2.0 EcoBoost
- BMW N20 vs 2.3 EcoBoost
- BMW N20 vs 1.0-1.6 8v Endura-E, Duratec 8v and RoCam
- BMW N20 vs 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec-E
- BMW N20 vs 1.0 and 1.2 de 3 cilindros (Onix and Tracker)
- BMW N20 vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- BMW N20 vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- BMW N20 vs Family II 2.0 and 2.4 gasolina
- BMW N20 vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- BMW N20 vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- BMW N20 vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- BMW N20 vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- BMW N20 vs Honda IMA híbrido
- BMW N20 vs 1.0 T-GDI
- BMW N20 vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- BMW N20 vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- BMW N20 vs 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha
- BMW N20 vs 1.8 / 2.0 Beta II
- BMW N20 vs V6 Delta 2.5 and 2.7 (Hyundai-Kia)
- BMW N20 vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- BMW N20 vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- BMW N20 vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- BMW N20 vs 1.8 / 2.0 Nu
- BMW N20 vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- BMW N20 vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- BMW N20 vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- BMW N20 vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- BMW N20 vs MZR gasolina
- BMW N20 vs Skyactiv-G
- BMW N20 vs M111
- BMW N20 vs M112 / M113
- BMW N20 vs M264/M254
- BMW N20 vs M266 (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo)
- BMW N20 vs M260
- BMW N20 vs M271
- BMW N20 vs M272/M273
- BMW N20 vs M270/M274
- BMW N20 vs M276
- BMW N20 vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- BMW N20 vs MIVEC gasolina
- BMW N20 vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- BMW N20 vs 1.6 DIG-T
- BMW N20 vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- BMW N20 vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- BMW N20 vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- BMW N20 vs 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG
- BMW N20 vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- BMW N20 vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- BMW N20 vs 1.4 Turbo
- BMW N20 vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- BMW N20 vs 2.2 Ecotec gasolina
- BMW N20 vs 1.4/1.6/1.8 Ecotec 16V (primera generación)
- BMW N20 vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- BMW N20 vs Porsche M96/M97
- BMW N20 vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- BMW N20 vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- BMW N20 vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- BMW N20 vs 1.6 THP
- BMW N20 vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
- BMW N20 vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU
- BMW N20 vs 0.9 TCe
- BMW N20 vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- BMW N20 vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- BMW N20 vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- BMW N20 vs 1.8 TCe
- BMW N20 vs 1.2 16v
- BMW N20 vs 1.2 8v
- BMW N20 vs E-Tech Híbrido
- BMW N20 vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- BMW N20 vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- BMW N20 vs Rover K-Series
- BMW N20 vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- BMW N20 vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- BMW N20 vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- BMW N20 vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- BMW N20 vs 1.0 VVT-i
- BMW N20 vs 1.2 Turbo
- BMW N20 vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- BMW N20 vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- BMW N20 vs 1.5 Hybrid
- BMW N20 vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- BMW N20 vs 1.8 Hybrid
- BMW N20 vs 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
- BMW N20 vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- BMW N20 vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- BMW N20 vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- BMW N20 vs Drive-E gasolina
- BMW N20 vs 1.0 MPI
- BMW N20 vs 1.2 12V
- BMW N20 vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- BMW N20 vs 1.8 T 20v
- BMW N20 vs 2.0 FSI
- BMW N20 vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
- BMW N20 vs 2.3 VR5 (V5)
- BMW N20 vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- BMW N20 vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
- BMW N20 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 M50 and M52
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs BMW M54
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs M60 and M62
- 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC vs BMW N13
- 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 V6 Delta 2.5 and 2.7 (Hyundai-Kia)
- 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 1.4/1.6/1.8 Ecotec 16V (primera generación)
- 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 N20Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- BMW N20 Engine: Pros, Cons, Reliability, Tuning, and Maintenance GuideBMW BLOG · Motoring press · published 8 June 2025 · consulted 27 September 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 N20Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 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
- 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