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.

3,080 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118d M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

£19,750

2L
57.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Milton Keynes

01908104093 *

4.6/5 Stars

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

£17,880

Finance available £385 pm

3L
80.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Bristol

01172331396 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 1.5 116d SE Business Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£7,979

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
72.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Shahz Cars Ltd

01525308852 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 118d M Sport 3dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£8,295

2L
66.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

WMA VEHICLE HIRE AND SALES LIMITED

01913002068 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 118i M Sport 3-Door

Low Mileage

£10,495

Finance available £212 pm

1.5L
65.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Phoenix Car Centre

01962670197 *

BMW 1 Series2009 (59) - 118d M Sport 3dr

£1,395

2L
177.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Assured Cars

01274028296 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i M Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£16,457

1.5L
32.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Perrys Milton Keynes Peugeot

01908049752 *

4.2/5 Stars

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

£28,195

1.5L
6.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Tunbridge Wells

01892571854 *

3.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£25,795

Finance available £509 pm

2L
23.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

DB90 Prestigious Automobiles

01302986971 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 2.0 128ti Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (265 ps)

Low Mileage

£25,650

Finance available £506 pm

2L
21.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

North Loop Autohaus

01527911876 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 2.0 118d M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£14,500

Finance available £302 pm

2L
30.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Car Planet Watford

01923927636 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 - 116d SE BUSINESS 5-Door

£6,995

Finance available £134 pm

1.5L
103.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

ALLCARS(sales)LIMITEDT/aAllcars

01945664266 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

Low Mileage

£21,998

1.5L
13.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Grangemouth Hyundai

01324465374 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (69) - 120d xDrive M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£23,100

2L
27.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Aberdeen

01224451046 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£16,097

Finance available £324 pm

1.5L
20.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Hessle

01482947558 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 116i Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£2,599

1.6L
82.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

AB Cars

02039375154 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

Low Mileage

£25,990

1.5L
7.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Salisbury

01722445824 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 3.0 M140i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

Low Mileage

£18,781

Finance available £405 pm

3L
39.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Lympsham

01934312926 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 3dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£8,995

Finance available £179 pm

1.5L
79.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Cars Of Conwy Car Centre (Junction)

01492551634 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 1.5 118i M Sport, 68.300 miles, 2 owners, Euro 6 ULEZ Compliant, full histo 5-Door

£16,499

Finance available £273 pm

1.5L
68.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Approved Cars Ltd

01622239718 *

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

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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