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.

2,909 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2010 (10) - 116d SE 5dr

£1,795

2L
146.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

MOORGATE AUTOS LTD

01614139835 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 1.6 116i SE Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£7,995

1.6L
43.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

W R Car Sales Limited

01274087616 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 2.0 118d M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

Low Mileage

£23,290

Finance available £458 pm

2L
21.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

CHESHIRE MOTOR WORKS

01244562666 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (Z5) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

Reduced

£15,495

Finance available £304 pm

1.5L
52.6K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Birchwood Motor Centre

01708932573 *

BMW 1 Series2010 (10) - 118d M Sport 2dr Step Auto

£5,495

2L
136.8K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Convertible

LRS Trade Cars

01206918829 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps) / FINAN

£19,795

Finance available £386 pm

1.5L
30.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Parkland Motors

01509276004 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2010 (10) - 2.0 118d Sport Convertible 2dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (143 ps)

Low Mileage

£4,500

2L
66.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Convertible

Bhakar-Wood Cars LTD

01952953931 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (70) - 116 SE 1.5D 115PS 5 DOOR HATCHBACK (EURO 6)

£13,200

Finance available £204 pm

1.5L
52.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Merthyr Motor Auctions

01685702344 *

BMW 1 Series2009 (07) - 2.0 118i M Sport Convertible 2dr Petrol Manual Euro 4 (143 ps)

Low Mileage

£3,195

2L
88.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Convertible

Northwest Trade Centre Lancaster

01524938637 *

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

£5,750

Finance available £106 pm

1.5L
102.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Cars4You Ltd Falkirk

01324465357 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 128ti 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Professional]

£28,898

2L
21.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Glasgow BMW

01416119940 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 2.0 120d BluePerformance SE Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£9,490

2L
51.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Fab Trade Cars

01584700196 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 118i M Sport 5-Door

£27,200

1.5L
17.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Aberdeen

01224451046 *

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

£20,550

1.5L
28.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

drivedirect Leicester

01164646061 *

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

Low Mileage

£22,999

Finance available £482 pm

1.5L
13.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Glasgow

01412601249 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£19,999

Finance available £390 pm

1.5L
33.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorplus Car Supermarket

01633742350 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£6,500

1.5L
65.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Riverside Car Sales Ltd

01283241530 *

4.2/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 116i M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£10,995

1.6L
27.0K
Miles
Not Supplied
Automatic
Hatchback

County Cars of Strood

01634564273 *

4.9/5 Stars

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

£18,998

1.5L
40.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Irvine BMW

01294440528 *

4.7/5 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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