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.

2,722 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 116d EfficientDynamics Plus 5dr

£4,999

Finance available £89 pm

1.5L
125.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

C.A Used Cars

01905953520 *

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

Low Mileage

£19,699

Finance available £418 pm

1.5L
12.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

FOW Trafford

01616969155 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 1.5 116d Sport lcp Hatchback 5dr Diesel Dct Euro 6 s/s 116 Ps

£18,900

1.5L
37.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Pentagon Vauxhall (Loughborough)

01332414577 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 2.0 116d M Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£5,200

Finance available £94 pm

2L
95.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

SMS Motors

01144786434 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 2.0 116d M Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£5,995

Finance available £112 pm

2L
75.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Car Market Yorkshire

01924668146 *

1.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 1.5 118i M Sport Shadow Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£6,995

Finance available £134 pm

1.5L
152.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Abbey Car Sales Ltd

01134676312 *

BMW 1 Series2008 (08) - 116i ES 5dr [122]

Low Mileage

£1,495

1.6L
101.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

ARVP Group LTD

02475103329 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - M135 xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£38,950

2L
6.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Bury St Edmunds

01284338953 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 1.5 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Reduced

£15,550

Finance available £325 pm

1.5L
76.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Tenby Car Supermarket

01582280726 *

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

£27,476

1.5L
8.2K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Salisbury

01722445824 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (72) - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£28,895

2L
28.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Goscote Services

01164785112 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 116 SE 1.5D 115PS 5 DOOR HATCHBACK (EURO 6)

£13,200

Finance available £273 pm

1.5L
59.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Merthyr Motor Auctions

01685702344 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i [1.5] M Sport Shadow Edition 5dr

Low Mileage

£14,995

Finance available £313 pm

1.5L
44.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

RMB Cars

02890026879 *

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

Low Mileage

£2,275

2L
86.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Staines Motors LTD

01784779334 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 128ti Step Auto [Live Cockpit Professional] 5-Door

Low Mileage

£26,176

Finance available £540 pm

2L
13.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Scunthorpe

01724514202 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£21,490

2L
69.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Listers Boston (BMW)

01205335096 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 2.0 118d Sport Plus Edition Steptronic Euro 5 2dr

Low Mileage

£6,495

Finance available £123 pm

2L
87.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Coupe

Large Motor Company

01635885044 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Tech/Pro Pack]

Low Mileage

£19,239

Finance available £395 pm

1.5L
18.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2009 (59) - 2.0 118d M Sport Euro 5 2dr

Low Mileage

£2,495

2L
107.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

PX Cars Ltd

01924667043 *

BMW 1 Series2016 - 1.5 118i M Sport 3-Door

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
84.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Swans Motor Group LTD

01603516692 *

4.4/5 Stars

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