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.

2,727 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 118d Sport 5dr [Nav] Step Auto

Low Mileage

£10,499

Finance available £212 pm

2L
50.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Penarth Marina Sales and Boat Services

02921676478 *

BMW 1 Series2008 (08) - 120d M Sport 3dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£2,195

2L
128.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

SK CAR COMPANY LTD

01384885534 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£16,985

Finance available £357 pm

1.5L
79.8K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Roxforde Cars

02890023134 *

BMW 1 Series2009 (59) - 118i SE 3dr

Low Mileage

£2,275

2L
86.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Staines Motors LTD

01784779334 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£20,895

Finance available £454 pm

1.5L
48.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

T Wall Garages Vauxhall - Kingswinford

01384881243 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (64) - 5-Door

£8,450

Finance available £166 pm

1.6L
52.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

A 2 Z Cars

01628562332 *

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

Low Mileage

£6,700

Finance available £127 pm

1.5L
76.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

MIDLANDS AUTOHAUS LIMITED

01164646024 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

Low Mileage

£19,199

2L
35.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

HPL Motors Preston

01772957419 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£25,998

2L
27.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Motorstore / BYD (Linwood)

01414736404 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro] Diesel Hatchback

£24,148

1.5L
18.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Sunderland

01918146399 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps) - 18I

Low Mileage

£20,475

Finance available £409 pm

1.5L
29.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carsa Shrewsbury

01743292169 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 120d xDrive M Sport 5dr [Nav] Step Auto

£12,295

Finance available £252 pm

2L
74.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Precision Motor Group

02039537318 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 118i [1.5] M Sport Shadow Edition 5dr

£7,495

Finance available £145 pm

1.5L
77.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

CJ AUTOS BRISTOL

01174404907 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

Low Mileage

£27,995

Finance available £555 pm

1.5L
5.2K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

BMW Bavarian

02895908116 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 1.5 116d M Sport Hatchback 3dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£9,580

1.5L
68.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Dace Car Supermarket

01616945306 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (71) - 118i M Sport 5-Door

£20,700

Finance available £405 pm

1.5L
46.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Aberdeen

01224451046 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£32,856

2L
11.2K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Scunthorpe

01724707996 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 116d M Sport Shadow Ed 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£12,998

1.5L
55.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Fiat (Paisley)

01414040020 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 116i SE 5dr

Low Mileage

£3,995

Finance available £67 pm

1.6L
107.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Clean Cars Connection LTD

01524237312 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 1.5 118i SE (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£19,600

Finance available £341 pm

1.5L
30.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Camberley

01276983839 *

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