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.

2,830 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2021 - 120d Sport 5dr Step Auto

£20,995

Finance available £411 pm

2L
36.1K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Donnelly Mallusk Motorstore

02895908087 *

BMW 1 Series2015 - 116d Sport 5dr

£6,825

Finance available £130 pm

1.5L
89.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

JB Autos Sales

02870440586 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 118D SPORT PLUS EDITION 2-Door

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

2L
107.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Convertible

Purbrook Motor Company

02392006050 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 120d BluePerformance SE 5dr

£3,495

Finance available £56 pm

2L
149.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

AR Cars

01254947703 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 120d SE 2dr

Low Mileage

£3,195

2L
101.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Convertible

Aster Cars

01733971204 *

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

£19,806

Finance available £429 pm

1.5L
33.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Weston

01934313340 *

4.5/5 Stars

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

£21,197

Finance available £433 pm

1.5L
27.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Birmingham

01215165158 *

4.6/5 Stars

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

£12,295

Finance available £252 pm

1.5L
73.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

WMGB

01278550715 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - 2.0 118d M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£20,350

Finance available £398 pm

2L
37.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

drivedirect Darlington

01325521614 *

BMW 1 Series2015 - 1.6 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£7,020

1.6L
106.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Bristol

01172331396 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£5,695

Finance available £105 pm

1.5L
98.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Sittingbourne Cars and Classics

01795506518 *

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

£5,000

1.5L
114.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Buckley Trade Centre

01352871794 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 116i Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£4,799

Finance available £85 pm

1.6L
84.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Staines Motors LTD

01784779334 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 1.5 116d Sport (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£14,980

Finance available £312 pm

1.5L
65.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Quality Part X Ltd Stevenage

01438584759 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 2.0 118d SE Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£9,500

2L
61.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Carlton Car Centre Limited

01156977766 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£20,799

Finance available £429 pm

1.5L
13.3K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2007 (07) - 2.0 118d Sport Euro 4 5dr

Low Mileage

£1,495

2L
120.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

The Motor People

01613887786 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)

£20,582

Finance available £446 pm

2L
68.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Weston

01934313340 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 1.5 116d Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£17,500

Finance available £339 pm

1.5L
51.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

GERMAN AUTOCENTRE CARS

01143086596 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 128ti 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Professional]

£25,041

2L
35.3K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Hampshire

01256268420 *

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