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.

2,787 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 120d BluePerformance SE 5dr Years MOT Warranty

Low Mileage

£3,995

Finance available £67 pm

2L
82.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Ashford Panelcraft

01233221737 *

4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (67) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£10,195

Finance available £205 pm

1.5L
57.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Bridge Sollars Garage

01981200504 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 120d M Sport 3dr [Nav/Servotronic]

£11,990

Finance available £246 pm

2L
62.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Nick King Car Sales Ltd

01594809268 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 1.5 116d Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£7,245

Finance available £140 pm

1.5L
93.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

MMK AUTOMOTIVE LIMITED

01524237300 *

BMW 1 Series2025 (74) - M135 xDrive 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

£35,990

2L
7.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Teesside

01642630363 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 2.0 120d M Sport Shadow Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£15,999

Finance available £335 pm

2L
39.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Prestige Motoring Group

01215160648 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 120d BluePerformance SE 5dr

£3,495

Finance available £56 pm

2L
149.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

AR Cars

01254947703 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 116d SE Business Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£9,880

Finance available £198 pm

1.5L
54.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

The Car Traders

02037808158 *

3.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 116d EfficientDynamics Plus 5dr

£5,495

Finance available £100 pm

1.5L
106.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Mania

01614700093 *

3.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118i [136] M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£19,397

Finance available £394 pm

1.5L
19.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Sheffield

01145537264 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 120i [2.0] M Sport 3dr [Nav]

£11,000

Finance available £223 pm

2L
66.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Richard Nash Cars Ltd

01603931816 *

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

Low Mileage

£24,390

1.5L
19.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Maidstone

01622234873 *

3.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 2.0 125d M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Reduced

£11,792

Finance available £241 pm

2L
65.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Car Bazaar ltd

01143086594 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 120d xDrive M Sport 5dr

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

2L
104.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Lewis Wood Bros Limited

01670339820 *

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 Series2013 (63) - 2.0 120d Sport Plus Edition Euro 5 (s/s) 2dr

£3,795

Finance available £62 pm

2L
137.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

CB Autos UK Ltd

01793268067 *

4/5 Stars

BMW 1 SeriesM135i

£21,995

58.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Spencers Car Sales

01603931848 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 1.5 118i SE Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

Reduced

£13,995

Finance available £290 pm

1.5L
36.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Bellboy Cars

01477410105 *

BMW 1 Series2007 (07) - 2.0 118d M Sport Euro 4 5dr

Low Mileage

£1,995

2L
121.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Renown Motors

01613887637 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£22,000

Finance available £431 pm

3L
39.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

TMC Motors

01252960115 *

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

* 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