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.

2,597 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - M140i 3dr [Nav] Step Auto

Low Mileage

£16,489

Finance available £346 pm

3L
65.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Suffolk Prestige

01473354265 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 120i [2.0] M Sport Shadow Ed 5dr Step Auto

£14,895

Finance available £323 pm

2L
56.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Range Liverpool

01515417938 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 125i [224] M Sport Shadow Ed 3dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£11,490

Finance available £234 pm

2L
47.5K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

HD AUTOS SHEFFIELD

01144786507 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 1.5 Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£6,795

Finance available £129 pm

1.5L
97.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Ideal Car Centre Ltd

01902544596 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - 95582 5-Door

£19,610

1.5L
36.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

SANDICLIFFE FORD LOUGHBOROUGH

01509272343 *

BMW 1 Series2013 - 118i Sport Plus Edition 2dr

Reduced

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

2L
40.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Convertible

Parkgate Auto Solutions

02890026882 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 120d xDrive M Sport 5dr

£4,495

Finance available £78 pm

2L
127.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

A2 Trade Ltd T/A Shipley Performance

01332502052 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (74) - 120 M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£29,925

1.5L
2.8K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Hatchback

Stephen James Ruxley BMW

02038895479 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - M140I SHADOW EDITION 5-Door

Reduced

£19,995

Finance available £390 pm

3L
55.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Performance Cars Wales Ltd

02920711980 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (71) - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£26,991

2L
32.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Your Next Car Ltd

01156849398 *

0/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£17,998

1.5L
15.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Edinburgh Sighthill Motorstore/Fiat/Abarth/Leap

01316036582 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 2.0 120d M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (190

Low Mileage

£16,299

2L
48.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

HPL Motors Oldham

01612416881 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i GPF M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr

Low Mileage

£15,999

1.5L
32.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Bridgend Motor Group - Ayr Autoplex

01292431154 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (72) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

Low Mileage

£21,450

Finance available £420 pm

1.5L
9.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

South West Motor Sales

01744419366 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 2.0 118d Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£8,999

2L
84.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

AL PRESTIGE CARS LTD

02380017157 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 116d Sport 5dr Step Auto ++ SAT NAV / 35 TAX / DAB / BLUETOOTH / SENSORS ++

Low Mileage

£7,975

Finance available £156 pm

2L
49.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Nick King Car Sales (Gloucester)

01452227299 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

Low Mileage

£24,799

Finance available £521 pm

1.5L
5.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Newport

01633493027 *

BMW 1 Series2014 - 1.6 116i Sport 3-door

Low Mileage

£5,495

Finance available £100 pm

1.6L
74.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Whitefield Motors

01613887758 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)

Low Mileage

£29,800

Finance available £592 pm

2L
13.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Kingsbridge

01904237124 *

BMW 1 Series2010 (10) - 2.0 120i M Sport Euro 5 2dr

Low Mileage

£3,995

Finance available £67 pm

2L
83.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Convertible

Renown Motors

01613887637 *

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

* Telephone numbers starting with 084X or 087X will cost you up to 13p per minute plus your telephone company's access charge. Calls to other telephone numbers will only cost your phone company's access charge.

Used BMW 1 Series snapshot review

Pros