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.

2,802 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 116i M Sport 3dr

£4,695

Finance available £83 pm

1.6L
104.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Julian Motor Sales

01993463580 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Reduced

£8,970

1.5L
36.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Dace Specialist Car Centre Manchester

01612417068 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series1.6 Petrol M-Sport Auto 5DR

Low Mileage

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

57.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

THE CARMARKET

02890023139 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 1.5 116d Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps) Pano

£15,990

Finance available £308 pm

1.5L
57.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Cartime Bury

01613887693 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 - 116d M SPORT 2 LITRE DIESEL FULL LEATHER 5-Door

£5,995

Finance available £112 pm

2L
124.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Carwhinley Cars

01228276697 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£17,945

1.5L
22.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Trust UK Bury

01612416386 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 2.0 120d Sport Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£14,290

Finance available £297 pm

2L
109.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Brookway Cars ltd

01515417904 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 - 118i SPORT 5-Door

Low Mileage

£9,995

Finance available £201 pm

1.5L
33.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

A R Used Cars Ltd

01280730307 *

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

Low Mileage

£21,995

Finance available £431 pm

1.5L
20.6K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

TrustFord Glasgow

01412601245 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118i M Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£19,498

1.5L
14.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Peugeot (Ayr)

01292431668 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 3dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£6,250

Finance available £117 pm

1.5L
89.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Joseph Sutton Motor Company ltd

01892489305 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 118i M Sport Shadow Edition 5-Door

Low Mileage

£13,295

1.5L
48.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Spencers Car Sales

01603931848 *

BMW 1 Series(73) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£23,991

2.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

Prestige Cars by Peter Cooper West End

02380017190 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2008 (58) - 2.0 120d SE Euro 4 2dr

Reduced

£3,495

Finance available £56 pm

2L
90.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Convertible

Grand Motors Stockport Ltd

01614139892 *

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

Low Mileage

£13,225

Finance available £279 pm

1.5L
36.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Carbase - Lympsham

01934312926 *

4.5/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£12,949

Finance available £267 pm

1.5L
41.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

INFINITY AUTOMOTIVE SOLUTIONS LIMITED

02393267155 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 2.0 118d SE 5-door

£10,495

Finance available £212 pm

2L
72.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

OB Motors

01495367091 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 116d M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

£18,999

1.5L
41.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Affordable Cars Prestige Car Supermarket

01904238447 *

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 Series2024 - 120 M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£30,898

1.5L
7.2K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Glasgow BMW

01416119940 *

4.7/5 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