Comparison · family hatchbacks

Audi A3 vs BMW 1 Series: which is more reliable?

The Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series are very close at the MOT: scores of 106 and 106. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 783,014 real MOT tests in 2024.

Audi A3

106Above average

MOT tests406,671

BMW 1 Series

106Above average

MOT tests376,343

By age

MOT Rank score for each age group (100 = an average car that age).

Age at test	Audi A3	BMW 1 Series
3–5 years	102Above average	102Above average
6–9 years	109Well above average	105Above average
10–14 years	108Above average	107Above average
15+ years	102Above average	112Well above average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Audi A3	BMW 1 Series
2021	88.9%	90.4%
2020	88.8%	89.3%
2019	87.9%	86.3%
2018	87.5%	84.4%
2017	85.7%	83.3%
2016	84.3%	80.4%
2015	81.0%	78.0%
2014	77.6%	74.0%
2013	73.8%	71.7%
2012	66.7%	67.5%
2011	65.2%	67.3%
2010	63.2%	66.3%
2009	61.9%	65.5%
2008	59.6%	65.1%
2007	58.2%	64.0%
2006	55.7%	61.4%
2005	55.5%	60.8%
2004	53.6%	61.9%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Audi A3	BMW 1 Series
Lights & electrics	10.2	11.4
Tyres	8.6	8.5
Suspension	10.3	6.0
Brakes	8.3	7.3
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	3.1	4.4
Emissions & leaks	3.8	2.7
Body & chassis	3.1	1.3
Seat belts & airbags	1.0	0.8

Audi A3: top failures

Coil spring: fractured or broken2.8%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.8%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.6%
Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.5%
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.5%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.4%

BMW 1 Series: top failures

Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.9%
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.2%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.8%
Position lamp: not working1.5%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.2%
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.2%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Audi A3 or the BMW 1 Series?

The Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series are very close at the MOT: scores of 106 and 106. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

Which years of the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series can be compared?

Both were tested for 18 registration years (2004–2021). The Audi A3 had the higher pass rate in 7 of them and the BMW 1 Series in 11.

What fails most on each?

Audi A3: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. BMW 1 Series: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak.