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.

2,631 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series118i M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£19,702

1.5L
23.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Maidstone

01622234873 *

0/5 Stars

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 Series2013 (63) - 2.0 118d SE Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£5,250

Finance available £95 pm

2L
75.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

B&F Cars Northampton

01604343399 *

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

Reduced

£18,475

Finance available £359 pm

3L
54.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Sandwell Car Sales

01215160845 *

BMW 1 Series2008 (08) - 116i SE 3dr [122]

Low Mileage

£2,190

1.6L
91.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

AUTO ONE XPRESS LTD

02037633726 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£24,998

2L
37.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Vauxhall/Jeep/Alfa Romeo (Linwood)

01414736412 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118d M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£19,250

Finance available £375 pm

2L
38.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

McCabe Autos

02890023128 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 2.0 118d M Sport (LCP) Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£17,495

Finance available £339 pm

2L
42.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Tamebridge Cars Ltd

01642049641 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (66) - 116d EfficientDynamics Plus 5dr

£4,999

Finance available £89 pm

1.5L
67.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Topyard Automotives Ltd

01932559040 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps) **Low Mile

£13,999

Finance available £290 pm

1.5L
65.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

FMC Swansea Ltd

01792739469 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 1.5 116d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£11,477

Finance available £234 pm

1.5L
70.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Liverpool Car Centre

01515417928 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£18,495

Finance available £359 pm

1.5L
20.6K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

j14 cars ltd

07756816351 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 2.0 120d M Sport xDrive Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£7,644

Finance available £148 pm

2L
70.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

High Street Motor Group Ltd

01924793492 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 2.0 120d SE Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual xDrive Euro 5 (s/s) (184 ps)

£5,018

Finance available £90 pm

2L
100.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

TGZ SELECT T/A SELECT CARZ LTD

01915945501 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (70) - 116 SE 1.5D 115PS 5 DOOR HATCHBACK (EURO 6)

£13,200

Finance available £273 pm

1.5L
52.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Merthyr Motor Auctions

01685702344 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (73) - 128ti 5-Door

£28,544

2L
1.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Prestige Cars Kent

01689669471 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i GPF Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£14,690

Finance available £312 pm

1.5L
24.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Ponko

01223857211 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 118d M Sport 5dr [Nav]

£10,250

Finance available £207 pm

2L
78.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

JB Autos Sales

02870440586 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 2.0 M135i xDrive Auto 4WD 5dr

£18,999

Finance available £370 pm

2L
71.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Penny Hill Motors

01276538675 *

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

£17,998

Finance available £349 pm

1.5L
5.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

drivedirect Aldershot

01252412344 *

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