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 Series2020 - 118D M SPORT 5DR

Low Mileage

£18,995

Finance available £370 pm

2L
22.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Brayley Thurrock Car Centre

01375808571 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 1.5 118i M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£7,990

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
115.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Reeds Motors Ltd

01784770040 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

£19,750

Finance available £385 pm

1.5L
11.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Palamino NW Ltd

01704335673 *

BMW 1 Series2011 - 3.0 M Euro 5 2dr

Low Mileage

£60,000

Finance available £1,212 pm

68.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Coupe

Farlan Automotives Limited

02038730401 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i [1.5] M Sport Shadow Edition 3dr

£13,250

Finance available £274 pm

1.5L
72.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Crawford Cars

02892448214 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 1.5 118i M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (136

Low Mileage

£13,995

Finance available £290 pm

1.5L
55.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Car Hunters

01621733521 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i SE 5-Door

£21,750

Finance available £426 pm

1.5L
3.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Wheelers Chipping Norton

01608692663 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)-2 Owner

£17,250

Finance available £334 pm

1.5L
46.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Rix Motors

01925917564 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 116d Efficientdynamics 5-Door

£3,495

Finance available £56 pm

1.6L
146.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Woodville Car Sales

01414049407 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 2.0 120d Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

£18,500

Finance available £321 pm

2L
45.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Leeds

01134689988 *

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

£20,990

Finance available £411 pm

2L
43.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Donnelly M1 Motorstore (Dungannon)

02887448025 *

BMW 1 Series2010 - 120i SPORT 2-Door

Reduced

£4,390

Finance available £76 pm

2L
83.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Coupe

V P I Used Car Sales Limited

02039377580 *

3.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 - 118i M Sport 5-Door

£23,750

Finance available £467 pm

1.5L
18.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Saxton 4x4

01245202306 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 118d M Sport 5-Door

£18,700

Finance available £364 pm

2L
44.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Aberdeen

01224451046 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 1.5 118I Sport Auto 5dr

£9,990

Finance available £201 pm

1.5L
95.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Swaan Motors Ltd

01733667053 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (66) - 1.5 118i Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£6,750

Finance available £128 pm

1.5L
105.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Anthonys Autos

01722447811 *

BMW 1 Series(17) - 3.0 M140i Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£19,995

Finance available £390 pm

40.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

Horizon Performance Cars

01273442339 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 1.5 116d Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£12,880

Finance available £265 pm

1.5L
63.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Quality Part X Ltd Stevenage

01438584759 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£17,700

Finance available £307 pm

1.5L
44.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Cannock

01543221765 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

Low Mileage

£28,450

Finance available £564 pm

1.5L
5.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

JKC Approved Used BMW

02870441623 *

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