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.

2,725 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

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

Low Mileage

£14,790

Finance available £302 pm

1.5L
24.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Ponko

01223857211 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 1.6 116i M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£6,095

Finance available £114 pm

1.6L
95.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Right Hand Motor Ltd

01992660275 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 118I 136 STEP LCP M Sport 5-Door

Reduced

£25,949

Finance available £569 pm

1.5L
3.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Hendy Car Store Exeter

01392342593 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 116d Sport 5dr

£15,990

Finance available £308 pm

1.5L
57.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Cartime Bury

01613887693 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 116d M Sport 5dr + DAB / BLUETOOTH / 20 TAX / ULEZ / SENSORS

Low Mileage

£8,375

Finance available £165 pm

1.5L
75.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Nick King Car Sales (Gloucester)

01452227299 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 2.0 118d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

Low Mileage

£9,340

Finance available £186 pm

2L
59.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

DR Motors

01162162407 *

3.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 114d Sport 5dr

£2,995

1.6L
118.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

SK CAR COMPANY LTD

01384885534 *

BMW 1 Series2009 (09) - 2.0 118i SE Euro 4 2dr

Low Mileage

£3,000

Finance available £45 pm

2L
81.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Convertible

Martyns Car Sales

01932687838 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (73) - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

£29,029

2L
23.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Sunderland

01918146399 *

0/5 Stars

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

£22,799

Finance available £477 pm

1.5L
26.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Burnley

01282504324 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 2.0 120d Exclusive Edition Coupe 2dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (177 ps) LE

£3,995

Finance available £67 pm

2L
120.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

Autopoint (Stansted) Ltd

01279212477 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 2.0 125d M Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£9,295

Finance available £185 pm

2L
72.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Leeon Limited

01493801777 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (0H) - 2.0 118d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£6,295

Finance available £118 pm

1.5L
111.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Not Supplied

Swale Auto Sales II LTD

01748906162 *

0/5 Stars

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 Series2013 - 2.0 116D SE 5dr

Low Mileage

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

2L
91.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Eastwood Motor Sales Limited

01702410178 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 118d M Sport 2dr

£2,995

2L
103.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

S&O AUTOMOTIVE LTD

01143089077 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 128ti 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Professional]

£24,298

2L
33.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Click & Collect Colchester

01414839928 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps) Automatic

Low Mileage

£29,395

2L
11.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Sinclair Direct Bridgend

01656339498 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 120d M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£28,000

Finance available £555 pm

2L
4.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Tayside

01382238686 *

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