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.

2,679 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2015 - SPORT 5-Door

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

1.5L
114.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Coopers car sales ltd

02921670053 *

4.2/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 1.5 118i Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£9,989

Finance available £201 pm

1.5L
48.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Yorkshire Vehicle Solutions Harrogate Ltd

01423648648 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (11) - 116d Sport FULL SERVICE HIST.PK SENSORS,CRUISE CONTROL,VERY CLEAN HPI CLEAR 5-Door

Low Mileage

£2,495

2L
98.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Economic Cars LTD

01494415169 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

Low Mileage

£19,985

Finance available £390 pm

3L
45.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

TIME MOTORS LIMITED

01156849371 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 116 SE 1.5D 115PS 5 DOOR HATCHBACK (EURO 6)

£13,650

Finance available £283 pm

1.5L
51.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Merthyr Motor Auctions

01685702344 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 1.5 116d M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£23,920

Finance available £471 pm

1.5L
24.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Buy and Go Cars

02920108594 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 2.0 120d M Sport Auto Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£6,992

Finance available £134 pm

2L
81.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Class Auto Ltd

01254947714 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 118i [1.5] Sport 3dr

Low Mileage

£6,995

Finance available £134 pm

1.5L
69.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Galloway Motors

01333406894 *

BMW 1 Series(19) - 2.0 120d M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/

Low Mileage

£17,000

44.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Not Supplied

Big Motoring World Peterborough

01733971423 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

£25,498

1.5L
9.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Kirkcaldy BMW

01592802402 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£22,998

2L
49.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Kirkcaldy BMW

01592802402 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] SE 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

£20,390

1.5L
31.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Perrys Aylesbury Ford

01296325843 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 135i M Sport DCT Coupe N55 2-Door

Low Mileage

£12,990

Finance available £268 pm

3L
65.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Coupe

Oakley Specialist Cars

01435510392 *

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

Low Mileage

£18,850

1.5L
25.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Peoples Ford Edinburgh

01312022572 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 1.5 116d ED Plus Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£6,450

Finance available £122 pm

1.5L
85.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

B&F Cars Northampton

01604343399 *

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

£20,788

Finance available £415 pm

1.5L
10.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carsa Bradford

01274087627 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2010 (60) - 116d Sport 5dr

£2,195

2L
156.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

MOORGATE AUTOS LTD

01614139835 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - M SPORT 5-Door

£11,999

2L
74.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

The Garrison Garage

01252960053 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (61) - 2.0 118d M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Reduced

£8,050

Finance available £157 pm

2L
84.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Car Planet Watford

01923927636 *

4.5/5 Stars

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

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