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.

3,005 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

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

£6,999

Finance available £134 pm

2L
113.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

SmartBuyMotors Ltd

01443809176 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 1.5 118i SE (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£19,200

Finance available £398 pm

1.5L
25.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Camberley

01276983839 *

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

£25,697

Finance available £530 pm

1.5L
24.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Hessle

01482947558 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i GPF M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£9,989

Finance available £201 pm

1.5L
103.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorhub

01535281058 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£13,690

1.5L
50.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

AutoUnit Ltd

01633741698 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2009 (59) - 2.0 120d Sport Steptronic Euro 5 2dr

Low Mileage

£4,290

2L
78.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Coupe

LMA Motors Leicester

01164028882 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£12,400

Finance available £255 pm

1.5L
18.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Nuneaton Car Sales Ltd

02475187138 *

BMW 1 Series2005 (55) - 2.0 120i SE Steptronic Euro 4 5dr

Low Mileage

£990

2L
99.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

STORMFORCE LIMITED

01515417919 *

BMW 1 Series2014 - 116d Sport 5dr finance available

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

2L
95.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Axholme Car Exchange Limited

01724514216 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£21,600

Finance available £423 pm

1.5L
22.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

GERMAN AUTOCENTRE CARS

01143086596 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - 2.0 128ti Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (265 ps)

100

Low Mileage

£23,990

Finance available £472 pm

2L
33.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Redgate Lodge

01916077194 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 3.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (326 ps)

Low Mileage

£15,989

Finance available £335 pm

3L
50.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Stirling Cars Ltd

01992661749 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2006 (02) - 118d Sport 5dr

£1,695

2L
172.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Stan Hill Motors

01254457273 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 1.5 118i GPF M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s)

Low Mileage

£16,295

1.5L
41.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Trust UK Lancaster

01524938891 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (68) - 3.0 M140i GPF Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps

£17,495

Finance available £339 pm

3L
74.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

WMGB

01278550715 *

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

Reduced

£4,419

Finance available £76 pm

1.5L
115.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

1UP Automotive Ltd

01616945346 *

4.2/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (73) - 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto [Pro Pack] Diesel Hatchback

Low Mileage

£24,511

1.5L
4.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Durham

01918146639 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 1.5 118i SE Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

Reduced

£13,995

Finance available £290 pm

1.5L
36.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Bellboy Cars

01477410105 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 116d M Sport Shadow Edition 5dr

Low Mileage

£13,998

1.5L
39.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Peugeot (Glasgow)

01414736424 *

4.7/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£19,547

Finance available £423 pm

1.5L
20.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Bristol

01172331396 *

4.4/5 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

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.

View guides

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