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.

2,554 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2016 - 118d M Sport 5dr [Nav] Step Auto

Low Mileage

£14,800

Finance available £290 pm

2L
32.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Carsa Bradford

01274087627 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118i M Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£18,900

Finance available £392 pm

1.5L
25.6K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Vospers Ford Plymouth

01752427479 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 (73) - 118i M Sport 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

£22,950

1.5L
22.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Teesside

01642630363 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 116d Sport 5dr

Reduced

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

2L
116.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

BELLE VUE MOTORS

01697920510 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 116d SE 5-Door

£12,995

Finance available £268 pm

1.5L
82.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Stores

01515419312 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£24,995

Finance available £493 pm

2L
51.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

TJ Hamilton & Co

02886273062 *

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

Low Mileage

£24,998

1.5L
8.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Vauxhall (Stirling)

01786232223 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i GPF M Sport Shadow Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£14,495

Finance available £302 pm

1.5L
39.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Rodden Road Cars

01373481367 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (72) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP] Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£24,668

1.5L
9.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Yeovil

01935311780 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2004 (54) - 120i SE 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£2,695

2L
71.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

BROOKE CARS M65 LIMITED

01254457250 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 118i [1.5] Sport 5dr [Nav] Step Auto

Low Mileage

£9,999

Finance available £201 pm

1.5L
60.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

LMR Cars Ltd

02037633745 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 118d M Sport 2dr

Low Mileage

£6,995

2L
51.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

Woods New Forest Ltd

01590637902 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 - 2.0 116d M Sport 5 door

£5,495

Finance available £100 pm

2L
126.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

CMD Commercials

01302243509 *

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

£15,950

Finance available £334 pm

1.5L
78.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Cars To Go Ltd

01202051975 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 3.0 M140i Hatchback 3dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

Low Mileage

£18,482

Finance available £399 pm

3L
50.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Weston

01934313340 *

4.5/5 Stars

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

£16,495

Finance available £360 pm

1.5L
46.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Range Liverpool

01515417938 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP] Petrol Hatchback

£21,605

1.5L
36.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu Renault Bradford

01274028395 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (11) - 118i SPORT AUTOMATIC/STEPTRONIC CONVERTIBLE (ULEZ COMPLIANT) 2-Door

Reduced

£4,750

Finance available £84 pm

2L
117.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Convertible

Blackrock Motors

01923927525 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 116d SE Business Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£10,700

Finance available £221 pm

1.5L
46.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Peterborough

01733971423 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 1.5 118i GPF M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£14,470

1.5L
77.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Dace Specialist Car Centre Manchester

01612417068 *

4.8/5 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