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.

2,923 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2009 (59) - 116i [2.0] Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£4,795

Finance available £85 pm

2L
54.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Car 4 U Hull Ltd

01482697733 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 - 2.0 M Sport Convertible 2dr Automatic

Low Mileage

£6,750

Finance available £128 pm

2L
55.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Convertible

Affordable Cars Of Kent

01634957989 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£11,589

1.5L
72.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Dace German Car Centre

01616969152 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 116d M Sport Shadow Ed 5dr Step Auto

£13,699

Finance available £284 pm

1.5L
49.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

FOW Trafford

01616969155 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£6,475

Finance available £122 pm

1.5L
108.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

The Van Centre Bury

01618048245 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 3.0 M140i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto-LOVELY EXAMPLE-FINISHED IN BLACK SAPPHI

£17,450

Finance available £338 pm

3L
83.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Rix Motors

01925917564 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£20,100

Finance available £365 pm

1.5L
25.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Sheffield

01145510576 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£28,990

Finance available £575 pm

2L
13.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Chesterfield

01246388445 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 3dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

Low Mileage

£9,800

2L
57.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Radley Motor Company

01217288665 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - M140i 5-door

Low Mileage

£20,200

3L
45.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Aberdeen

01224451046 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

£20,998

1.5L
30.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Wakefield Motorstore / Vanstore

01924664046 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 2.0 125d M Sport Shadow Edition Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£14,500

2L
69.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark MINI Aberdeen

01224453648 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i [1.5] Sport 5dr [Nav/Servotronic]

Low Mileage

£14,898

1.5L
16.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Glasgow BMW

01416119940 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£13,272

Finance available £280 pm

1.5L
97.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Lympsham

01934312926 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£18,495

Finance available £383 pm

1.5L
48.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Tangelo Used Cars Exeter

01394331922 *

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

£16,698

1.5L
35.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Click & Collect Thurrock

01416118466 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2005 - 1.6 116I SE 5dr

Low Mileage

£2,295

1.6L
107.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Cuxton Road Car Sales

01634959364 *

1.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 - 116i M sports

Low Mileage

£7,350

Finance available £142 pm

1.6L
44.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Loyal Corporations (UK) LIMITED

02476936627 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

£14,795

1.5L
66.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Trust UK Bury

01612416386 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 2.0 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£7,499

Finance available £145 pm

2L
83.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

CARS-WORCESTER

01905676567 *

4.5/5 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

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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