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.

2,711 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] SE 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

£16,998

1.5L
34.6K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Click & Collect Swansea

01414839956 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 2.0 120d Sport Auto Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£5,290

Finance available £96 pm

2L
123.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Vivian Price Cars

01172331344 *

BMW 1 Series2015 - 125d M Sport 5dr

£6,995

Finance available £134 pm

2L
102.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Mervyn Purdy Motors

02890023759 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 1.5 116D SPORT 5d 114 BHP 5-Door

Low Mileage

£8,995

Finance available £179 pm

1.5L
69.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Cars4You Edinburgh West

01313226854 *

BMW 1 Series2025 - M135 xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£38,898

2L
6.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Irvine BMW

01294440528 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (143 ps)

Low Mileage

£5,795

2L
84.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Northwest Trade Centre Lancaster

01524938637 *

BMW 1 Series2010 (60) - 116d Sport 5dr

£2,195

2L
156.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

MOORGATE AUTOS LTD

01614139835 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (62) - 120i 5dr + IMPORT + 34K + PETROL + CLEAN CAR

£5,495

Finance available £100 pm

2L
34.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Mexus

02037639082 *

3.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)

£23,995

Finance available £472 pm

2L
45.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Hatt Service Centre

01752973301 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 1.5 118i M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£13,249

Finance available £274 pm

1.5L
61.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

MH Prestige Limited

01274087579 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 3.0 M140i Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Reduced

£17,480

Finance available £339 pm

3L
49.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Beep Beep Cars Ltd

01913232953 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£18,799

1.5L
36.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Sandles Car Supermarket

01553601835 *

4.7/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£25,498

1.5L
8.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Glasgow BMW

01416119940 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 3.0 M140i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

Low Mileage

£16,989

Finance available £357 pm

3L
53.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Stirling Cars Ltd

01992661749 *

0/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£24,799

Finance available £521 pm

1.5L
8.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Widnes

01518322225 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

£19,995

Finance available £390 pm

3L
67.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

SKY AUTOMOTIVE

01566701222 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 2.0 125d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (224 ps)

Low Mileage

£14,940

2L
44.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Dace Specialist Car Centre Manchester

01612417068 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 1.5 116d ED Plus Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£7,499

Finance available £145 pm

1.5L
68.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

SMS Motors

01144786434 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£14,499

1.5L
22.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Corner Park Garage (Swansea)

01792344016 *

3.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 1.5 116d M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£8,990

Finance available £179 pm

1.5L
59.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Medway bridge Marina Ltd

01634558838 *

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