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.

2,603 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2021 - 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£17,099

Finance available £349 pm

1.5L
61.9K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

Low Mileage

£21,498

1.5L
16.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Benton Newcastle SEAT

01916070546 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2009 (09) - 116d Sport 5dr

£1,795

2L
159.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

AR Cars

01254947703 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 2.0 120d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

Reduced

£16,995

Finance available £357 pm

2L
65.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Hanley Motor Company

01782432979 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 1.5 118i M Sport DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£15,245

Finance available £318 pm

1.5L
23.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

KZ Autos Ltd

02476939692 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 116d Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£7,994

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
62.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Top Lane Cars Ltd

01942559253 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 2.0 125d M Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£6,600

Finance available £125 pm

2L
107.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

The Car Hub (Midlands)

01623703437 *

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

£17,998

Finance available £349 pm

1.5L
5.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

drivedirect Aldershot

01252412344 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£28,995

Finance available £575 pm

2L
42.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

DMC

01412601329 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 3.0 M140I Shadow Edition Auto 5dr

Low Mileage

£23,195

Finance available £456 pm

3L
40.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Cars Of Essex Ltd

01992367296 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (70) - 1.5 116d SE Hatchback 5dr Diesel DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£12,000

1.5L
96.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Fusion Motors Limited

01375808581 *

BMW 1 Series2013 - 116i SPORT 3-Door

Reduced

£6,690

Finance available £127 pm

1.6L
52.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

V P I Used Car Sales Limited

02039377580 *

3.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

£21,988

1.5L
25.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Jeff White Motors

02920028289 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 116d Sport 5dr ++ 35 TAX / DAB / BLUETOOTH / AIR CON ++

Low Mileage

£5,475

Finance available £100 pm

2L
80.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Nick King Car Sales (Gloucester)

01452227299 *

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 2.0 118d SE Coupe 2dr Diesel Steptronic Euro 5 (143 ps)

Low Mileage

£6,980

2L
50.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Coupe

Ponko

01223857211 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] SE Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro] 5-Door

£25,197

Finance available £519 pm

1.5L
29.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Birmingham

01215165158 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 2.0 125i M Sport Shadow Edition Auto 5dr

Low Mileage

£15,995

Finance available £335 pm

2L
52.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Richlee Motor Company Rayleigh

01268219714 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (72) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP] Petrol Hatchback

£21,548

1.5L
38.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Teesside

01642630363 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 - 118i SPORT 5-Door

£12,475

Finance available £256 pm

1.5L
59.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

JMV

01634564263 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

£19,459

1.5L
40.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Salisbury

01722445824 *

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

* Telephone numbers starting with 084X or 087X will cost you up to 13p per minute plus your telephone company's access charge. Calls to other telephone numbers will only cost your phone company's access charge.

Used BMW 1 Series snapshot review

Pros