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.

2,991 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 1.5 116d Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps) Pano

Reduced

£15,671

Finance available £301 pm

1.5L
57.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Cartime Bury

01613887693 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2010 (10) - 2.0 118d M Sport Euro 5 5dr

£1,995

2L
128.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

EASICARS SUPERMARKET

02039375174 *

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

Low Mileage

£19,450

1.5L
25.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Milton Keynes

01908104093 *

4.6/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£17,800

Finance available £375 pm

1.5L
22.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Car Planet Watford

01923927636 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2025 - M135 xDrive 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£42,900

2L
1.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Maidstone

01622234873 *

3.7/5 Stars

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

£16,500

Finance available £303 pm

2L
47.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Sheffield

01145510576 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 118d M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£5,800

Finance available £107 pm

2L
128.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

EH Traders Ltd

01274059188 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 1.5 118i Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£11,900

Finance available £243 pm

1.5L
21.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Car Planet Watford

01923927636 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 - 1.6 116d EfficientDynamics 5dr

£2,495

1.6L
159.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Cuxton Road Car Sales

01634959364 *

1.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 - 2.0 120d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

Low Mileage

£10,495

Finance available £212 pm

2L
55.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

MSC MOTORS LTD

01782917198 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£17,495

Finance available £339 pm

1.5L
49.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Premier Cars

01708932385 *

BMW 1 Series2013 - 2.0 120d SE Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual xDrive Euro 5 (s/s) (184 ps) Manual

Low Mileage

£5,995

Finance available £112 pm

2L
81.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

O C Davies Penguin Court

01267612071 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£24,995

Finance available £493 pm

2L
33.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Donnelly Mallusk Motorstore

02895908087 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (66) - 1.5 116d SE Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£8,000

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
85.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Hammond Cars Great Yarmouth

01493806041 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£21,300

Finance available £368 pm

1.5L
16.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (74) - M135 xDrive 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£36,068

2L
6.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Yeovil

01935311780 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition 5-door

Low Mileage

£22,495

Finance available £442 pm

3L
31.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Tyrala Performance Cars

01913387311 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 118d Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£12,995

2L
28.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Llanelli Motor Company

01554707000 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£22,995

Finance available £452 pm

1.5L
15.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Davies Car Sales Ltd

01925917444 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 2.0 128ti Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£22,500

Finance available £480 pm

2L
52.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Car Planet Barnet

02039577301 *

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

Author: Jack Evans

View profile

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.

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