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.

2,974 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 116d Sport 5dr

£3,795

Finance available £62 pm

2L
125.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Red Stone Motors Ltd

01484500801 *

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

£7,990

Finance available £156 pm

2L
89.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Castle 4 Cars

02382146222 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 1.5 118i SE (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£22,350

Finance available £477 pm

1.5L
6.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Car Planet Barnet

02039577301 *

BMW 1 Series2012 - 118d Sport Plus Edition 2dr

Low Mileage

£5,990

2L
66.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

Glasshoughton Car Sales

01977803305 *

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

£25,950

Finance available £513 pm

1.5L
15.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

JKC Approved Used BMW

02870441623 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 116d EfficientDynamics 5dr

£2,495

1.6L
111.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

S&O AUTOMOTIVE LTD

01143089077 *

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

£34,995

2L
5.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Exeter

01392341615 *

0/5 Stars

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

£4,795

Finance available £85 pm

2L
101.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Kays Automotive Ltd

01215160982 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 1.5 118i M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£15,950

Finance available £334 pm

1.5L
58.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Williams GB Ltd

01614700090 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 3.0 M140i Hatchback 3dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

Low Mileage

£20,995

Finance available £411 pm

3L
51.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

TF Car Sales Ltd

01455241626 *

0/5 Stars

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

£19,990

1.5L
29.9K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Cars2 Wakefield Hyundai

01924667154 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 1.5 116d Sport lcp Hatchback 5dr Diesel Dct Euro 6 s/s 116 Ps

£17,800

1.5L
37.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Pentagon Vauxhall (Loughborough)

01332414577 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 1.5 118i M Sport lcp Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 s/s 136 Ps

Low Mileage

£20,495

1.5L
14.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Pentagon Ford (Warrington)

01925917874 *

4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2008 - 1.6 116i ES 3 door

Low Mileage

£4,000

Finance available £67 pm

1.6L
55.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Cuxton Road Car Sales

01634959364 *

1.8/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£13,800

Finance available £286 pm

1.5L
36.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Nuneaton Car Sales Ltd

02475187138 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£20,995

Finance available £411 pm

1.5L
12.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Car World Motors Ltd

01924668250 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 116 SE 1.5D 115PS 5 DOOR HATCHBACK (EURO 6)

£13,974

Finance available £290 pm

1.5L
43.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Merthyr Motor Auctions

01685702344 *

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

Low Mileage

£7,990

1.5L
74.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Silverbrookes

01273027447 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

£21,950

Finance available £430 pm

1.5L
29.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Ballyrobert Bangor

02891249490 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (72) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£18,679

Finance available £371 pm

1.5L
35.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

The Car Co

01616945324 *

4.7/5 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

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.

View guides

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