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.

2,597 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2008 (58) - 118D EDITION ES 5-Door

Reduced

£3,699

Finance available £60 pm

2L
101.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Bexhill Motors Dorset Road

01424230370 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (11) - 2.0 120i Sport Euro 5 2dr

Low Mileage

£2,850

2L
103.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Coupe

Oh My Car Limited

02038934353 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£21,099

Finance available £435 pm

1.5L
28.4K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 - 114i SE 3-Door

Low Mileage

£6,991

Finance available £134 pm

1.6L
60.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Prestige Motor Company

01312027977 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 2.0 118d M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£14,495

Finance available £302 pm

2L
117.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Greenlight Automotive Ltd

01254920838 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP/Pro pk] Petrol Hatchback

£21,391

1.5L
21.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Yeovil

01935311780 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 (73) - 2.0 128ti (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto-1 OWNER FROM NEW FINISHED IN BLAC

£27,950

Finance available £554 pm

2L
25.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Rix Motors

01925917564 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - Bmw Hatchback 120 M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£32,940

1.5L
860.0
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Grimsby

01472806814 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118i Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£16,820

Finance available £353 pm

1.5L
27.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

David Hayton Ltd (Autostore Penrith)

01768800804 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£26,950

Finance available £533 pm

2L
33.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Sutton Car Sales Ltd

01217288806 *

3.6/5 Stars

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

£18,900

Finance available £368 pm

3L
56.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Beechwood Autos Ltd

01623709945 *

2.5/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£14,950

Finance available £312 pm

2L
30.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Car Planet Watford

01923927636 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 2.0 120d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

Low Mileage

£11,691

Finance available £239 pm

2L
70.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

AUTO RANGE TRADE CENTRE LTD

01443801307 *

4.2/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£20,991

2L
80.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Your Next Car Ltd

01156849398 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2010 (10) - 116i [2.0] Sport 3dr

Low Mileage

£1,895

2L
110.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

HORNSBY CARS LTD

01268203043 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (67) - 1.5 116d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£6,295

Finance available £118 pm

1.5L
109.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Evolve Motor Company

01633741704 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£26,595

2L
12.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

V12 Sports and Classics Stoke

01782432972 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 116i Sport 5dr

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

1.6L
88.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Alexandra Motors

01227949099 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (70) - 1.5 118I M SPORT 5d 139 BHP 8.8in Sat Nav, 10.3in Active Display, Apple Car 5-Door

£21,440

Finance available £420 pm

1.5L
28.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Cartime Rochdale

01615298277 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£19,250

Finance available £375 pm

1.5L
39.9K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

JB Autos Sales

02870440586 *

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