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 Series2011 - 116d Sport 3-Door

Low Mileage

£3,490

Finance available £56 pm

2L
90.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

PLYMOUTH CARS LTD

01752427445 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i M Sport Shadow Edition 5-Door

£13,190

Finance available £272 pm

1.5L
57.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Fresh Motors Ltd

01953665835 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (74) - 120 M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£31,900

Finance available £635 pm

1.5L
2.6K
Miles
Hybrid
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Ocean Group BMW Penryn

01326333538 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

£23,498

1.5L
19.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Glasgow South Street Vauxhall/Peugeot/Citroen/Vanstore

01414839940 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 1.5 116d Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£5,795

Finance available £107 pm

1.5L
105.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

MY MOTOR SMART LIMITED

01134689428 *

BMW 1 Series2009 (09) - 118d Sport 3dr

Low Mileage

£850

2L
124.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

GVP Car Sales Ltd

01216618719 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 2.0 118d M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps) - LA

Low Mileage

£22,292

Finance available £447 pm

2L
19.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Carsa Bradford

01274087627 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2009 (59) - 2.0 116d Sport Euro 4 3dr

Reduced

£1,850

2L
144.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

AT42 LTD

01483375803 *

0/5 Stars

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 Series2015 (15) - 116d M Sport 5dr Auto [Sat Nav] 2015-15

Low Mileage

£8,995

Finance available £179 pm

2L
64.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

A B Trading

01273095162 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 1.6 116I SPORT 5d 135 BHP 5-Door

Low Mileage

£4,500

Finance available £78 pm

1.6L
72.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Car Central

01217287201 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)

£23,995

Finance available £472 pm

2L
45.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Hatt Service Centre

01752973301 *

BMW 1 Series2015 - 120d M Sport 5-Door

Reduced

£10,990

Finance available £223 pm

2L
73.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

MARLING CAR SALES LTD

01952953911 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 118i Urban 3dr

Reduced

£5,099

Finance available £92 pm

1.6L
84.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

WHEELS 4 LESS NORFOLK LTD

01603937331 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 1.5 116d M Sport DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£16,500

Finance available £346 pm

1.5L
59.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

JC Select Stirling

01786232660 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 3.0 M135i Sports Hatch Sport Auto 3dr

Reduced

£9,995

Finance available £201 pm

3L
96.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Derbyshire Performance

01332419213 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 - 1.5 118I Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£10,500

Finance available £212 pm

1.5L
47.6K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Braunstone Crossroads Motors

01164028881 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£23,450

Finance available £461 pm

2L
49.7K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Roy Hanna Motors

02894338774 *

BMW 1 Series2013 - M135I M PERFORMANCE AUTO 5-Door

Low Mileage

£11,995

Finance available £246 pm

3L
93.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Platinum Car Sales Ltd

01685702348 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 116d Sport 5dr

£16,690

Finance available £351 pm

1.5L
53.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Donnelly M1 Motorstore (Dungannon)

02887448025 *

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