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.

2,823 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (143 ps)

Low Mileage

£9,995

2L
81.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

REVENTO MOTORS LTD

01752425627 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 1.5 118I M Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£20,250

1.5L
18.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Phantom Motor Company

01942365271 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 1.6 118i Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£8,970

Finance available £178 pm

1.6L
50.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vision Motors Direct - Leeds

01138875266 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (72) - 2.0 118d M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£21,490

2L
40.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

AutoUnit Ltd

01633741698 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 - 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

Reduced

£23,990

Finance available £503 pm

1.5L
11.6K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Vospers Ford Truro

01872301823 *

4.6/5 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 Series2024 - 120 Sport 5dr Step Auto

£27,999

Finance available £591 pm

1.5L
9.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Swansea

01792001617 *

BMW 1 Series2016 - 120d xDrive M Sport 5dr [Nav] Step Auto

Low Mileage

£14,000

Finance available £290 pm

2L
54.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Sandiforths

01909498742 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (74) - 120 M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£29,900

Finance available £594 pm

1.5L
2.6K
Miles
Hybrid
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Ocean Group BMW Penryn

01326333538 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 1.5 116d SE Business Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£8,499

Finance available £168 pm

1.5L
86.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Magor Motor Company

01633741705 *

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

Low Mileage

£19,998

1.5L
34.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Kirkcaldy BMW

01592802402 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 118i [136] SE 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

£11,895

1.5L
96.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

V12 Sports and Classics Stoke

01782432972 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 2.0 118d Urban Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (143 ps)

Low Mileage

£5,989

2L
89.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Dace German Car Centre

01616969152 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 1.5 116d Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£5,490

Finance available £100 pm

1.5L
101.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

MOTORSTOP WEST MIDLANDS LTD

01384885524 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 2.0 120d M Sport xDrive Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£5,995

Finance available £112 pm

2L
109.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Car Genie

01484509565 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] Sport Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro] 5-Door

£21,497

Finance available £439 pm

1.5L
22.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Sheffield

01145537264 *

4.7/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£23,055

Finance available £453 pm

1.5L
17.1K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Renault Retail Group Orpington

01689666121 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 116d SE 5dr Step Auto

£13,895

Finance available £288 pm

1.5L
71.1K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

V12 Sports and Classics Worksop

01455241730 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 1.5 118i M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£14,600

Finance available £304 pm

1.5L
65.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Car Planet Watford

01923927636 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2010 - 120i SPORT 2-Door

Reduced

£4,390

Finance available £76 pm

2L
83.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Coupe

V P I Used Car Sales Limited

02039377580 *

4.3/5 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