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.

2,700 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2022 (72) - 118i [136] Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional] Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£19,196

1.5L
17.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Sunderland

01918146399 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 2.0 128ti Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£23,500

Finance available £462 pm

2L
24.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Aberdeen

01224451046 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP] Hatchback

Low Mileage

£23,410

1.5L
6.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Perrys Burnley Kia

01282501810 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 - 116d EFFICIENTDYNAMICS 5-Door

£5,495

Finance available £100 pm

1.6L
98.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Carrera Cars Wales

01685702350 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 1.5 116d M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (116

£9,794

Finance available £196 pm

1.5L
93.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Nationwide Vehicle Finance Ltd

01204324459 *

3.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 - 1.5 118i M Sport 5-Door

£7,495

Finance available £145 pm

1.5L
103.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Alecocarco

01472404033 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118i M Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£16,995

Finance available £357 pm

1.5L
40.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Roy Hanna Motors

02894338774 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£20,990

Finance available £411 pm

3L
63.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Your Car Group

01633749117 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 2.0 120d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 5 (s/s) (184 ps)

Low Mileage

£7,790

Finance available £152 pm

2L
82.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Junction 21 Motors

01934312906 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 118d Sport 5dr

£2,495

2L
147.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Westgate Motor Centre

01274089104 *

BMW 1 Series2011 - 2.0 118d M Sport 2-Door

Reduced

£2,995

2L
158.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Convertible

NATIONAL VEHICLE SUPPLIERS LTD

01182270649 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 97236 5-Door

Low Mileage

£24,685

1.5L
7.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

SANDICLIFFE FORD LOUGHBOROUGH

01509272343 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 2.0 118D SPORT 5d 141 BHP 5-Door

Reduced

£5,995

Finance available £112 pm

2L
99.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Cars4You Ltd (Straiton)

01665660510 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 - 116d Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£9,395

Finance available £188 pm

1.5L
53.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Campbell Trade Sales

02890023194 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 118i M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£19,000

Finance available £370 pm

1.5L
16.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Tayside

01382238686 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 116d Sport 5dr

£2,295

2L
152.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

N A Motor Co

01164785672 *

BMW 1 Series2012 - 2.0 120d M Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£5,000

2L
100.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

JT Car Sales Worksop Ltd

01909498731 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (68) - 1.5 118i GPF Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

£5,989

Finance available £111 pm

1.5L
114.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motorhub

01535281058 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 2.0 M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

£12,495

Finance available £257 pm

2L
87.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Ideal Car Centre Ltd

01902544596 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (63) - 116i PETROL AUTO M SPORTS SUNROOF GRADE 4.5/B ULEZ EXEMPT 5-Door

Low Mileage

£8,995

Finance available £179 pm

1.6L
60.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

IMPORT AUTOS LIMITED

01628565038 *

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

lite-youtube[videoid='ryiOCbFViwg']{cursor:initial;background-image:url("https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/ryiOCbFViwg/sddefault.webp")}lite-youtube[videoid='ryiOCbFViwg']::after{background:no-repeat center/68px 48px url('data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 68 48"><path d="M66.52 7.74c-.78-2.93-2.49-5.41-5.42-6.19C55.79.13 34 0 34 0S12.21.13 6.9 1.55c-2.93.78-4.63 3.26-5.42 6.19C.06 13.05 0 24 0 24s.06 10.95 1.48 16.26c.78 2.93 2.49 5.41 5.42 6.19C12.21 47.87 34 48 34 48s21.79-.13 27.1-1.55c2.93-.78 4.64-3.26 5.42-6.19C67.94 34.95 68 24 68 24s-.06-10.95-1.48-16.26z" fill="red"/><path d="M45 24 27 14v20" fill="white"/></svg>')}

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