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.

2,726 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 118d M Sport 5dr

£18,990

2L
47.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Listers Boston (BMW)

01205335096 *

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

Low Mileage

£12,370

Finance available £254 pm

1.5L
56.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Buy and Go Cars

02920108594 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2010 (59) - 116d SE 3dr

Low Mileage

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

2L
50.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Russell Cooper Low Mileage Cars and Vans

01635884970 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 2.0 118d Sport Auto Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£4,795

Finance available £85 pm

2L
116.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Greenlight Automotive Ltd

01254920838 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 120d Sport 5-Door

£19,900

2L
40.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Aberdeen

01224451046 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

£11,995

1.5L
82.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Wavertree Car Centre

01513189401 *

BMW 1 Series2011 (11) - 2.0 118i SE Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (143 ps)

Low Mileage

£3,495

Finance available £56 pm

2L
85.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

The Land of Cars Ltd

01212695413 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 130i M Sport 5-Door

Reduced

£8,444

Finance available £166 pm

3L
53.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Howard Banks Cars Ltd

01279212075 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118i M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£18,569

1.5L
34.4K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

cinch Superstore Derby

01252960119 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (62) - 2.0 120d M Sport Coupe 2dr Diesel Auto Euro 5 (177 ps)

£4,389

2L
116.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Coupe

Dace German Car Centre

01616969152 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 1.5 116d SE (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£15,900

Finance available £340 pm

1.5L
33.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118I M SPORT 5-Door

Low Mileage

£19,995

Finance available £390 pm

1.5L
28.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Dennis Maltby LTD

01754800944 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i [1.5] M Sport Shadow Edition 3dr

£13,250

Finance available £274 pm

1.5L
72.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Crawford Cars

02892448214 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (72) - 2.0 M135i 5dr Auto xDrive (SAT NAV, PRIVACY GLASS)

£24,988

2L
37.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Jeff White Motors

02920028289 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 1.5 118i Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£9,678

Finance available £194 pm

1.5L
57.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

M K Automobiles

01706577763 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (14) - 116i 5dr [6]

Low Mileage

£7,500

Finance available £145 pm

1.6L
60.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

UK Motors Walsall

01922662357 *

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

£24,898

1.5L
14.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Dumfries BMW/MINI

01387340162 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 - 118i Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£9,995

Finance available £201 pm

1.5L
32.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Victory Car Sales

01728441255 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 1.5 118i SE Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

Low Mileage

£14,100

Finance available £299 pm

1.5L
39.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Leeds

01134689988 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 3.0 M140I Shadow Edition Auto 5dr

£18,195

Finance available £353 pm

3L
70.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Cars Of Essex Ltd

01992367296 *

5/5 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