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.

2,803 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series(23) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£17,990

Finance available £349 pm

34.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

Lennox Auto Limited

02039484608 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£22,700

Finance available £446 pm

1.5L
26.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Quality Part X Ltd Dunstable

01582280653 *

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

£12,795

1.5L
86.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Trust UK Bury

01612416386 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (71) - 1.5 116d Sport (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£16,680

Finance available £350 pm

1.5L
51.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Quality Part X Ltd Stevenage

01438584759 *

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

Reduced

£10,990

Finance available £223 pm

1.5L
36.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

JDC Vehicle sales

01529400406 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps) 1 Previ

£17,990

Finance available £349 pm

1.5L
45.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Cartime Bury

01613887693 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 - 1.6 116i SE 3 door

Low Mileage

£4,695

Finance available £83 pm

1.6L
82.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Taylors Autos

01522467385 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (71) - 1.5 118i SE (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£15,900

Finance available £340 pm

1.5L
48.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Sheffield

01145510576 *

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

Reduced

£9,880

Finance available £198 pm

1.5L
54.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

NT Traders Limited

02037639054 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 120i [2.0] M Sport Shadow Ed 5dr Step Auto

£14,895

Finance available £323 pm

2L
56.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Range Liverpool

01515417938 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 1.5 118I M Sport Auto 5dr

Low Mileage

£17,060

Finance available £330 pm

1.5L
22.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Ellahi Motors Limited

01256679122 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP] SEMI-AUTO

Low Mileage

£22,495

Finance available £442 pm

1.5L
20.6K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

TrustFord Glasgow

01412601245 *

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

£25,197

Finance available £519 pm

1.5L
31.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Scunthorpe

01724514202 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 116d EfficientDynamics Plus 5dr

£6,150

Finance available £115 pm

1.5L
82.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

KT Cars Ltd

01306771707 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (73) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£22,900

Finance available £394 pm

1.5L
12.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Leeds

01134689988 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 118d SE 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£6,400

Finance available £121 pm

2L
64.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Hilltop Motors

01216618553 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 2.0 120d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

£6,893

2L
80.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

The World of Cars Rugby

02475105174 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (69) - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

Low Mileage

£19,145

2L
35.1K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Trust UK Bury

01612416386 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 1.6 116d ED EfficientDynamics Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

1.6L
69.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Carbon Motors Ltd

01216615534 *

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