Mechanical engineering or Software engineering?

I just finished year 12 (AS) studying Maths, Physics, IT, Geography. my AS results were C, D, Distinction, and C in that order. i have always wanted to become mechanical engineer, im really passionate about it and was looking forward to studying exactly that at well respected (russel group) university however after those AS results i don't think i will get into a decent enough university( i am aware that there are unis which will still accept those grades, i dont want to go to those) so i started looking around and software engineering and computing seems like a similar field, im not as passionate on the subject however it seems like unis have a lower entry requirement for it, so im in a real dilemma here ,do i go to a less known uni and do a mechanical eng degree or go to a slightly better university and do a software engineering/computing degree.

I would say the best situation for you right now would be to try and get in the best uni you can for mechanical engineering because that is what you want to do, but apply for a foundation year, they have lower entry requirements and explain the situation to them, it will be longer but I wouldn't recommend doing what you don't want to do.

I would also say that if you cant get in to a uni that is 'prestigious' just yet, do a BEng from the uni you can get in to and do Masters (MSc) in a better uni,

but I know that Manchester which is regarded quite well for engineering run a foundation program which have entry requirement of something like BCC for science students and if you're doing irrelevant A levels its ABB but with your subjects if you can just get BCC you can get in to the foundation year. You could try other unis too, don't do what you don't want to do though...