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.

2,664 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 1.5 118i M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (1

£12,485

Finance available £257 pm

1.5L
56.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

TIME MOTORS LIMITED

01156849371 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 - 118i [1.5] Sport 5dr [Nav] Step Auto

Low Mileage

£12,699

Finance available £261 pm

1.5L
33.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 - 120d xDrive M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£20,450

Finance available £400 pm

2L
84.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

MCautosales

02879440626 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] SE 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

Low Mileage

£21,949

Finance available £459 pm

1.5L
10.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Widnes

01518322225 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 116 SE 1.5D 115PS 5 DOOR HATCHBACK (EURO 6)

£13,650

Finance available £283 pm

1.5L
51.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Merthyr Motor Auctions

01685702344 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 120d xDrive M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£22,298

2L
33.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Glasgow South Street Vauxhall/Peugeot/Citroen/Vanstore

01414839940 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 2.0 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 5 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£6,995

Finance available £134 pm

2L
91.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Cars4You Edinburgh West

01313226854 *

BMW 1 Series2014 - 116d Sport 5dr

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

2L
94.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

QMT Automotive Ltd

01905917499 *

BMW 1 Series2016 - 1.6 120i M Sports With sunroof

Low Mileage

£10,650

Finance available £216 pm

1.6L
24.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Loyal Corporations (UK) LIMITED

02476936627 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 2.0 118d M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (150

£11,495

Finance available £234 pm

2L
86.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Motoring Way LTD

01633742355 *

BMW 1 Series2012 - 1.6 116i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (136 ps)

£3,195

Finance available £49 pm

1.6L
107.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

AUTO UK

01484248051 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 2.0 118d Sport Plus Edition Steptronic Euro 5 2dr

£3,290

Finance available £51 pm

2L
102.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Coupe

Space Motors Limited

01582280664 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£20,999

Finance available £411 pm

1.5L
29.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorplus Car Supermarket

01633742350 *

BMW 1 Series2025 (63) - 1.6 116i SE Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£8,995

Finance available £179 pm

1.6L
32.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

W R Car Sales Limited

01274087616 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 118i [1.5] Sport 3dr

£3,990

Finance available £67 pm

1.5L
93.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Ayan Autos Uk Ltd

02037587498 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 116d Sport 5dr [Nav]

£8,750

Finance available £173 pm

1.5L
77.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

JB Autos Sales

02870440586 *

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

£14,995

Finance available £313 pm

1.5L
26.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Top Gear Harrow Ltd

02038895522 *

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 Series2016 (66) - 116d EfficientDynamics Plus 5dr

£4,999

Finance available £89 pm

1.5L
125.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

C.A Used Cars

01905953520 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (143 ps)

Low Mileage

£5,395

2L
84.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Northwest Trade Centre Lancaster

01524938637 *

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

* Telephone numbers starting with 084X or 087X will cost you up to 13p per minute plus your telephone company's access charge. Calls to other telephone numbers will only cost your phone company's access charge.

Used BMW 1 Series snapshot review

Pros