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.

3,277 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 2.0 120d Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£3,290

2L
126.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

LMA Motors Leicester

01164028882 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr Automatic

£19,995

1.5L
24.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

V12 Sports and Classics Wolverhampton

01902544572 *

3.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 116d SE Business Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£11,294

Finance available £230 pm

1.5L
32.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

AutoTrade Southwest

01453701529 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps) Cruise Con

Low Mileage

£9,175

1.5L
40.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Cartime Rochdale

01615298277 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 1.5 116d M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (1

Low Mileage

£13,890

1.5L
48.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Anchor Vans

01182079095 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 1.5 116d Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£5,990

Finance available £111 pm

1.5L
77.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Lancashire Autos LTD

01254457567 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

Low Mileage

£24,499

1.5L
14.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Leeds

01134676295 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 118i [1.5] M Sport Shadow Edition 5dr

Low Mileage

£14,099

Finance available £293 pm

1.5L
29.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.2/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£20,998

1.5L
22.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Broxburn Seat / Fiat

01506532870 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 116d SE 5-Door

£12,995

Finance available £268 pm

1.5L
82.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Stores

01515419312 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 2.0 118d Sport Plus Edition Convertible 2dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (143

Low Mileage

£5,995

2L
81.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Convertible

Botley Car Centre Limited

01489661104 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£10,395

Finance available £210 pm

1.5L
70.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Wise Auto Ltd

02038737355 *

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

£19,197

Finance available £390 pm

1.5L
29.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Scunthorpe

01724514202 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 - 116d Sport 5-Door

£3,490

2L
107.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

DVP Car Sales Ltd

02039484651 *

3.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

£16,990

Finance available £357 pm

1.5L
49.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Strategic Vehicle Solutions Ltd

01205332561 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i GPF M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s

£13,000

1.5L
52.6K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Riverside Car Sales Ltd

01283241530 *

4.2/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 1.5 116d Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£7,499

Finance available £145 pm

1.5L
65.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Big Bob Car Sales

01482739309 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (70) - 1.5 118i SE Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£14,240

1.5L
74.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Dace Specialist Car Centre Stockport

01616945314 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - M135i M Performance 5dr

£7,290

3L
121.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

JCT 7 Car Sales Ltd

01922661978 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (73) - 118i M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£24,500

1.5L
9.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Aberdeen

01224451046 *

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

Author: Jack Evans

View profile

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.

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