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.

2,635 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2011 (09) - 120d SE 2dr

£2,495

2L
123.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Convertible

Warne Automotive

01233224229 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118d M Sport 5dr [Plus Pack] Manual

£18,500

Finance available £360 pm

2L
58.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

TrustFord Glasgow

01412601245 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

Low Mileage

£23,055

Finance available £453 pm

1.5L
17.1K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Renault Retail Group Orpington

01689666121 *

BMW 1 Series2009 (59) - 2.0 118d Sport Convertible 2dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (143 ps)

£2,490

2L
167.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Convertible

TGZ SELECT T/A SELECT CARZ LTD

01915945501 *

BMW 1 Series2009 (59) - 2.0 116d Sport Euro 4 3dr

Reduced

£1,850

2L
144.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

AT42 LTD

01483375803 *

0/5 Stars

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

£18,899

Finance available £400 pm

1.5L
29.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

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

£17,899

Finance available £366 pm

1.5L
50.9K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

cinch

01182078522 *

4.3/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£22,991

1.5L
9.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Prestige Cars by Peter Cooper (Horsham)

01403331264 *

BMW 1 Series2014 - 2.0 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (116 ps)

£6,995

Finance available £134 pm

2L
90.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

PINNACLE MOTOR GROUP LTD

01156848090 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (69) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

Low Mileage

£19,300

Finance available £417 pm

1.5L
20.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Camberley

01276983839 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 118d M Sport Shadow Ed 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£14,295

Finance available £297 pm

2L
51.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

RB Cars

01989551050 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 116d M Sport 5-Door

£24,223

1.5L
12.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Stephen James Enfield BMW

02038730440 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP] Hatchback

Low Mileage

£23,995

1.5L
8.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Perrys Sittingbourne Vauxhall

01795502656 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

Reduced

£23,490

Finance available £462 pm

1.5L
11.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Amanah Prestige Limited

02038235352 *

3.1/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£15,495

Finance available £324 pm

1.5L
29.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Wheelers Chipping Norton

01608692663 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 - 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

Low Mileage

£27,450

Finance available £543 pm

1.5L
3.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

JKC Approved Used BMW

02870441623 *

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 2.0 118d M Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 3dr

£1,995

2L
125.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Max Bradley Cars

01621734802 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 118i [1.5] M Sport Shadow Ed 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£14,495

Finance available £302 pm

1.5L
43.7K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Innosource Cars Ltd

02039577445 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118i M Sport 5dr

£16,495

Finance available £346 pm

1.5L
58.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

David Hayton Ltd (Mazda Carlisle)

01228273252 *

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