BMW 1 Series vs Mercedes-Benz A-Class: which is the better used buy?
On DVSA MOT records the BMW 1 Series is the more reliable used buy: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 3.7 percentage points ahead of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class on first-time MOT passes. Its raw pass rate is the lower of the two (81.3% against 81.8%) because BMW 1 Series on the road are older on average: cars of their age pass 77.0% of the time, against 81.2% for cars the age of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class fleet. That comparison covers 79,599 real tests across every generation on the road, not a survey. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
MOT first-time pass rate
Counted from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test records. “vs age-matched” compares each model against what the national fleet scores at the same age — the only fair better-or-worse number, because an older fleet fails more whatever its build quality.
| Model | Pass rate | Age-matched national | Difference | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 1 Series | 81.3% | 77.0% | +4.3 | 41,220 |
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class | 81.8% | 81.2% | +0.6 | 38,379 |
These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly BMW 1 Series registered 2005–2022 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class registered 2005–2022.
Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). National first-time pass rate 77.3%. Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a first-time pass; DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. The difference is worked out before rounding, so it can be 0.1 away from the two rounded figures beside it.
BMW 1 Series
E87 2004–2011, F20 and F21 2011–2019, F40 2019–on · premium compact hatchback
Every 1 Series engine ever sold in the UK uses a timing CHAIN — there is no cambelt variant in any generation, so a seller offering "belt done" has either replaced something else or is describing another car. The N47 diesel chain is the most discussed fault on the internet and the reason many buyers avoid early diesels; it is owner-reported rather than recalled, and frequency is not published. There are also a large number of DVSA recalls across the generations, so checking by registration is worth more here than on most models.
What goes wrong
Safety recall R/2022/255recall
Undetected EGR System leaks may cause thermal activity in the intake manifold322,745 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 12 February 2015 and 1 March 2018Large recall — 322,745 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.Safety recall R/2022/206recall
The exhaust gas recirculation cooler may leak over time and cause thermal incident319,399 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 3 November 2011 and 3 June 2019Large recall — 319,399 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.Engine — N47 diesel timing chaincritical
A rattle from the back of the engine on start-up, and in the worst reported cases chain failure with major engine damage. The chain is at the gearbox end, which is why the job is expensive.Early diesels · £1,500–£3,000 because the engine usually comes outCheck: Cold-start it yourself and listen at the bulkhead, not the front of the engine. This is the most repeated claim about any BMW on the internet and there is no recall or published dataset behind it, so frequency is unknown and most cars never show it. Treat it as a reason to cold-start and read the history, not as a fault every early diesel has.Engine — N20 petrol timing chain guidescritical
Chain rattle on the four-cylinder turbo petrol.F20 125i era · £1,200–£2,500Check: Same test: cold start, listen, and read the service history. Frequency not published.
- Typical asking price:
- £3,795–£19,990, median £9,000 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 1 October 2026)
- Fuel economy:
- 50–60 mpg real-world for the 116d/118d diesels; 35–45 for the petrols
- Vehicle tax:
- £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
- Best years:
- 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021
- Years to avoid:
- 2007, 2008, 2009
Also compare:
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
W177 (2018–present) · Premium compact hatchback competing with the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series in the UK's small executive/family hatchback segment.
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class W177 (2018–present) is a premium hatchback rivalling the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series. The key check is the 7G-DCT dual-clutch gearbox: drive it from cold, feel for jerky take-up, and look for transmission fluid changes in the history. Launch-year 2018–2019 cars carry the most MBUX and DCT complaints. Best buy: 2023–2025 facelift.
What goes wrong
Safety recall R/2024/166recall
Backup function of steering software182,919 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 25 January 2018 and 2 February 2024Large recall — 182,919 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.Safety recall R/2021/134recall
The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications162,581 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 4 January 2016 and 29 January 2021Large recall — 162,581 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.7G-DCT dual-clutch automatic gearboxmajor
Jerky or hesitant take-up from a standstill, a noticeable clunk or thud when selecting Drive, Reverse or Neutral (worse when the car is cold), delayed engagement, and in more serious cases a warning message with the transmission dropping into limp mode.Most commonly reported on 2018-2020 cars, though clutch-pack and mechatronic wear can appear on any W177 as mileage builds · Wear-related reports increase from roughly 50,000-70,000 miles, though software-related jerkiness can show up on much lower-mileage cars · £150-£300 for a software update/adaptation reset if it's a mapping issue; £1,000-£1,800 for a clutch pack at an independent specialist; £1,500-£2,500+ for a replacement mechatronic unit, more again at a main dealerCheck: Drive the car from cold and pull away repeatedly at low speed feeling for shudder or a delayed bite; select R and D back-to-back and listen for a loud clunk; ask for a full transmission service history showing genuine MB 236.21-spec fluid changes rather than a skipped 'lifetime fluid' claim.MBUX infotainment and electrical systemsminor
Central and/or driver display freezing, going black, or rebooting on its own; Bluetooth dropping out; occasional loss of the reversing camera or parking sensor display; warning lights appearing without a genuine underlying fault.Heavily concentrated on 2018-2019 launch cars; reports dropped off significantly from around 2020 as software and running changes were introduced · Can appear at any mileage since most cases are software-related rather than wear-related · Often free or low-cost as a dealer software/firmware update; £300-£500 to replace a faulty display data cable; £600-£1,200+ for a replacement head unit or screen module if the hardware itself has failedCheck: Cycle through every infotainment menu, pair a phone via Bluetooth, and confirm the reversing camera and parking sensor display work correctly; ask whether the car has had any MBUX-related software updates applied by a dealer.
- Typical asking price:
- £12,490–£24,995, median £13,495 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 1 October 2026)
- Fuel economy:
- A180d diesel: 55–62 mpg. A180/A200 petrol: 40–46 mpg. A250e PHEV: 20–28 miles electric range, 35–45 mpg once depleted.
- Vehicle tax:
- £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025 (2026/27 rates). A car registered from April 2017 that listed at over £40,000 new (options included) also pays the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 — it is the price when new that counts, not what you pay for it used.
- Best years:
- 2023, 2024, 2025
- Years to avoid:
- 2018, 2019
Also compare:
Which one suits you
BMW 1 Series
Good for: Drivers who want rear-wheel drive and a premium badge at hatchback money, and who will cold-start the car before buying.
Less good for: Anyone buying an early diesel without cold-starting it and reading the full service history.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Good for: Buyers wanting the most premium-feeling interior in this class, especially the MBUX infotainment. A 2021+ car with confirmed DCT service history is the safer buy for the automatic.
Less good for: Anyone considering the 7G-DCT automatic without documented gearbox oil/filter change history — this is the highest-risk combination on the car. Buyers wanting maximum rear legroom, which is tight for the class.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is more reliable, the BMW 1 Series or the Mercedes-Benz A-Class?
How do the MOT pass rates of the BMW 1 Series and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class compare?
Which years of the BMW 1 Series and Mercedes-Benz A-Class should I avoid?
Is the BMW 1 Series or the Mercedes-Benz A-Class cheaper to run?
MOT figures are counted from DVSA records and are the only measured statistic here. Prices, economy and tax bands are indicative and vary by specification, condition and where the car has lived. Last reviewed: 2026-09-24 / 2026-09-24.