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 Series2012 (12) - 1.6 116i Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£3,995

Finance available £67 pm

1.6L
95.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Wheel City Motors Limited

01443808704 *

0/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£24,499

Finance available £514 pm

1.5L
8.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Newport

01633493027 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 2.0 M Sport Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£20,000

Finance available £390 pm

2L
56.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Jonathan Dawson Car Sales Ltd

01134676315 *

BMW 1 Series2011 (1S) - 2.0 118d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Steptronic Euro 5 (143 ps)

Low Mileage

£5,495

Finance available £100 pm

2L
31.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

NTR Cars

01437457001 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£19,998

1.5L
24.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Kirkcaldy BMW

01592802402 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2009 (09) - 2.0 118d SE Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (143 ps)

Reduced

£2,000

2L
115.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Bhakar-Wood Cars LTD

01952953931 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 2.0 120d M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr

£13,699

2L
66.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Bridgend Motor Group - Ayr Autoplex

01292431154 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 1.5 118i M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£11,995

Finance available £246 pm

1.5L
41.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

MH Car Sales Oxford Ltd

01993463440 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£22,349

Finance available £463 pm

1.5L
12.8K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 2.0 120i GPF M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 3dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s)

Low Mileage

£15,995

Finance available £335 pm

2L
48.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

WMGB

01278550715 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 120D, 2.0 Turbo Diesel, SE Edition, Hatchback, 5 Door, Manual, xDrive.

Low Mileage

£6,799

2L
71.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Elm Tree Car Sales Ltd

01913387238 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 116d Sport 5dr ++ SAT NAV / 20 TAX / ULEZ / DAB / BLUETOOTH ++

Low Mileage

£7,275

Finance available £140 pm

1.5L
79.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Nick King Car Sales (Gloucester)

01452227299 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (67) - 1.5 118i M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 3dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (1

£10,200

Finance available £206 pm

1.5L
81.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Catalina Of Stanningley

01134675328 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 1.5 118i SE Hatchback 3dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£9,999

1.5L
65.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Corner Park Garage (Swansea)

01792344016 *

3.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118D Se 5-Door

Low Mileage

£19,220

Finance available £407 pm

2L
13.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Hippo Approved

01254445378 *

BMW 1 Series2014 - 2.0 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (116 ps)

Reduced

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

2L
98.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

The Garage at Shurlock Row

01182274533 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

Low Mileage

£28,350

1.5L
7.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Bury St Edmunds

01284338953 *

4.6/5 Stars

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

Reduced

£41,990

2L
8.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Listers Boston (BMW)

01205335096 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 1.5 118i GPF M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s)

Low Mileage

£15,995

1.5L
41.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Trust UK Lancaster

01524938891 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 1.5 118i M Sport Shadow Edition Auto 5dr

£14,895

Finance available £310 pm

1.5L
50.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

RDB Car Sales

01592808079 *

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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