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.

2,981 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 1.5 116d M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£9,990

Finance available £201 pm

1.5L
55.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Dynamic Motor Company Ltd

01422413648 *

4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (72) - M135i xDrive 5-Door

Low Mileage

£30,250

2L
9.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Tayside

01382238686 *

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

£11,700

Finance available £234 pm

1.5L
63.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Essex Car Company

01708973745 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (67) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£9,495

Finance available £190 pm

1.5L
60.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Derbyshire Elite Car Sales Limited

01332419205 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 1.5 116d SE Business Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£8,999

Finance available £179 pm

1.5L
69.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

RCS Car Sales

01905953512 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 118d M Sport 3dr-NICE CAR SOME SERVICE HISTORY

£5,295

Finance available £96 pm

2L
120.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Cleveland Street Car Sales

01515417937 *

3.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 2.0 116d Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£3,950

Finance available £66 pm

2L
109.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Digbeth Motor Sales Ltd

01217288710 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (99) - 3.0 M140i Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£18,499

Finance available £359 pm

3L
59.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Prestige Motoring Group

01215160648 *

BMW 1 Series2009 (59) - **MAKE US AN OFFER! 3-Door

Low Mileage

£1,995

2L
82.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Northwest Trade Centre Lancaster

01524938637 *

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

£18,995

1.5L
24.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Bury St Edmunds

01284338953 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2010 (60) - 2.0 120I SPORT 2d 168 BHP 2-Door

Reduced

£6,490

Finance available £123 pm

2L
60.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Coupe

Derby Trade Cars

01332315433 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (64) - 2.0 116d Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£3,995

Finance available £67 pm

2L
115.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

The Motor People

01613887786 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i [1.5] M Sport 5dr [Nav/Servotronic] Step Auto

Low Mileage

£14,599

Finance available £304 pm

1.5L
41.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£20,000

Finance available £365 pm

1.5L
28.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Sheffield

01145510576 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i [1.5] Sport 5dr [Nav/Servotronic] Step Auto

Low Mileage

£12,995

Finance available £268 pm

1.5L
29.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

King Street Motor Company

01782917189 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 116d EfficientDynamics Plus 5dr

£5,495

Finance available £100 pm

1.5L
75.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Warrington Auto Base

01925597088 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps) - BLU

£23,046

Finance available £463 pm

1.5L
16.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carsa Mountsorrel

01162165589 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 118d M Sport 3dr [Nav]

£8,695

Finance available £172 pm

2L
92.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

IK UNIQUE MOTORZ LTD

01782367054 *

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

£19,988

1.5L
41.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Jeff White Motors

02920028289 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 1.6 116d ED EfficientDynamics Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£3,795

Finance available £62 pm

1.6L
98.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Otley Road Motors

01274888456 *

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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