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.

2,802 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 118i M Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£15,795

1.5L
33.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

V12 Sports and Classics Hinckley

01455244504 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 118i [136] Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

£20,199

Finance available £416 pm

1.5L
28.8K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.3/5 Stars

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

£25,053

1.5L
20.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Grimsby

01472806814 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (69) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

£17,787

Finance available £345 pm

1.5L
46.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Strada Cars

01642262600 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)

Low Mileage

£28,995

Finance available £474 pm

2L
19.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Norman Motors Bournemouth

01202133536 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 120i [2.0] M Sport Shadow Ed 3dr Step Auto

Reduced

£10,995

Finance available £223 pm

2L
84.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

D C Cars

01143086551 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 2.0 118d M Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 3dr

£4,690

Finance available £82 pm

2L
101.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Brookway Cars ltd

01515417904 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 - 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

Low Mileage

£25,798

1.5L
8.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Click & Collect Southampton

01414839954 *

4.7/5 Stars

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

£10,795

Finance available £219 pm

1.5L
57.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Rodden Road Cars

01373481367 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 118i Sport 5dr ++ SAT NAV / ULEZ / DAB / BLUETOOTH / CAMERA ++

Low Mileage

£11,625

Finance available £237 pm

1.5L
30.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Nick King Car Sales (Gloucester)

01452227299 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 2.0 120i GPF M Sport Hatchback 3dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (184 ps)

Low Mileage

£15,470

2L
33.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Dace Specialist Car Centre Manchester

01612417068 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 118d Sport 5dr

£7,990

Finance available £156 pm

2L
89.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Castle 4 Cars

02382146222 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 116d Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

Low Mileage

£17,879

Finance available £366 pm

1.5L
20.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 2.0 125d M Sport Hatchback 3dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (218 ps)

Low Mileage

£10,991

Finance available £223 pm

2L
49.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Cardiff Trade Sales Ltd

02922679489 *

BMW 1 Series2015 - 116d Sport 5dr

Reduced

£8,395

Finance available £165 pm

1.5L
64.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Roxforde Cars

02890023134 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 2.0 118d SE Auto Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£6,050

Finance available £113 pm

2L
87.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Car Planet Barnet

02039577301 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£8,300

Finance available £163 pm

1.5L
60.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

RDM Direct

01283241526 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 128ti 5-Door

£24,490

Finance available £483 pm

2L
25.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Whitley Bay Motors LTD

01916075847 *

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

Reduced

£19,500

Finance available £332 pm

1.5L
16.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Wimbledon

02038235453 *

BMW 1 Series2016 - 1.5 116d ED Plus 5-Door

£5,199

Finance available £94 pm

1.5L
95.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

CARVIEWS LTD

01217288890 *

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