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.

2,598 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2023 - 1.5 118I M Sport Auto 5dr

Reduced

£22,400

1.5L
20.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

LMC Cars

01708206105 *

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

£25,197

Finance available £519 pm

1.5L
32.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Birmingham

01215165158 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£17,999

Finance available £372 pm

1.5L
26.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Portsmouth

02382146197 *

BMW 1 Series2011 (11) - 2.0 118i M Sport Hatchback 3dr Petrol Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (143 ps)

Low Mileage

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

2L
79.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

RH Motor Sales Ltd

01594801996 *

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

£24,999

Finance available £525 pm

1.5L
17.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Peterborough

01733797063 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 1.6 116i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£5,790

Finance available £107 pm

1.6L
76.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motorchoice UK Ltd

01782917226 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 118i [1.5] M Sport Shadow Edition 5dr

Low Mileage

£12,998

1.5L
41.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Renault/Dacia (Dumfries)

01387340109 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i GPF M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£9,989

Finance available £201 pm

1.5L
103.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorhub

01535281058 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (73) - 128ti 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Professional]

Low Mileage

£27,995

Finance available £555 pm

2L
4.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

DB Luxury Cars Ltd

01803225601 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 116i Sport 5dr

Reduced

£3,995

Finance available £67 pm

1.6L
53.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

SK CAR COMPANY LTD

01384885534 *

BMW 1 Series2009 (09) - 135i M Sport 2dr

Low Mileage

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

3L
98.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Coupe

Polesworth Garage Tamworth

01827213852 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£16,775

Finance available £352 pm

1.5L
73.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

CARS YARD

02039577371 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (63) - 2.0 125d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 5 (s/s) (218 ps)

Reduced

£11,440

Finance available £233 pm

2L
40.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

DR Motors

01162162407 *

3.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£27,495

Finance available £544 pm

2L
39.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

L A MOTORS

07393778079 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£17,100

Finance available £360 pm

1.5L
22.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Car Planet Watford

01923927636 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

£20,250

Finance available £395 pm

3L
67.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

SKY AUTOMOTIVE

01566701222 *

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

Low Mileage

£13,865

Finance available £293 pm

1.5L
36.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Carbase - Bristol

01172331396 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 1.6 116i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£5,990

1.6L
83.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Dace Car Supermarket

01616945306 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 118d Sport Plus Edition 2dr

£2,995

2L
116.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

SK CAR COMPANY LTD

01384885534 *

BMW 1 Series(64) - 1.6 116i M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£8,995

Finance available £179 pm

31.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

Ben Kemp Ltd

01603937008 *

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