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.

2,554 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 1.5 116d Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£8,495

Finance available £167 pm

1.5L
75.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Dereham Motor Company ltd

01362700376 *

3.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - BMW 1.5 1 Series 5dr

£19,495

1.5L
28.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Baylis Ross-on-Wye

01989554131 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2009 - 120i SE 2-Door

Low Mileage

£3,495

2L
102.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Convertible

SLD Autos

01443801332 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 2.0 118D SE 5DR Automatic

Reduced

£5,695

Finance available £105 pm

2L
89.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

JSA Cars Ltd

01253201497 *

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

£8,990

Finance available £179 pm

1.5L
85.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

365 MOTORS LTD

01204968071 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 1.5 116d M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£17,995

Finance available £372 pm

1.5L
40.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Tangelo Used Cars Exeter

01394331922 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118d M Sport 5dr

£16,549

Finance available £337 pm

2L
70.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 1.5 118i SE (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£15,300

Finance available £326 pm

1.5L
29.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Leeds

01134689988 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 3.0 M140i GPF Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

£19,990

Finance available £390 pm

3L
50.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Per4mance Cars Limited

01625468256 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£20,990

Finance available £444 pm

2L
51.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Match Crewe

01270441019 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (1L) - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£12,849

Finance available £249 pm

2L
56.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Hilton Car Supermarket Aylesbury

01296320383 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i [1.5] M Sport Shadow Edition 3dr

Low Mileage

£14,999

Finance available £313 pm

1.5L
27.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118i [136] SE 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£17,949

Finance available £367 pm

1.5L
18.1K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

cinch

01733309722 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series135i M Sport DCT Coupe N55

Low Mileage

£12,990

Finance available £268 pm

56.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Coupe

Oakley Specialist Cars

01435510392 *

BMW 1 Series2011 (11) - 120d M Sport 2dr

Reduced

£2,150

2L
113.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

BUDGET CARS (NW) LTD

01614139818 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 120d M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£19,990

2L
65.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Maidstone

01622234873 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£22,199

Finance available £474 pm

2L
51.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Sandles Car Supermarket

01553601835 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 116d Sport 5dr

Reduced

£2,895

2L
137.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

SK CAR COMPANY LTD

01384885534 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 2.0 118D SPORT 5d 147 BHP 5-Door

Reduced

£6,895

Finance available £132 pm

2L
90.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Evoque Motors

01254445630 *

4.2/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 1.5 116d SE Business Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£7,795

Finance available £152 pm

1.5L
82.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Steve Williams Car Sales

01495364875 *

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