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.

2,630 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

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

£24,049

Finance available £505 pm

1.5L
22.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Oldbury

01217525220 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 118i [1.5] Sport 5dr [Nav/Servotronic]

Low Mileage

£11,190

Finance available £228 pm

1.5L
46.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Quest Motor Group

01376312247 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 120d xDrive SE 5dr

£6,950

Finance available £133 pm

2L
105.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Preseli Car Sales

01834820915 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 120d M Sport 5-Door

£20,184

2L
36.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Prestige Cars Kent

01689669471 *

4.6/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£27,990

Finance available £554 pm

2L
34.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Your Car Group

01633749117 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 - 120d M Sport Shadow Ed 3dr Step Auto

£15,099

Finance available £315 pm

2L
53.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 1.5 116d SE Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£14,990

Finance available £287 pm

1.5L
32.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Cartime Bury

01613887693 *

4.4/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£11,995

Finance available £246 pm

1.5L
41.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

MH Car Sales Oxford Ltd

01993463440 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i M-SPORT 5DR - ULEZ COMPLIANT

£15,290

1.5L
58.6K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

OTTER MOTORS LTD

01404519008 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 3dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£7,400

Finance available £143 pm

1.5L
83.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Hammond Cars Ipswich

01473927579 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 118i SE 5dr Step Auto

£18,200

Finance available £353 pm

1.5L
2.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Quality Part X Ltd Dunstable

01582280653 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)

£28,990

Finance available £575 pm

2L
27.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Derby Trade Cars

01332315433 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 116d EfficientDynamics 5dr

£2,495

1.6L
111.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

S&O AUTOMOTIVE LTD

01143089077 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 2.0 118d ES Steptronic Euro 5 2dr

£2,291

2L
145.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Coupe

Top1Cars LTD

01245678443 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (72) - 1.5 118i SE (LCP) Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£10,495

Finance available £212 pm

1.5L
19.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

The Drivers Gallery Ltd

01572491189 *

0/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£23,410

1.5L
6.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Perrys Burnley Kia

01282501810 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (69) - 2.0 120d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

£17,786

Finance available £345 pm

2L
68.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Kingsbridge

01904237124 *

BMW 1 Series2009 - 116d SE 5-Door

£1,999

2L
136.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

ACE MOTOR VEHICLE LTD

01913001935 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 - 1.6 118i 5-door Sport Sports Hatch

£5,600

Finance available £103 pm

1.6L
110.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Wootton Motor Company

01553602430 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (72) - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)

Low Mileage

£27,600

Finance available £480 pm

2L
12.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Cannock

01543221765 *

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