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.

2,941 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2023 - 118i [136] SE 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

Low Mileage

£19,499

Finance available £405 pm

1.5L
7.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motorpoint Glasgow

01412601249 *

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

Reduced

£9,995

Finance available £201 pm

1.5L
52.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Carr Mill Motors

01744419379 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

Low Mileage

£25,850

Finance available £511 pm

1.5L
8.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Ocean Group BMW Paignton

01803225818 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (62) - 120d M Sport 5dr (3 month warranty c/w breakdown cover)(BT/DAB/AUX/USB)

Low Mileage

£6,995

Finance available £134 pm

2L
73.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Kirkcaldy Motor Company Ltd

01592407734 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr

£18,700

Finance available £364 pm

1.5L
46.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Ocean Group BMW Penryn

01326333538 *

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

Low Mileage

£22,995

Finance available £452 pm

1.5L
12.3K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

BMW Bavarian

02895908116 *

BMW 1 Series2005 - 120i SE 5-Door

Low Mileage

£2,495

2L
105.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stockwood Village Automotive

01174400893 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2010 (10) - 123d M Sport 3dr

Low Mileage

£3,495

Finance available £56 pm

2L
120.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Trade Centre Direct

01217288653 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 3.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (326 ps)

Low Mileage

£17,995

3L
40.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Parkside Motors Ltd

02039475180 *

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 Series2022 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£26,899

Finance available £567 pm

2L
19.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Burnley

01282504324 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps) Comf

£17,899

Finance available £347 pm

1.5L
35.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Cartime Rochdale

01615298277 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2009 (59) - 2.0 118d SE Steptronic Euro 5 5dr

Low Mileage

£3,695

Finance available £60 pm

2L
66.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Junction 7 Motor Village

01254919227 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 1.6 SE Manual 85000 Miles. 5dr hatchback. PX OK .

Low Mileage

£4,990

Finance available £89 pm

1.6L
85.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

mhas

02038056893 *

BMW 1 Series2011 (11) - 2.0 118d M Sport Steptronic Euro 5 2dr

Low Mileage

£4,490

Finance available £78 pm

2L
90.1K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Coupe

MOSSGATE MOTORS LTD

01613887618 *

BMW 1 Series2025 (74) - 123 xDrive M Sport 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

£33,745

2L
6.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Teesside

01642630363 *

0/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£21,495

2L
34.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorparks Warrington

01925875960 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£20,499

Finance available £401 pm

1.5L
29.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motorplus Car Supermarket

01633742350 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£26,998

2L
18.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Fiat/Abarth (Glasgow)

01416118816 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2025 - M135 xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£40,750

2L
8.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Leeds

01134676295 *

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

Author: Jack Evans

View profile

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.

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