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.

2,749 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2018 (7E) - 2.0 120d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (stop/start) (190 ps)

£10,500

Finance available £212 pm

2L
69.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

RDM Direct

01283241526 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 - Bmw Diesel Hatchback 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

Low Mileage

£26,926

1.5L
5.1K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Scunthorpe

01724707996 *

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

£22,600

Finance available £391 pm

1.5L
20.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Cannock

01543221765 *

BMW 1 Series2025 - 120 M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£31,995

Finance available £637 pm

1.5L
7.4K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

BMW Bavarian

02895908116 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (69) - 1.5 118i M Sport DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£17,799

Finance available £375 pm

1.5L
42.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Sandles Car Supermarket

01553601835 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 118i M Sport 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£18,821

1.5L
36.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu Nissan Bradford

01274924183 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 1.5 Sport Manual 77000 Miles. NAVIGATION. 5dr hatchback. PX OK

£6,995

Finance available £134 pm

1.5L
77.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

mhas

02038056893 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118d M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£18,590

Finance available £361 pm

2L
50.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Top Gear Motors

02881440371 *

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

Low Mileage

£22,819

Finance available £448 pm

1.5L
16.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

drivedirect Bury St Edmunds

01284331263 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)

£24,995

Finance available £493 pm

2L
48.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

JOSH HOUGHTON MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED

01942365157 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 1.5 116d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£10,632

Finance available £220 pm

1.5L
59.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Lympsham

01934312926 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 1.6 116i M Sport Auto Euro 5 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£8,494

Finance available £167 pm

1.6L
54.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

AutoTrade Southwest

01453701529 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (11) - 2.0 118d ES Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£2,185

2L
98.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Digbeth Motor Sales Ltd

01217288710 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 118d Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£6,590

Finance available £125 pm

2L
66.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Ulez Autos

01709212051 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 118d Sport 5dr

£1,650

2L
198.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Heaton Vehicle Sales 1

01708204883 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118i SE 5dr

Low Mileage

£15,499

Finance available £317 pm

1.5L
26.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motorpoint Glasgow

01412601249 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i GPF M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s

Low Mileage

£15,495

1.5L
26.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motortrust UK Garstang

01942365158 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 116d SE 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Professional]

£21,498

1.5L
13.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Click & Collect Swansea

01414839956 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 118I SPORT 5-Door

Low Mileage

£7,600

1.6L
73.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

THE CAR SOURCE

01416118631 *

BMW 1 Series2012 - 120d M Sport 2dr

Low Mileage

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

2L
84.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Convertible

Graham Mitchell Automotive

01202037612 *

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