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.

2,635 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

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

£5,999

Finance available £112 pm

1.5L
82.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Oldbury Car Sales

01216474046 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 118d M Sport Shadow Ed 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£14,295

Finance available £297 pm

2L
51.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

RB Cars

01989551050 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 114i Sport 5dr

£3,695

Finance available £60 pm

1.6L
127.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Nationwide Car Auction Limited

02039577360 *

BMW 1 Series2013 - 2.0 116D SE 5dr

Low Mileage

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

2L
91.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Eastwood Motor Sales Limited

01702410178 *

BMW 1 Series2004 (54) - 2.0 118d Sport Euro 4 5dr

Low Mileage

£1,800

2L
144.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Horsepower Motor Centre Ltd

01732927681 *

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

£5,295

Finance available £96 pm

2L
148.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

JF Cars Southwest Ltd

01460201372 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 118d Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£4,195

Finance available £71 pm

2L
89.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Quality Car Sales

01924667062 *

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

Low Mileage

£18,922

1.5L
31.7K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Charles Hurst Usedirect/ Premium Direct - Dundon

02890022199 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - Sport 5-Door

£15,999

1.5L
43.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Right Car Hull

01482947530 *

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

Low Mileage

£24,295

1.5L
14.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Tunbridge Wells

01892571854 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 2.0 118d M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

£9,991

2L
93.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Your Next Car Ltd

01156849398 *

0/5 Stars

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

£24,599

Finance available £517 pm

1.5L
13.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Sheffield

01143086607 *

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

Low Mileage

£18,995

Finance available £370 pm

1.5L
26.6K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

The Car Centre

01612416893 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (73) - 118i M Sport 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

£24,447

1.5L
22.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Durham

01918146639 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 116d EfficientDynamics Plus 5dr

£8,490

Finance available £167 pm

1.5L
76.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Castle 4 Cars

02382146222 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2008 (08) - 2.0 120d SE Euro 4 2dr

Low Mileage

£2,795

2L
100.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

PX Cars Ltd

01924667043 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 118i M Sport 3dr

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

1.6L
81.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Cars2u

01473354250 *

0/5 Stars

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

£19,250

Finance available £375 pm

2L
38.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

McCabe Autos

02890023128 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 118d M Sport 5-Door

Reduced

£9,998

Finance available £201 pm

2L
67.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Blackwood Used Car Ltd

02890021467 *

BMW 1 Series(62) - 1.6 116i M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£9,249

Finance available £184 pm

39.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

M Cars Surrey Ltd

01342649540 *

4.3/5 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

* 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