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.

2,655 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

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

Low Mileage

£22,831

Finance available £458 pm

1.5L
11.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Carsa Durham

01388217377 *

3.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£19,998

1.5L
24.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Kirkcaldy BMW

01592802402 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 123d M Sport 2dr

£4,490

2L
106.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

Car Space

01280733610 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 118i [1.5] M Sport 5dr

Reduced

£7,490

Finance available £145 pm

1.5L
35.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

TS Motors

01282509437 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 116d Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£5,250

Finance available £95 pm

2L
81.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Beechwood Van Sales Ltd

01515417902 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (72) - 120d xDrive M Sport 5dr Step Auto [Pro Pack] Diesel Hatchback

Low Mileage

£29,201

2L
10.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Bridgwater

01278555750 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 3.0 M135i Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£9,650

Finance available £193 pm

3L
94.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Simple Car Sales Ltd

01539769118 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 2.0 120d M Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£6,494

Finance available £123 pm

2L
86.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Vivian Price Cars

01172331344 *

BMW 1 Series2006 (56) - 2.0 118d SE Euro 4 5dr

£1,750

2L
151.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

JT Car Sales Worksop Ltd

01909498731 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (73) - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£34,999

Finance available £698 pm

2L
5.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Worcester Road Motors Ltd

01299667626 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£15,950

Finance available £334 pm

1.5L
78.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Cars To Go Ltd

01202051975 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 118d M SPORT SHADOW EDITION 5-Door

£12,995

Finance available £268 pm

2L
86.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Southwest Motor Company

01752982529 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 (72) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP] Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£23,401

1.5L
14.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Exeter

01392341615 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 1.5 116d M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£23,920

Finance available £471 pm

1.5L
24.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Buy and Go Cars

02920108594 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 118i SPORT [NAV/SERVOTRONIC] 3-Door

£8,595

Finance available £170 pm

1.5L
110.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

MM AUTO CAR SALES

01382238685 *

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

£24,898

1.5L
12.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Glasgow BMW

01416119940 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 2.0 118D SE 5DR Automatic

Reduced

£5,695

Finance available £105 pm

2L
89.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

JSA Cars Ltd

01253201497 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£18,990

Finance available £370 pm

3L
70.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Autohaven Motors Ltd

01494311306 *

BMW 1 Series(62) - 1.6 116i M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£9,249

Finance available £184 pm

39.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

M Cars Surrey Ltd

01342649540 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 114i Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

1.6L
74.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Cars of Ferndown

01202068605 *

3.8/5 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

* 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