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) - 116d EfficientDynamics Plus 5dr

£8,490

Finance available £167 pm

1.5L
76.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Castle 4 Cars

02382146222 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 128ti 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£29,224

2L
11.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Bridgwater

01278555750 *

0/5 Stars

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

Reduced

£13,600

Finance available £282 pm

1.5L
45.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Merthyr Motor Auctions

01685702344 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 2.0 120d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

Low Mileage

£22,300

Finance available £417 pm

2L
18.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Sheffield

01145510576 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

Low Mileage

£16,200

Finance available £346 pm

1.5L
41.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Norwich

01603567768 *

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

£24,498

1.5L
13.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Fiat/Kia/Abarth (Seafield)

01316036422 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (69) - 1.5 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£17,870

1.5L
22.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Dace Specialist Car Centre Stockport

01616945314 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 - 1.5 118I Sport Auto 5dr

£9,990

Finance available £201 pm

1.5L
95.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Swaan Motors Ltd

01733667053 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 1.6 116i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£4,499

1.6L
72.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Affordable Cars Prestige Car Supermarket

01904238447 *

BMW 1 Series(62) - 2.0 118d M Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

105.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Not Supplied

Derbyshire Performance

01332419213 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£29,950

2L
7.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall SKODA Reading

01182078976 *

BMW 1 Series2010 (10) - 120i Sport 2dr Petrol Manual

Low Mileage

£5,500

Finance available £101 pm

2L
78.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Coupe

TOP RIGHT CAR CENTRE

01913001768 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 120d Sport 5dr Step Auto Ex Police

£4,695

Finance available £83 pm

2L
158.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

CSK Cars And Commercials

01639501144 *

4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2008 - 2.0 SE 5dr Automatic

Low Mileage

£3,995

Finance available £67 pm

2L
84.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Affordable Cars Of Kent

01634957989 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 1.6 116i Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£4,395

Finance available £76 pm

1.6L
93.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

SARREN LTD

01332316454 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 2.0 120d M Sport xDrive Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£9,490

2L
54.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Keywise Cars Ltd

01392344397 *

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

Low Mileage

£19,995

Finance available £390 pm

3L
51.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

TRINITY MOTOR SALES LTD

01422411698 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 116d EfficientDynamics 5dr

£2,595

1.6L
126.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

JB Enterprise 2023 LTD

01613887772 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 120d Sport 5dr Step Auto

£18,495

Finance available £359 pm

2L
50.2K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

McGillions

02881440369 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 116d SE 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Professional]

£15,495

1.5L
53.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

V12 Sports and Classics Hinckley

01455244504 *

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