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.

2,655 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 116d SE Business Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£9,869

Finance available £198 pm

1.5L
71.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Vehicle Solutions NW Ltd

01995910308 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 116d SE Business Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£9,480

Finance available £189 pm

1.5L
54.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

NT Traders Limited

02037639054 *

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

Reduced

£6,490

Finance available £123 pm

2L
60.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Coupe

Derby Trade Cars

01332315433 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 2.0 120d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps) ***DRIVE A

£8,695

Finance available £172 pm

2L
90.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Kirkham Part Ex Centre

01772348362 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118d M Sport 5dr

£17,939

Finance available £367 pm

2L
39.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 1.5 116d M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (116

£14,995

Finance available £313 pm

1.5L
50.1K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

HR Cars

01494927722 *

BMW 1 Series2012 - 135i Sport Plus Edition 2dr DCT

Low Mileage

£12,995

Finance available £268 pm

3L
57.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Convertible

Worlingham Motor Company

01502441250 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i GPF M Sport Shadow Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£14,250

Finance available £296 pm

1.5L
27.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

CM Autos (midlands) Ltd

01785907379 *

BMW 1 Series2016 - 3.0 M140i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

Low Mileage

£18,500

Finance available £360 pm

3L
59.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Earls Autos

01733977929 *

BMW 1 Series(17) - 2.0 120d M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£8,800

Finance available £174 pm

81.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Not Supplied

High Street Motor Group Ltd

01924793492 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 1.5 118i M Sport Shadow Edition Auto 5dr

£9,995

Finance available £201 pm

1.5L
100.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Malt Mill Motors Plumtree

01158963973 *

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

Low Mileage

£24,998

1.5L
8.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Click & Collect Thurrock

01416118466 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 1.5 116d M Sport DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£16,500

1.5L
59.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

JC Select Stirling

01786232660 *

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 Series2021 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr

£18,544

1.5L
39.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Bournemouth

01202068625 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118d M Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£18,998

2L
32.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Dumfries BMW/MINI

01387340162 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 120d M Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

£29,400

Finance available £583 pm

2L
8.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Ocean Group BMW Penryn

01326333538 *

BMW 1 Series2016 - 116d EfficientDynamics Plus 5dr

Low Mileage

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
72.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

JB Autos Sales

02870440586 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 128ti 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Professional]

Low Mileage

£25,799

Finance available £543 pm

2L
13.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Derby

01332419211 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 118i [136] Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

Low Mileage

£21,826

1.5L
12.6K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Hampshire

01256268420 *

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

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Used BMW 1 Series snapshot review

Pros