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.

2,707 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

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

Low Mileage

£15,231

Finance available £318 pm

1.5L
42.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

drivedirect Darlington

01325521614 *

BMW 1 Series2016 - 116d SE 5dr

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
82.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Crawford Car Sales (NI) Ltd

02889440217 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] Sport Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro] 5-Door

£21,697

Finance available £444 pm

1.5L
23.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Birmingham

01215165158 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 120i [2.0] M Sport Shadow Edition 3dr

£10,795

Finance available £219 pm

2L
76.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

CarBrothers NI

02894339938 *

BMW 1 Series2014 - 2.0 116d Sport 5-door

£4,950

Finance available £88 pm

2L
91.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Peak Motors Limited

01663790344 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i [1.5] M Sport Shadow Ed Step Auto 5-Door

Low Mileage

£16,197

Finance available £326 pm

1.5L
28.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Birmingham

01215165158 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (69) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

£17,787

Finance available £345 pm

1.5L
46.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Strada Cars

01642262600 *

BMW 1 Series2011 (60) - 120d M Sport 5dr

£2,095

2L
162.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

S S AUTOS

01274059203 *

BMW 1 Series2014 - 2.0 116d M Sport Auto Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

2L
82.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

AQS CAR SPECIALISTS

01733306260 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 1.5 118i SE (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps) 8.8in D

£14,899

Finance available £285 pm

1.5L
40.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Cartime Bury

01613887693 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 116i Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

1.6L
85.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

FM Motors

01224039992 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - M135 xDrive 5dr Step Auto [Tech+/Pro Pack]

£44,991

2L
6.3K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Hampshire

01256268420 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 118d M Sport 3dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£8,295

Finance available £163 pm

2L
66.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

WMA VEHICLE HIRE AND SALES LIMITED

01913002068 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

Low Mileage

£21,998

1.5L
25.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Kirkcaldy BMW

01592802402 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 2.0 118d M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£13,404

Finance available £277 pm

2L
47.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Edward Johnson Otley Ltd

01943660538 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (13) - M SPORTS-1.6L PETROL-AUTOMATIC-ULEZ/CAZ-FREE 18MONTHS GOLD WARRANTY & 12MON 5-Door

Low Mileage

£7,499

Finance available £145 pm

1.6L
68.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carolina Motors UK

01733666958 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 116 SE 1.5D 115PS 5 DOOR HATCHBACK (EURO 6)

£13,974

Finance available £290 pm

1.5L
43.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Merthyr Motor Auctions

01685702344 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (64) - 2.0 116d Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£4,800

Finance available £85 pm

2L
115.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

The Motor People

01613887786 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 1.5 118i M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (136

Low Mileage

£13,200

Finance available £278 pm

1.5L
47.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Peterborough

01733971423 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£14,499

1.5L
22.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Corner Park Garage (Swansea)

01792344016 *

3.6/5 Stars

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