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.

2,982 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2009 (59) - 59 PLATE BMW 118d Sport 2dr CONVERTABLE ,RED

Reduced

£3,995

2L
81.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Convertible

Cowbridge Road Motor Company

02920027040 *

4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 116d Sport 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£15,995

Finance available £335 pm

1.5L
36.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

NI Car Sales Ltd

02838447728 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 1.5 118I Sport Auto 5dr

£18,750

Finance available £365 pm

1.5L
33.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Beck Evans

02037803374 *

4.1/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (70) - 118d M Sport 5dr Diesel Hatchback

Low Mileage

£19,262

2L
27.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Vertu BMW York

01904237114 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 - 2.0 118d SE Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£15,495

Finance available £324 pm

2L
44.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Taunton Road Car Sales

01278550581 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£25,950

Finance available £513 pm

2L
37.4K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Jack Reid Cars Carrickfergus

02893448937 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 1.5 118i Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£8,499

Finance available £168 pm

1.5L
87.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Sterling Motor Group Ltd

02039537434 *

BMW 1 Series(63) - 1.6 116i Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£7,650

Finance available £149 pm

55.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

HKW Car Sales Ltd

01616967899 *

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

£19,997

Finance available £407 pm

1.5L
42.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Hessle

01482947558 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (62) - 116d EfficientDynamics 5dr

Reduced

£2,495

1.6L
117.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Capricorn Car Sales

01244569029 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 128ti 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Professional]

Reduced

£30,800

Finance available £612 pm

2L
5.8K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Ocean Group BMW Penryn

01326333538 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

£20,998

1.5L
30.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Wakefield Motorstore / Vanstore

01924664046 *

4.7/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£20,857

Finance available £453 pm

3L
46.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Bristol

01172331396 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 118i M Sport 5dr Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£24,650

1.5L
5.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Teesside

01642630363 *

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 (AU) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

Low Mileage

£18,990

Finance available £370 pm

1.5L
35.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Derby Trade Cars

01332315433 *

4.3/5 Stars

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

£22,400

Finance available £389 pm

1.5L
14.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

Low Mileage

£25,498

1.5L
8.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Click & Collect Colchester

01414839928 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 1.5 118I M Sport Auto 5dr

Low Mileage

£20,750

1.5L
40.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Phantom Motor Company

01942365271 *

BMW 1 Series2005 (05) - 1.6 116I SPORT RACE/TRACK CAR PACKAGE 5-Door

Low Mileage

£9,950

Finance available £200 pm

1.6L
100.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

DT Performance Cars

01827211400 *

5/5 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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