Which is the most popular engine in the BMW 1 Series?

The older 118d diesel powertrain has been among the most popular, but it isn't available in the newer models. This diesel engine had a good balance of value and power, rated at 148bhp. The most popular petrol engine is the 118i, likely because it's the entry level in the lineup, making it the most affordable to buy.

Which are the most popular trim levels?

The new 1 Series comes in five trims: SE, Sport, 128ti, M Sport and M135i. The M Sport is among the most popular in the used market because of its upgraded performance and styling features, including upgraded suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels and special 'M' trim detailing.

Is the BMW 1 Series a good family car?

Even though it's a compact hatchback, the BMW 1 Series is a good car for families. While it can be tight for adults in the rear seat, there's plenty of room for children, and ISOFIX points are included for child seats.

Is there a hybrid version of the BMW 1 Series?

BMW hasn't fitted a hybrid powertrain to the 1 Series yet. It has only been offered with traditional petrol and diesel engines.

Is the BMW 1 Series available as an automatic?

The 1 Series has been available as an automatic and with a manual gearbox. Both of these are popular among the used models, so it should be easy for customers to find the example that suits their needs.

Is there a four-wheel drive version available?

The BMW 1 Series started as a rear-wheel drive car. It was later reconfigured to have front-wheel drive as standard. The top specification M135i is equipped with all-wheel drive, as are some variants of the 120d. Look out for cars badged as xDrive - this is the name of BMW's all-wheel drive system.

2,868 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2015 - 1.5 116d Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£6,800

Finance available £130 pm

1.5L
73.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

MIDLANDS AUTOHAUS LIMITED

01164646024 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 2.0 120d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

£10,995

Finance available £223 pm

2L
71.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Teesside Car Finance

01642937529 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (68) - 2.0 118d Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£9,000

Finance available £179 pm

2L
85.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Trade UK

01246383671 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i Sport 5dr

£15,298

1.5L
47.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Click & Collect Colchester

01414839928 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

Low Mileage

£24,398

1.5L
3.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Wakefield Motorstore / Vanstore

01924664046 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 - 120d M Sport Shadow Edition 5dr

£7,495

Finance available £145 pm

2L
137.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Quality Car Sales

01924667062 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£16,900

Finance available £362 pm

1.5L
38.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Leeds

01134689988 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i SE Business Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£10,900

Finance available £221 pm

1.5L
76.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

THEURBANDEALERSHIP LTD

02039577411 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 2.0 118d Sport Auto Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£5,000

Finance available £89 pm

2L
120.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Fame Cars Limited

01216474010 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£20,850

Finance available £408 pm

1.5L
28.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

drivedirect Leicester

01164646061 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i [1.5] Sport 5dr [Nav/Servotronic]

£10,099

Finance available £203 pm

1.5L
64.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

FOW Trafford

01616969155 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 3.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s)

Low Mileage

£19,999

Finance available £390 pm

3L
25.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Rangebrook Limited

01926352097 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 1.5 116d SE Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£9,495

Finance available £190 pm

1.5L
55.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

ZAK CAR DEALERS LTD

01784778966 *

BMW 1 Series2005 (05) - 1.6 116I SPORT RACE/TRACK CAR PACKAGE 5-Door

Low Mileage

£9,950

Finance available £200 pm

1.6L
100.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

DT Performance Cars

01827211400 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118i M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£18,922

1.5L
31.7K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Charles Hurst Usedirect/ Premium Direct - Dundon

02890022199 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 1.5 116d SE (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£12,790

Finance available £263 pm

1.5L
98.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Niche Motor Company

01274028316 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 1.5 118i SE (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£22,650

Finance available £484 pm

1.5L
6.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Car Planet Barnet

02039577301 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i GPF M Sport Shadow Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£13,490

Finance available £279 pm

1.5L
46.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

365 MOTORS LTD

01204968071 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£13,690

1.5L
50.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

AutoUnit Ltd

01633741698 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr

£18,250

Finance available £354 pm

1.5L
38.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Richard Nash Cars Ltd

01603931816 *

Why buy a used BMW 1 Series?

If you're in the market for a car that's practical, fun to drive and stylish, then a used BMW 1 Series is a fantastic choice. With BMW build quality, a used 1 Series provides luxury motoring at an affordable price. The interior offers supportive seating, high-tech features and upscale materials that provide a refined driving experience.

Used BMW 1 Series snapshot review

Pros

Economical diesels
Fun to drive
Excellent build quality

Cons

Lack of hybrid/electric model
Limited cabin and boot space
Firm ride

Read our BMW 1 Series review

BMW 1 Series video review

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Used BMW 1 Series buying guide

Engines and transmissions

The BMW 1 Series has been available with petrol and diesel engines, a manual or an automatic gearbox, and rear, front or four-wheel drive.

Petrol

1.5-litre 118i produces 134bhp for a 0-60mph time of 8.6 seconds and an efficiency rating of up to 49.6mpg. This is the most popular engine.
2.0-litre 128ti boosts the output to 261bhp, giving it a 0-60mph time of 5.9 seconds and an efficiency rating of 40.9mpg.
3.0-litre M135i tops the range with 315bhp and a 0-60mph time of 4.9 seconds, but the efficiency drops to 35mpg.

Diesel

1.5-litre 116d makes 114bhp for a 10-second 0-60mph time and a rating of up to 62.8mpg.
2.0-litre 120d outputs 187bhp to reduce the 0-62mph time to 7.3 seconds, while still maintaining efficiency of up to 57.6mpg.
Older 118d creates 147bhp and was one of the most popular options.

Practicality

Despite being a compact car, the 1 Series hatchback provides a surprising amount of room, making it practical for everyday driving.

Interior space

Front seats are supportive and offer a lot of room.
Rear seats can be tight for adults on long drives.
ISOFIX mounting points for child seats are easy to access.

Boot space

380-litre boot compares with the Audi A3.
Folding the rear seats down opens up 1,200 litres of room.
Available 40:20:40 split folding seats allow for the middle seat to be folded independently.

Bodystyles

Five-door hatchback has been the main body style since its introduction.
Three-door hatchback was discontinued after the second generation.
Two-door coupé was available for part of the first generation, later joining the 2 Series lineup.
Two-door convertible was only available during the first generation, but later became part of the 2 Series lineup.

Safety

Five-star Euro NCAP safety rating given in 2019.
87% rating for child occupant and an 83% adult occupant rating.
Standard safety kit includes parking sensors (front and rear), cruise control and LED headlights.

Technology

10.3-inch Live Cockpit Professional driver display matches the 3 Series.
Larger 10.3-inch infotainment system display replaced the smaller 8.8-inch model.
Available wireless device charging.

Buying a used car checklist: what to look for

Buying a used car can be a daunting task, but with our checklist, you can make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.

View guides

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Used BMW 1 Series snapshot review

Pros