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.

2,598 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2008 (58) - 118D EDITION ES 5-Door

Reduced

£3,699

Finance available £60 pm

2L
101.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Bexhill Motors Dorset Road

01424230370 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 - 120d Sport 5dr Step Auto

£18,495

Finance available £359 pm

2L
50.2K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

McGillions

02881440369 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (67) - 1.5 116d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£6,295

Finance available £118 pm

1.5L
109.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Evolve Motor Company

01633741704 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 - 1.6 116i M Sport Turbo 5dr

Low Mileage

£6,490

Finance available £123 pm

1.6L
70.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

DSI Performance Cars

01306772198 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 118i [1.5] Sport 5dr [Nav]

£8,995

Finance available £179 pm

1.5L
75.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Mike Wells Cars Ltd

01933421770 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2025 - M135 xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£42,495

2L
4.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Tunbridge Wells

01892571854 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 120d xDrive M Sport 5dr Step Auto Diesel Hatchback

Low Mileage

£21,617

2L
29.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu Ford Cheltenham

01452227297 *

4.6/5 Stars

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

£24,498

1.5L
18.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Vauxhall (Glenrothes)

01592803918 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 2.0 116d SE Euro 5 (s/s) 3dr

£3,495

Finance available £56 pm

2L
112.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Car Nation Ltd

01945664291 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£24,998

2L
37.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Vauxhall/Jeep/Alfa Romeo (Linwood)

01414736412 *

4.7/5 Stars

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

£17,000

Finance available £329 pm

1.5L
47.6K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Nuneaton Car Sales Ltd

02475187138 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 116d SE 5dr

Low Mileage

£7,990

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
56.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Dynamic Motor Company Ltd

01422413648 *

2.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 - 118i SPORT 5-Door

Low Mileage

£9,995

Finance available £201 pm

1.5L
33.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

A R Used Cars Ltd

01280730307 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] SE 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

Low Mileage

£20,349

Finance available £424 pm

1.5L
7.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Widnes

01518322225 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 1.5 118i M Sport lcp Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 s/s 136 Ps

Low Mileage

£20,250

1.5L
18.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Pentagon Peugeot (Barnsley)

01226695727 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (69) - 1.5 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£16,500

Finance available £353 pm

1.5L
49.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Peterborough

01733971423 *

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

£2,195

2L
156.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

MOORGATE AUTOS LTD

01614139835 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 1.5 118i SE (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps) 8.8in D

£15,285

Finance available £293 pm

1.5L
40.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Cartime Bury

01613887693 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118I M SPORT 5DR STEP AUTO

£16,704

1.5L
58.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Brayley Nissan Birmingham

01217525804 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 1.5 116d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£10,477

Finance available £212 pm

1.5L
73.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Liverpool Car Centre

01515417928 *

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