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.

3,070 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 120d M Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£5,995

2L
90.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Lloyds Garage

01515411155 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 2.0 116d Sport Auto Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£5,995

2L
71.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Low CC Cars

01793268765 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£24,950

Finance available £492 pm

2L
40.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Digbeth Motor Sales Ltd

01217288710 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 1.5 116d ED Plus Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£7,681

Finance available £149 pm

1.5L
56.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Eye Green Cars

01733794296 *

3.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 3.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (326 ps)

Low Mileage

£15,489

Finance available £324 pm

3L
62.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stirling Cars Ltd

01992661749 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2010 (60) - 2.0 120I SPORT 2d 168 BHP 2-Door

Reduced

£6,490

2L
60.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Coupe

Derby Trade Cars

01332315433 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 2.0 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 5 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£9,999

2L
52.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Corner Park Garage (Swansea)

01792344016 *

3.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 3.0 M140i GPF Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps

Low Mileage

£21,295

Finance available £417 pm

3L
45.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Ace Prestige Autos

01134878957 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 120d xDrive M Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£9,995

2L
44.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Run About Autos LTD

01756636620 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 116d SE Business 5dr [Nav/Servotronic]

Low Mileage

£10,575

Finance available £214 pm

1.5L
57.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

JB Autos Sales

02870440586 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118i M Sport 5dr Step Auto Automatic

Reduced

£19,999

Finance available £390 pm

1.5L
11.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

The Car Warehouse Swansea

01792001637 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 1.5 118i M Sport DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£19,850

Finance available £421 pm

1.5L
21.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Car Planet Watford

01923927636 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118i M Sport 5dr

Reduced

£15,999

Finance available £335 pm

1.5L
58.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

David Hayton Ltd (Mazda Carlisle)

01228273596 *

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

£21,369

1.5L
28.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Marshall Approved Used Melton Mowbray

01664490868 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)

£20,970

2L
74.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Dace Specialist Car Centre Stockport

01616945314 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2025 (25) - M135 xDrive 5dr Step Auto [Pro Pack] Petrol Hatchback

£37,655

2L
4.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Durham

01918146639 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series(71) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£20,250

20.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Not Supplied

John Clark BMW Tayside

01382238686 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 2.0 120I M Sport Auto 5dr

Low Mileage

£16,500

Finance available £346 pm

2L
30.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Clyde Cars Sales Limited

01414049868 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 1.5 118i GPF M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£12,875

Finance available £265 pm

1.5L
49.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Grashion Automotive Solutions

01302203512 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

£13,790

1.5L
79.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Automatic Motors Ltd

01895546521 *

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

Author: Jack Evans

View profile

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.

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