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.

2,706 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2023 (73) - M135i xDrive 2.0 Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps) 5-Door

£30,999

2L
14.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Castle Motors (Trebrown)

01503770414 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 2.0 118d Sport Auto Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£4,795

Finance available £85 pm

2L
116.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Greenlight Automotive Ltd

01254920838 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP] Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£25,136

1.5L
6.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Sunderland

01918146399 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 1.5 118i SE 5dr

Low Mileage

£10,700

Finance available £217 pm

1.5L
42.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Braunstone Crossroads Motors

01164028881 *

BMW 1 Series2010 (59) - 118d SE 2dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£3,475

Finance available £55 pm

2L
91.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Coupe

RRJA Autos Limited

01501640117 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 1.6 114i Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 3dr

£2,995

1.6L
134.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

EASICARS SUPERMARKET

02039375174 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP] Petrol Hatchback

£21,088

1.5L
39.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

South Hereford Volkswagen Hereford

01432809890 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 2.0 118d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£6,495

Finance available £123 pm

2L
100.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Elite Motors of Garstang Ltd

01995910772 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118d M Sport 5dr

£17,498

2L
62.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Volkswagen (Glasgow)

01414736428 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 - 118i SE Auto FACELIFT PETROL AUTO

£9,495

Finance available £190 pm

1.5L
55.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

London Autos Ltd

01628561148 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£25,990

2L
40.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Milton Keynes

01908104093 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 - 2.0 M135i xDrive Auto 4WD 5dr

£23,380

Finance available £460 pm

2L
46.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

HSI Automotive

01274059767 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - M140i 5-door

Low Mileage

£20,600

3L
45.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Aberdeen

01224451046 *

BMW 1 Series2014 - 116d EFFICIENTDYNAMICS 5-Door

£5,495

Finance available £100 pm

1.6L
98.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Carrera Cars Wales

01685702350 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 - 2.0 128ti (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (265 ps) - LANE DEPA

Low Mileage

£25,659

Finance available £518 pm

2L
11.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carsa Cannock

01543227664 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 118d Sport 5dr [Nav]

£8,995

Finance available £179 pm

2L
68.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

JB Autos Sales

02870440586 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (77) - 1.6 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£7,999

1.6L
76.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Corner Park Garage (Swansea)

01792344016 *

3.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 - 116d Sport 5dr

Reduced

£8,395

Finance available £165 pm

1.5L
64.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Roxforde Cars

02890023134 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 5dr 118i 136 M Sport Automatic

Low Mileage

£24,495

1.5L
11.3K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Frosts Chichester

01243219542 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

Low Mileage

£19,995

Finance available £390 pm

3L
37.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

BM Automotive

01752427499 *

5/5 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