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.

2,941 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

£21,495

Finance available £421 pm

1.5L
39.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Pat Kirk Ltd

02871221794 *

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

£22,799

Finance available £477 pm

1.5L
20.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Birtley

01913387241 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£21,200

Finance available £365 pm

1.5L
16.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£18,200

Finance available £307 pm

1.5L
25.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£14,389

2L
93.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Dace German Car Centre

01616969152 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 3.0 M140i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

Low Mileage

£18,795

Finance available £366 pm

3L
48.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carplex Ltd

01323396590 *

BMW 1 Series2005 - 120i SE 5-Door

Low Mileage

£2,495

2L
105.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stockwood Village Automotive

01174400893 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (67) - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£18,490

Finance available £359 pm

3L
60.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

SJ Approved Used Cars LTD

01455241696 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (74) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional] Petrol Hatchback

£28,024

1.5L
7.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Sunderland

01918146399 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (74) - M135 xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£42,900

Finance available £861 pm

2L
6.7K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Ocean Group BMW Penryn

01326333538 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118i Sport 5dr Step Auto

£17,495

Finance available £339 pm

1.5L
42.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Chilham Sports Cars

01227203935 *

4.5/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£23,300

1.5L
23.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Aberdeen

01224451046 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 2.0 120d M Sport Auto Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£7,495

Finance available £145 pm

2L
100.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

The Drivers Gallery Ltd

01572491189 *

0/5 Stars

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

£21,390

2L
73.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Dace Car Supermarket

01616945306 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 2.0 120d M Sport xDrive Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£5,795

Finance available £107 pm

2L
104.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

T and T Motors

01924665188 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (05) - 118i [1.5] Sport 3dr [Nav/Servotronic]

Low Mileage

£11,195

Finance available £228 pm

1.5L
32.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

V12 Sports and Classics Worksop

01455241730 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£26,899

Finance available £567 pm

2L
19.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Burnley

01282504324 *

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

£25,075

1.5L
20.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Grimsby

01472806814 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 1.5 116d SE Business Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£8,299

Finance available £163 pm

1.5L
72.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Shahz Cars Ltd

01525308852 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 118i [1.5] M Sport 5dr

£5,495

Finance available £100 pm

1.5L
104.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Three Pines Garage Limited

01885477786 *

0/5 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

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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