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.

2,697 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 118d Sport 5dr

£1,750

2L
198.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Heaton Vehicle Sales 1

01708204883 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

£11,990

1.5L
70.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Carworld Supermarket

01733794246 *

4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2008 (58) - 2.0 120d M Sport Euro 4 2dr

Reduced

£4,195

Finance available £71 pm

2L
127.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Convertible

Cheadle Car Sales

01613887701 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)

Low Mileage

£23,999

2L
32.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

HPL Motors Stockport

01615298284 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Hatchback 3dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

Reduced

£17,999

Finance available £349 pm

3L
52.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Rom Motors Ltd

01455240096 *

BMW 1 Series2008 - 2.0 SE 5dr Automatic

Low Mileage

£3,995

Finance available £67 pm

2L
84.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Affordable Cars Of Kent

01634957989 *

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

Low Mileage

£17,148

Finance available £368 pm

1.5L
28.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Carbase - Bristol

01172331396 *

4.4/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£25,299

Finance available £532 pm

1.5L
9.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Glasgow

01412601249 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 118d M Sport 5dr [Nav]

£10,250

Finance available £207 pm

2L
78.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

JB Autos Sales

02870440586 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (72) - 128ti 5-Door

Low Mileage

£26,800

Finance available £530 pm

2L
15.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Aberdeen

01224451046 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 2.0 125d M Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 3dr

£6,495

Finance available £123 pm

2L
126.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Elm Motor Company

01752749650 *

3.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 - 2.0 118d SE Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

Low Mileage

£10,695

Finance available £217 pm

2L
50.1K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

C M Car Sales

01773303785 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (68) - 1.5 118i GPF Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

£5,989

Finance available £111 pm

1.5L
114.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motorhub

01535281058 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 1.5 116d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)+2 KEYS+1 F

Low Mileage

£15,690

1.5L
35.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Fish For Motors Ltd

01204939523 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 2.0 120d M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£7,000

Finance available £134 pm

2L
106.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

AM Car Solutions Limited

01543229540 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 1.5 116d Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£11,495

Finance available £234 pm

1.5L
41.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Shawn Dream Cars Ltd

02476936576 *

5/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£10,974

Finance available £223 pm

1.5L
49.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Greenlight Automotive Ltd

01254920838 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 1.5 118I SE BUSINESS 5dr

Low Mileage

£13,295

Finance available £275 pm

1.5L
25.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Richlee Motor Company Rayleigh

01268219714 *

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 2.0 118d SE Coupe 2dr Diesel Steptronic Euro 5 (143 ps)

Low Mileage

£7,000

2L
50.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Coupe

Ponko

01223857211 *

4.4/5 Stars

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

£19,350

Finance available £377 pm

2L
50.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

JB Autos Sales

02870440586 *

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

* Telephone numbers starting with 084X or 087X will cost you up to 13p per minute plus your telephone company's access charge. Calls to other telephone numbers will only cost your phone company's access charge.

Used BMW 1 Series snapshot review

Pros