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.

2,982 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2016 - 118i [1.5] Sport 5dr [Nav]

Low Mileage

£7,690

1.5L
67.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Glasshoughton Car Sales

01977803305 *

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

Low Mileage

£17,983

1.5L
26.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Perrys Milton Keynes Peugeot

01908049752 *

4.2/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 116d M Sport 3dr [Nav]

£8,995

Finance available £179 pm

1.5L
69.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Premium Cars For Sale LTD

01252415207 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 118d M Sport 5dr

Reduced

£2,500

2L
158.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

AC CARS

01162162474 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

Low Mileage

£28,354

1.5L
7.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Bury St Edmunds

01284338953 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 116d ED Plus 5-Door

Reduced

£7,895

Finance available £154 pm

1.5L
72.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Imperial Motor Company Limited

01732443737 *

BMW 1 Series2008 (58) - 123d M Sport 3dr

Reduced

£3,595

Finance available £58 pm

2L
78.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

SK CAR COMPANY LTD

01384885534 *

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

£22,970

Finance available £451 pm

2L
56.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

The Car Co

01616945324 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 2.0 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 5 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£8,390

Finance available £165 pm

2L
69.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Elderwood Motors

01733667440 *

3.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (70) - 118d M Sport 5dr Diesel Hatchback

Low Mileage

£19,262

2L
27.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Vertu BMW York

01904237114 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2010 (10) - 2.0 118d M Sport Euro 5 5dr

£1,995

2L
128.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

EASICARS SUPERMARKET

02039375174 *

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

£17,499

1.5L
46.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Les Rayner Foxhunters Motor Co

01916077230 *

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

£19,195

Finance available £374 pm

3L
58.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Ultima Cars Ltd

01302246759 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118d M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£19,895

Finance available £439 pm

2L
27.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Range Liverpool

01515417938 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (Y) - 116I SE 5-Door

Low Mileage

£6,295

Finance available £118 pm

1.6L
59.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vzon Car Sales Ltd

01217286971 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 118i SE 5-Door

Low Mileage

£17,500

1.5L
10.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Aberdeen

01224451046 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

£28,495

1.5L
6.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Tunbridge Wells

01892571854 *

3.9/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£25,298

1.5L
8.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Click & Collect Swansea

01414839956 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 2.0 120d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (177 ps)

Reduced

£3,495

Finance available £56 pm

2L
108.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Ivybridge Trade Centre

01752982776 *

BMW 1 Series2014 - 1.6 116I SPORT 5-Door

Low Mileage

£5,700

Finance available £105 pm

1.6L
78.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Heneage Cars

01472808001 *

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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