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.

2,922 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£17,990

Finance available £349 pm

1.5L
37.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Derby Trade Cars

01332315433 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 116i Sport 3dr

Low Mileage

£6,999

Finance available £134 pm

1.6L
94.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Parc Lane Cars Ltd

01913232948 *

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

Low Mileage

£19,256

Finance available £383 pm

1.5L
28.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carsa Durham

01388217377 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 118i [1.5] Sport 3dr [Nav/Servotronic]

Low Mileage

£7,500

Finance available £145 pm

1.5L
35.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Green Motors Dewsbury

01924667351 *

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

Reduced

£8,495

Finance available £167 pm

1.5L
73.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Harpers Of Yorkshire

01977800666 *

BMW 1 Series2010 (60) - 118i M Sport 2dr

Low Mileage

£3,999

Finance available £67 pm

2L
103.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Convertible

FALLOWFIELD CARS LIMITED

01618048196 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 116i Sport 5dr

£4,295

Finance available £74 pm

1.6L
96.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Inmotion Automotive Group

01200407221 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118d Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£17,498

2L
33.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Motorstore (Shrewsbury)

01743291338 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2025 (74) - 123 xDrive M Sport 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

£33,494

2L
6.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Bridgwater

01278555750 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2025 (74) - M135 xDrive 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

£36,111

2L
11.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Durham

01918146639 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£20,998

1.5L
9.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Vauxhall (Ayr)

01292431680 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 120d SE 2dr

Low Mileage

£3,195

2L
101.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Convertible

Aster Cars

01733971204 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (70) - 1.5 118I M SPORT 5d 139 BHP 8.8in Sat Nav, 10.3in Active Display, Apple Car 5-Door

£20,556

1.5L
29.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Cartime Nelson

01282501882 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 - M135 xDrive 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£39,450

Finance available £790 pm

2L
4.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Harrogate

01422413949 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 1.5 118i GPF M Sport Shadow Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£12,995

Finance available £268 pm

1.5L
48.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

ARJ MOTORS

01932507141 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£18,975

Finance available £377 pm

1.5L
29.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

The Car Co

01616945324 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 118i M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£28,500

1.5L
3.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Tayside

01382238686 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

Reduced

£19,100

Finance available £413 pm

1.5L
14.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

BMW 1 Series2025 (74) - 123 xDrive M Sport 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

£31,495

2L
5.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Exeter

01392341615 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 2.0 120d M Sport xDrive Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£5,995

Finance available £112 pm

2L
109.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Car Genie

01484509565 *

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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