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.

2,592 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2014 (63) - 120d BluePerformance SE 5dr Step Auto ULEZ COMPLIANT

Reduced

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

2L
61.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Auto2000 Prestige Cars

02037808184 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 116d EfficientDynamics Plus 5dr

£7,999

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
66.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

John Griffiths Cars Ltd

01778308207 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 116d M Sport 5dr

Reduced

£15,950

Finance available £334 pm

1.5L
87.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Gary Hutchinson Car Sales Ltd

02890026790 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

£24,298

1.5L
23.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Hexham Used Car Centre

01434629849 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2007 (57) - 118i SE 5dr

Low Mileage

£2,499

2L
123.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

RAPID AUTOS LIMITED

01782917185 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i [1.5] Sport 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£13,295

Finance available £286 pm

1.5L
36.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Range Liverpool

01515417938 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 2.0 120d M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£16,590

Finance available £346 pm

2L
33.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Match Stockport

01614139889 *

3.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 1.5 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£18,248

Finance available £393 pm

1.5L
35.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Bristol

01172331396 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 1.6 116i Sport Hatchback 3dr Petrol Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£3,995

1.6L
87.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Northwest Trade Centre Lancaster

01524938637 *

BMW 1 Series2012 - 120d SE 5dr Warranty

Reduced

£3,295

Finance available £51 pm

2L
133.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Speedway Garage Gunness Limited

01724514211 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 1.5 116d ED Plus Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£7,499

Finance available £145 pm

1.5L
68.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

SMS Motors

01144786434 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 1.5 118i GPF M Sport Shadow Edition Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Reduced

£14,495

Finance available £302 pm

1.5L
32.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stevenage Cars

01438908360 *

3.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (65) - 2.0 120d M Sport Hatchback 3dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

Reduced

£13,190

Finance available £272 pm

2L
42.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

JDC Vehicle sales

01529400406 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£19,527

Finance available £414 pm

1.5L
22.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Stellantis &You Preston

01772288869 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 - 2.0 118d Sport Convertible 2-Door

Low Mileage

£4,488

Finance available £78 pm

2L
58.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Convertible

Fine Car Sales

01733942778 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£22,995

Finance available £452 pm

2L
61.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Top Gear NI

02879440940 *

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

£15,940

1.5L
74.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Dace Specialist Car Centre Manchester

01612417068 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118d M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£19,250

Finance available £375 pm

2L
38.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

McCabe Autos

02890023128 *

BMW 1 Series2008 (08) - 2.0 120d SE Euro 4 2dr

Low Mileage

£2,795

2L
100.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

PX Cars Ltd

01924667043 *

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

£24,898

1.5L
30.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Glasgow BMW

01416119940 *

4.7/5 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

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Used BMW 1 Series snapshot review

Pros