Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Mercedes Benz B Class?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2016 Mercedes Benz B Class?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2016 Mercedes Benz B Class?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2016 Mercedes Benz B Class vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

29% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2016 Mercedes Benz B Class reliable?

Based on MOT data from 5,421 vehicles, the 2016 Mercedes Benz B Class has a first-time MOT pass rate of 87.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 Mercedes Benz B Class?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Mercedes Benz B Class are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (34.3% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (33.4% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (26.9% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2016 Mercedes Benz B Class?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Mercedes Benz B Class (2016)

5,421 real MOT outcomes analysed • 87.8% first-time pass rate

2016 Mercedes Benz B Class

CarHunch analysed 5,421 real MOT records for the 2016 Mercedes Benz B Class. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 B-Class passes its MOT first time at 87.8%, well above the UK average of 80%, but nearly 30% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant buyer concern that warrants a full inspection history check. Petrol versions pull ahead at 90.2% pass rate compared to diesel at 87.3%, suggesting the petrol engines are slightly more robust, though the diesel dominates the cohort at 80% of sales.

At 42,000 miles median, these cars are right on trend for their age, yet they're averaging 1.1 failures and 6.5 advisories per test, indicating wear-and-tear issues are creeping in beyond major faults. Before committing to a B-Class, obtain its full MOT history and specifically check for patterns of electrical or suspension work, which tend to be the costliest culprits on Mercedes models of this generation.

The 2016 Mercedes Benz B Class has a decent first-time pass rate (87.8%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

87.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

29.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.1

Over 8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

42k

Middle half: 31k–55k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 87.8% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 6.5 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 5,421 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 5,421 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 34.3%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 23.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 12.1%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · …

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,421 Mercedes Benz B Class cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.9 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

90.2%

Petrol

846 vehicles

87.3%

Diesel

4,340 vehicles

Before you buy a 2016 Mercedes Benz B Class

Based on MOT data from 5,421 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 29.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (80%)	4,340	87.3%	1.14
Petrol (16%)	846	90.2%	0.87
Electric (4%)	235	88.1%	1.03

Colour Breakdown

Based on 77,010 Mercedes Benz B Class vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 24.5%

18,872

Silver 22.4%

17,281

Grey 19.2%

14,820

Blue 17%

13,065

White 9.9%

7,612

Red 4.9%

3,768

Gold 0.6%

441

Purple 0.5%

393

Brown 0.4%

285

Bronze 0.2%

182

Green 0.2%

149

Beige 0.2%

142

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Mercedes Benz B Class vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

41,799

typical

30,809

low mileage

54,780

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Mercedes Benz B Class vehicles fall between 30,809 and 54,780 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 30,809 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 30,809–54,780 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Mercedes Benz B Classs sit.

⚠ Over 73,953 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Mercedes Benz B Class — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Mercedes Benz B Classs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 5,171 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.1

Avg failures per vehicle

6.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mercedes Benz B Class: All B Class years → Which year to buy? →

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Mercedes Benz →

Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Mercedes Benz B Class stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing