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.

3,000 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2020 - 116d SE 5dr

£13,799

Finance available £277 pm

1.5L
49.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

cinch

01482697731 *

4.2/5 Stars

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

£9,150

Finance available £182 pm

1.5L
80.6K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Integrity Automotive Limited

01473907545 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 118i M Sport 3dr

Low Mileage

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

1.6L
81.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Cars2u

01473354250 *

4.1/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2008 (08) - 118i SE 2dr

Low Mileage

£2,750

2L
109.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Convertible

SPORTS & PERFORMANCE CARS

01706572037 *

2.1/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 2.0 118d Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 2dr

£1,550

2L
172.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

iCars Automotive Ltd

07482502192 *

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

Low Mileage

£22,072

1.5L
22.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Marshall Volkswagen Letchworth

01462559198 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (65) - 1.5 116d Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£7,181

Finance available £138 pm

1.5L
75.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Eye Green Cars

01733794296 *

3.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 3dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£6,995

Finance available £134 pm

1.5L
77.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Cars Of Conwy

01492525999 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

£20,895

Finance available £462 pm

1.5L
25.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Range Manchester

01618048254 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 1.5 118i SE Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps) - PARK SENSORS -

Low Mileage

£15,202

Finance available £298 pm

1.5L
34.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carsa Halesowen

01217525895 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i SE Business Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£11,290

1.5L
79.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Dace Car Supermarket

01616945306 *

4.8/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£22,125

Finance available £386 pm

1.5L
14.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

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 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

BMW 1 Series2010 - 120i SPORT 2-Door

Reduced

£4,390

2L
83.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Coupe

V P I Used Car Sales Limited

02039377580 *

4.3/5 Stars

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

£23,995

1.5L
17.3K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

TrustFord Aberdeen

01224451039 *

4.7/5 Stars

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

Reduced

£14,795

1.5L
21.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Trust UK Lancaster

01524938891 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 1.5 118i SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£7,499

Finance available £145 pm

1.5L
47.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

AMS Cars

01992367189 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 2.0 120d M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

£10,250

Finance available £207 pm

2L
92.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

EVOLVE MOTOR GROUP LTD

01793680983 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 2.0 125i M Sport Shadow Edition Auto 5dr

Low Mileage

£15,995

Finance available £335 pm

2L
52.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Richlee Motor Company Rayleigh

01268219714 *

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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