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.

2,922 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

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

Low Mileage

£19,299

Finance available £409 pm

1.5L
28.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2009 - 2.0 118d ES 5 door

£1,695

2L
182.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

NATIONAL VEHICLE SUPPLIERS LTD

01182270649 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (65) - 116d M Sport 3dr Step Auto (M Performance Kit)

£7,695

Finance available £150 pm

1.5L
105.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Quad Automotive Limited

01144788641 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 3.0 M140i Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£19,995

Finance available £390 pm

3L
60.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

ARJ MOTORS

01932507141 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 1.5 116d Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£7,500

Finance available £145 pm

1.5L
77.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

S AND T MOTOR CO LTD

01913002236 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 2.0 118d Sport Plus Edition Coupe 2dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (143 ps)

Low Mileage

£6,991

Finance available £134 pm

2L
67.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

Cardiff Trade Sales Ltd

02922679489 *

BMW 1 Series(62) - 3.0 M135i Auto Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£10,995

Finance available £223 pm

84.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

SOUTH HAMS AUTOS LTD

01364700699 *

BMW 1 Series2015 - 1.5 118I Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£7,870

Finance available £154 pm

1.5L
66.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Ellahi Motors Limited

01256679122 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 118i [1.5] SE 5dr [Nav]

Reduced

£6,500

Finance available £123 pm

1.5L
67.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Oldbury Car Sales

01216474046 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 2.0 118d M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£14,490

Finance available £301 pm

2L
25.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Village Limited

01782969745 *

3.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 1.5 116d M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£15,499

Finance available £324 pm

1.5L
82.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Wearside Autoparc

01913002146 *

0/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£17,983

1.5L
26.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Perrys Milton Keynes Peugeot

01908049752 *

4.2/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 1.6 118i Urban Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 5 (s/s) (170 ps)

Low Mileage

£5,390

1.6L
83.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Automatic Motors Ltd

01895546521 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£24,990

Finance available £493 pm

2L
61.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Your Car Group

01633749117 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (69) - 1.5 116d M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£11,990

Finance available £246 pm

1.5L
56.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Dynamic Motor Company Ltd

01422413648 *

4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2010 (60) - 2.0 118d Sport Euro 5 2dr

Low Mileage

£3,495

Finance available £56 pm

2L
99.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Convertible

Car Nation Ltd

01945664291 *

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

£31,495

2L
5.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Exeter

01392341615 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 2.0 116d M Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 3dr

Reduced

£4,994

Finance available £89 pm

2L
107.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

AutoTrade Southwest

01453701529 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 1.5 116d Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£8,490

Finance available £167 pm

1.5L
55.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Fab Trade Cars

01584700196 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 - 120d xDrive Sport 5-Door

£16,200

Finance available £312 pm

2L
59.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Saxton 4x4

01245202306 *

4.4/5 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.

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