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.

2,775 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 2.0 120d Exclusive Edition Coupe 2dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (177 ps) LE

£3,995

Finance available £67 pm

2L
120.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

Autopoint (Stansted) Ltd

01279212477 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£24,100

2L
47.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Aberdeen

01224451046 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 118d M Sport 5dr ++ SAT NAV / LEATHER / ULEZ / BMW HISTORY / DAB ++

£8,975

Finance available £178 pm

2L
100.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Nick King Car Sales (Gloucester)

01452227299 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 2.0 116d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£5,295

Finance available £96 pm

2L
81.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Coventry Sterling Motors

02475103850 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 116d Sport 5dr

£15,399

Finance available £312 pm

1.5L
54.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (74) - M135 xDrive 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£42,490

2L
7.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Listers Boston (BMW)

01205335096 *

BMW 1 Series2009 (09) - 2.0 118d SE Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (143 ps)

Reduced

£2,000

2L
115.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Bhakar-Wood Cars LTD

01952953931 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 1.5 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£12,549

Finance available £242 pm

1.5L
50.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Hilton Car Supermarket Milton Keynes

01908049370 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 116d SE 5dr [Nav] Step Auto Professional Nav carplay Full BMW history

£7,495

Finance available £145 pm

1.5L
119.8K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

JD Cars

01443809140 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - 116d SE 5dr

Low Mileage

£15,269

Finance available £309 pm

1.5L
28.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£21,500

Finance available £372 pm

1.5L
24.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 118d Exclusive Edition 2dr

£2,445

2L
94.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

Hamstead Autos

01213872419 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)+NEW SHAPE+

£21,490

2L
60.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Fish For Motors Ltd

01204939523 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£32,498

2L
1.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Dumfries BMW/MINI

01387340162 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2010 (60) - 2.0 118d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (143 ps)

Reduced

£3,290

Finance available £51 pm

2L
93.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Swift Cars south Wales Ltd

01495369894 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 118I 136 M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£18,699

Finance available £403 pm

1.5L
29.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Hendy Car Store Portsmouth

02392006087 *

4.6/5 Stars

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

£22,199

Finance available £464 pm

2L
51.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Sandles Car Supermarket

01553601835 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series1.6 Petrol 116i SE Auto 5DR

Low Mileage

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

37.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

THE CARMARKET

02890023139 *

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

£6,952

1.6L
106.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Bristol

01172331396 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)

Low Mileage

£23,700

Finance available £411 pm

2L
30.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Leeds

01134689988 *

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