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.

3,054 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2017 - 118i M Sport 3-Door

Low Mileage

£10,495

Finance available £212 pm

1.5L
65.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Phoenix Car Centre

01962670197 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 3.0 M135i Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£12,490

Finance available £257 pm

3L
71.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Cars Direct Peterborough Limited

01733971397 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 1.5 116D M Sport Shadow Edition 5dr

Low Mileage

£12,550

Finance available £258 pm

1.5L
37.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Clyde Cars Sales Limited

01414049868 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2008 (58) - 123d M Sport 3dr

Reduced

£3,595

2L
78.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

SK CAR COMPANY LTD

01384885534 *

BMW 1 Series2011 (11) - 2.0 116d Performance Edition Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£4,950

2L
55.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

S I Motors Ltd

01277286681 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (64) - 2.0 120d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (184 ps)

Reduced

£5,990

Finance available £111 pm

2L
97.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Swift Cars south Wales Ltd

01495369894 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£18,395

1.5L
37.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Trust UK Bury

01612416386 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i [1.5] M Sport Shadow Edition 5dr

£14,650

Finance available £305 pm

1.5L
51.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Jack Reid Cars Carrickfergus

02893448937 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£19,979

1.5L
18.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Vertu BMW York

01904237114 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 - M135I Xdrive 5Dr Step Auto

£28,699

Finance available £569 pm

2L
26.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Lookers Stafford BMW

01785569200 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£32,500

2L
8.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Tayside

01382238686 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 3.0 M135i Hatchback 3dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (320 ps)

£8,995

3L
105.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Eclipse Car Sales Limited

02392006073 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£10,780

Finance available £214 pm

2L
80.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Ponko

01223857211 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118d M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£20,595

Finance available £429 pm

2L
28.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Vospers Abarth & Fiat Exeter

01392344399 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 3.0 M140i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

Low Mileage

£19,999

3L
48.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Pinetree Car Superstore Tonypandy

01443806091 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 1.6 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£7,495

Finance available £145 pm

1.6L
68.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Botley Car Centre Limited

01489661104 *

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

£19,750

1.5L
57.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Milton Keynes

01908104093 *

4.6/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£20,950

Finance available £410 pm

1.5L
16.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Ballyrobert Bangor

02891249490 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Reduced

£13,491

Finance available £279 pm

3L
111.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

SR Motors

01793268063 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£18,490

Finance available £359 pm

1.5L
25.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

K Motors London Ltd

02037587409 *

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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