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.

3,248 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2008 - 118D EDITION ES 5-Door

Reduced

£3,699

2L
101.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Bexhill Motors Dorset Road

01424230370 *

4.7/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£20,483

1.5L
14.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Hampshire

01256268420 *

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

£18,438

1.5L
43.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Hampshire

01256268420 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£19,395

Finance available £378 pm

3L
74.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Brook Cars Company

01952446504 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 120i [2.0] M Sport Shadow Ed 3dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£17,149

Finance available £354 pm

2L
25.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Stockton-On-Tees

01642937531 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (72) - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)

Reduced

£27,995

2L
36.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Enkae Prestige Motors

01484240747 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 116d Sport 5dr

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

2L
90.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Dave Fox Car Sales

01785336592 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 1.6 116i Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£4,450

1.6L
85.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

B&F Cars Northampton

01604343399 *

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

Reduced

£17,990

Finance available £349 pm

1.5L
31.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

UK WHEELS LIMTIED

01279212123 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 1.5 116d M Sport Shadow Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£9,791

1.5L
97.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Your Next Car Ltd

01156849398 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 - 116d Sport Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro] 5-Door

Low Mileage

£21,897

Finance available £448 pm

1.5L
7.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Scunthorpe

01724514202 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 1.5 116d ED Plus 5-Door

Reduced

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

1.5L
100.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Fliteline Autosales Ltd

01284338981 *

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

£20,500

1.5L
33.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Tayside

01382238686 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£33,390

Finance available £665 pm

2L
2.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Ballyrobert at Mallusk

02890021668 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (65) - 1.5 118i M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£8,495

Finance available £167 pm

1.5L
86.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Lighthouse Motors

01513177158 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 1.6 116I SPORT 5d 135 BHP 5-Door

Low Mileage

£4,500

1.6L
72.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Car Central

01217287201 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£15,995

Finance available £335 pm

1.5L
49.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Premier Cars

01708932385 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 2.0 118d Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£10,982

Finance available £223 pm

2L
40.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Madeley Heath Motors

01782917194 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 2.0 116d Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£4,700

2L
100.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

BSB CARS LTD

01158227473 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 3dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£11,295

1.5L
39.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Trust UK Bury

01612416386 *

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

Author: Jack Evans

View profile

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.

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