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.

2,594 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118d M Sport 5dr

£18,499

Finance available £379 pm

2L
49.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

cinch

01513174824 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series(24) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£26,843

Finance available £531 pm

8.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

Steven Eagell Toyota Northampton

01604973508 *

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

£2,750

2L
134.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

E P Cars

01206580977 *

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

Reduced

£17,995

Finance available £349 pm

1.5L
37.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Motor Mania

01614700093 *

2/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 1.5 116d SE Hatchback 5dr Diesel DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Reduced

£11,990

1.5L
89.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Carworld Superstore

01733978043 *

4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (11) - 2.0 120d M Sport Steptronic Euro 5 5dr

Low Mileage

£4,650

Finance available £82 pm

2L
98.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Carderi Ltd

02039537417 *

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

£15,179

Finance available £307 pm

1.5L
52.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

cinch Store Birmingham

01216618749 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 120d Sport 5dr [Nav/Servotronic] Step Auto

Low Mileage

£15,099

Finance available £315 pm

2L
29.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2007 (07) - 2.0 118d M Sport Euro 4 5dr

Low Mileage

£1,995

2L
121.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Renown Motors

01613887637 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£7,495

Finance available £145 pm

2L
102.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Garrowhill Car Sales Ltd

01412601241 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 118d Sport 5dr [Nav]

£9,499

Finance available £190 pm

2L
64.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Northridge Cars Ltd

01442506215 *

4.7/5 Stars

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

£17,990

Finance available £349 pm

1.5L
33.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

UK WHEELS LIMITED

02039537447 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 (73) - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

£28,068

2L
26.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu Motornation Derby

01228582111 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (11) - 2.0 118d SE Euro 5 5dr

£2,700

2L
116.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Auto Market Place

01473938817 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

Low Mileage

£16,200

Finance available £346 pm

1.5L
41.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Norwich

01603567768 *

BMW 1 Series2014 - 2.0 M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual xDrive Euro 5 (s/s) (184 ps)

Reduced

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

2L
112.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Ideal Car Centre Ltd

01902544596 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 1.5 118i SE Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
63.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Top Gear Harrow Ltd

02038895522 *

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

£4,495

Finance available £78 pm

2L
126.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Noahs Automotive LTD

02476936621 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (74) - 120 M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£33,900

Finance available £676 pm

1.5L
2.6K
Miles
Hybrid
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Ocean Group BMW Penryn

01326333538 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 1.5 118i Sport 5-door

Reduced

£6,995

Finance available £134 pm

1.5L
65.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

A5 Cars and Commercials Limited

01543225765 *

3.5/5 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

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