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.

2,676 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2018 (67) - 118i M Sport Shadow Edition M140i Replica - Lovely Example - 45MPG 5-Door

£10,999

Finance available £223 pm

1.5L
75.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

FMC Swansea Ltd

01792739469 *

BMW 1 Series2008 (58) - 118i M Sport 2dr

Low Mileage

£3,999

Finance available £67 pm

2L
94.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Convertible

Nottingham Road Car Sales

01332418937 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 118d Sport 5dr [Nav]

Reduced

£10,450

Finance available £211 pm

2L
72.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

McFadden Motors

02879440897 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition 5-door

Reduced

£19,000

Finance available £370 pm

3L
55.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Key Auto Trade

01233223707 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 1.5 116d Sport Hatchback 3dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£8,475

Finance available £167 pm

1.5L
55.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

PEELS WHEELS LIMITED

01524938217 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (62) - 120d M Sport 5dr (1 year warranty c/w breakdown cover)(BT/DAB/AUX/USB)

Low Mileage

£6,995

Finance available £134 pm

2L
73.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Kirkcaldy Motor Company Ltd

01592407734 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 118i Sport 5-Door

£19,999

1.5L
33.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Peat Motors Ltd

01529401220 *

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 Series2019 (69) - 1.5 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£14,900

Finance available £317 pm

1.5L
37.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Peterborough

01733971423 *

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

£22,199

Finance available £474 pm

2L
51.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Sandles Car Supermarket

01553601835 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 118i M Sport 3dr

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

1.6L
81.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Cars2u

01473354250 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 128ti 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Professional]

£24,298

2L
33.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Click & Collect Colchester

01414839928 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i SE Business Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£10,640

Finance available £215 pm

1.5L
52.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

DR Motors

01162162407 *

3.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] Sport Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro] 5-Door

£22,697

Finance available £465 pm

1.5L
17.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Birmingham

01215165158 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£28,995

Finance available £575 pm

2L
9.7K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Auto2000 Prestige Cars

02037808184 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 1.6 118i Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£9,500

Finance available £190 pm

1.6L
52.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

London Car Market

02037637051 *

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

Low Mileage

£19,998

1.5L
21.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Irvine BMW

01294440528 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 3.0 M140i Hatchback 3dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

Reduced

£18,999

Finance available £370 pm

3L
32.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Rom Motors Ltd

01455240096 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 118i [1.5] Sport 3dr

Reduced

£4,490

Finance available £78 pm

1.5L
92.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Ayan Autos Uk Ltd

02037587498 *

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

Low Mileage

£17,299

Finance available £353 pm

1.5L
22.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

cinch

01224453394 *

4.3/5 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

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Used BMW 1 Series snapshot review

Pros