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.

2,727 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2010 (10) - 2.0 120i Sport Euro 5 2dr

Low Mileage

£2,799

2L
121.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Coupe

Basford Motors Ltd

01782390953 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 2.0 116d SE Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£5,495

Finance available £100 pm

2L
81.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Teesside Car Finance

01642937529 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 116i M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£7,495

Finance available £145 pm

1.6L
50.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Junction 5 Car Sales

01494977888 *

BMW 1 Series2009 (DP) - 2.0 118d Edition ES Hatchback 3dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (143 ps)

£2,495

2L
138.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Priceless Auto Services Ltd

01606535830 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 125i [224] M Sport Shadow Ed 3dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£10,990

Finance available £223 pm

2L
47.5K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

HD AUTOS SHEFFIELD

01144786507 *

BMW 1 Series2016 - 2.0 120d M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£12,248

Finance available £251 pm

2L
63.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

UP PRESTIGE LTD

01746331186 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 2.0 120d BluePerformance SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£3,990

Finance available £67 pm

2L
110.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

MERIT MOTORS LTD

01204324385 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 1.5 116d SE Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£8,250

Finance available £162 pm

1.5L
94.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Hartlebury Cars

01562547645 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 118i, 1.5 Petrol, M Sport Edition, Hatchback, 3 Door Coupe, Manual, Euro 6.

Low Mileage

£10,499

1.5L
60.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Elm Tree Car Sales Ltd

01913387238 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 - M SPORT

Reduced

£10,990

Finance available £223 pm

1.6L
27.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

V P I Used Car Sales Limited

02039377580 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 2.0 120d M Sport Shadow Edition Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£13,790

Finance available £286 pm

2L
70.3K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Riverside BYD

01924927456 *

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 Series2020 (70) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps) 1 OWNER

£14,495

1.5L
79.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Trust UK Lancaster

01524938891 *

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

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
93.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motorology

01515417934 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 1.5 116d Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£15,600

Finance available £333 pm

1.5L
59.1K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

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

£24,498

1.5L
15.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Click & Collect Bristol

01416118398 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 (73) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP] Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£23,000

1.5L
4.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Bridgwater

01278555750 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 116d Sport 3dr [Nav]

£7,750

Finance available £151 pm

1.5L
110.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Village Autosales NI

02890026938 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£18,150

Finance available £383 pm

1.5L
17.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Car Planet Watford

01923927636 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 116d M Sport 5dr Auto [Sat Nav] 2015-15

Low Mileage

£8,995

Finance available £179 pm

2L
64.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

A B Trading

01273095162 *

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