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.

2,676 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2015 - 1.6 118i Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£6,738

Finance available £128 pm

1.6L
83.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Whip Solutions Ltd

01616967540 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 2.0 120d Sport Plus Edition Euro 5 (s/s) 2dr

Reduced

£4,999

Finance available £89 pm

2L
97.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

Blaydon Part Exchange Centre Ltd

01918237728 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 3.0 M140i GPF Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps

£19,299

Finance available £376 pm

3L
64.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Empressive Motor Company

01865591236 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 135i M Sport DCT Coupe N55 2-Door

Low Mileage

£12,990

Finance available £268 pm

3L
65.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Coupe

Oakley Specialist Cars

01435510392 *

BMW 1 Series2016 - 1.5 118i M Sport 3-Door

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
84.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Swans Motor Group LTD

01603516692 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 - 118i [1.5] Sport 5dr [Nav] Step Auto

Low Mileage

£12,699

Finance available £261 pm

1.5L
33.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2010 (60) - 2.0 118d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (143 ps)

Low Mileage

£3,690

Finance available £60 pm

2L
93.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Swift Cars south Wales Ltd

01495369894 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 1.5 118i Sport 3-Door

£5,995

Finance available £112 pm

1.5L
97.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Swans Motor Group LTD

01603516692 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 1.5 118i GPF M Sport Shadow Edition Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£12,994

Finance available £268 pm

1.5L
61.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

AutoTrade Southwest

01453701529 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 2.0 116d SE Euro 5 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

2L
65.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

SRE Motors Ltd

01782432860 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 128ti 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Professional]

£24,298

2L
33.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Click & Collect Colchester

01414839928 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 1.5 118i M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (1

£10,895

1.5L
77.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motortrust UK Garstang

01942365158 *

BMW 1 Series2009 - 116i [2.0] SE 5dr

Low Mileage

£3,995

2L
46.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Perrys Swinton Vauxhall

01709803690 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 - 3.0 M140I Auto 5dr

Low Mileage

£21,100

Finance available £413 pm

3L
35.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

SKV Motors

01708202983 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

Low Mileage

£16,999

2L
40.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

HPL Motors Preston

01772957419 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 2.0 118d Sport Auto Euro 5 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£8,695

Finance available £172 pm

2L
54.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

RISHTON AUTO CARE LIMITED

01254919190 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 118d SE 3dr

Low Mileage

£8,990

Finance available £179 pm

2L
54.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Riverside Sports & Prestige

01924975090 *

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

Low Mileage

£14,795

Finance available £308 pm

1.5L
36.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Bellboy Cars

01477410105 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (70) - 116 SE 1.5D 115PS 5 DOOR HATCHBACK (EURO 6)

£13,200

Finance available £273 pm

1.5L
52.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Merthyr Motor Auctions

01685702344 *

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

Low Mileage

£21,500

Finance available £421 pm

1.5L
19.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Tayside

01382238686 *

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