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.

2,727 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 120i [2.0] M Sport Shadow Ed SALVAGE REPAIRED 5-Door

Low Mileage

£11,991

Finance available £246 pm

2L
25.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

AUTOMOTIVE SOLUTIONS

01280733612 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 2.0 118d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£9,160

Finance available £182 pm

2L
75.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Teesside Car Finance

01642937529 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 1.5 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£15,295

Finance available £319 pm

1.5L
76.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Tenby Car Supermarket

01582280726 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 2.0 118d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

Low Mileage

£11,295

2L
47.1K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Regent Cars

01732441852 *

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

£10,580

1.5L
61.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Dace Car Supermarket

01616945306 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 120d M Sport 3dr Step Auto

Reduced

£6,195

Finance available £116 pm

2L
125.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

4 FAB WHEELS

02039122513 *

BMW 1 Series2010 (10) - 120i Sport 2dr Petrol Manual

Low Mileage

£5,500

Finance available £101 pm

2L
78.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Coupe

TOP RIGHT CAR CENTRE

01913001768 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 120d M SPORT 181 BHP 5-Door

£7,495

Finance available £145 pm

2L
90.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Carwhinley Cars

01228276697 *

4.7/5 Stars

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

£3,000

Finance available £45 pm

2L
158.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

AC CARS

01162162474 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 1.5 118i SE Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

£8,000

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
78.6K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Muirhead Motor Company

01592407413 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) 5dr Auto (SAT NAV, PRIVACY)

£21,488

1.5L
29.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Jeff White Motors

02920028289 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£23,995

Finance available £472 pm

2L
40.4K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

BMW Bavarian

02895908116 *

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

£18,888

Finance available £367 pm

1.5L
28.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Cartime Bury

01613887693 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (71) - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£29,995

Finance available £596 pm

2L
18.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

BSP Motor Vehicles Ltd

01332419208 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 1.5 118i M Sport DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£17,995

Finance available £349 pm

1.5L
46.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carderi Ltd

02039537417 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 116d M Sport Shadow Edition 3dr

Low Mileage

£14,999

Finance available £313 pm

1.5L
16.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2025 (25) - M135 xDrive 5dr Step Auto [Tech+/Pro Pack] Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£46,990

2L
2.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Bridgwater

01278555750 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 1.5 118i M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

£6,489

Finance available £123 pm

1.5L
115.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motorhub

01535281058 *

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

Low Mileage

£12,749

Finance available £246 pm

1.5L
50.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Hilton Car Supermarket Milton Keynes

01908049370 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [LCP/Pro/Tech pk]

Reduced

£17,895

Finance available £393 pm

1.5L
28.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Range Liverpool

01515417938 *

4.6/5 Stars

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

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Used BMW 1 Series snapshot review

Pros