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.

2,554 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2010 (60) - 2.0 118d Sport Euro 5 2dr

Low Mileage

£3,495

Finance available £56 pm

2L
99.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Convertible

Car Nation Ltd

01945664291 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 116d SE 5dr [Nav]

£5,990

Finance available £111 pm

1.5L
100.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Autopoint UK (Notts) Ltd

01156977743 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 118d M Sport 5dr

£2,298

2L
158.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

AC CARS

01162162474 *

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

£23,499

Finance available £487 pm

1.5L
15.1K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.3/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£15,549

Finance available £318 pm

1.5L
22.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motorpoint Oldbury

01217525220 *

BMW 1 Series2015 - 1.5 116d Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£7,000

Finance available £134 pm

1.5L
63.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Cavectra Centre

01375801182 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 - 116i M SPORT 5-Door

Low Mileage

£8,995

1.6L
59.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

SLD Autos

01443801332 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

£29,990

1.5L
7.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Milton Keynes

01908104093 *

4.7/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£14,499

1.5L
22.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Corner Park Garage (Swansea)

01792344016 *

2.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2008 (58) - 2.0 118d SE Euro 4 5dr

£1,850

2L
180.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

TASKGROUP AUTOMOTIVE LIMITED

01506539091 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118i M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£19,399

Finance available £411 pm

1.5L
32.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

FOW Trafford

01616969155 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 - 89886 5-Door

£16,731

1.5L
44.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

SANDICLIFFE FORD LOUGHBOROUGH

01509272343 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 118d M Sport 5dr

£4,295

Finance available £74 pm

2L
119.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

JB Enterprise 2023 LTD

01613887772 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 3.0 M140i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

£13,999

3L
98.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Affordable Cars Prestige Car Supermarket

01904238447 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118d M Sport Shadow Ed 5dr Step Auto

£14,399

Finance available £299 pm

2L
56.1K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2010 (60) - 2.0 118d M Sport Euro 5 2dr

Low Mileage

£3,490

Finance available £56 pm

2L
94.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

Car 4 You Limited

01215160924 *

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

Reduced

£12,699

Finance available £261 pm

1.5L
41.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Icon Cars

01663798281 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 2.0 118d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£6,250

Finance available £120 pm

2L
110.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Ponko

01223857211 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 118i [1.5] Sport 5dr [Nav/Servotronic]

Low Mileage

£10,490

Finance available £212 pm

1.5L
52.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Carr Mill Motors

01744419379 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 3.0 M140i GPF Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps

Reduced

£17,789

Finance available £345 pm

3L
65.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stirling Cars Ltd

01992661749 *

0/5 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

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