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.

2,981 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - M140i Shadow Edition 5-door

Low Mileage

£19,990

3L
42.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stoneacre Liverpool

01515592199 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 2.0 120d M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/

£13,995

Finance available £290 pm

2L
75.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Sandhaven Car Sales

01917314499 *

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

£21,297

Finance available £435 pm

1.5L
23.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Birmingham

01215165158 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 2.0 120d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

£18,590

2L
41.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Dace Car Supermarket

01616945306 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118i M Sport 5dr - FSH -

£15,990

1.5L
48.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Glasshoughton Car Sales

01977803305 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 120i M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£16,450

Finance available £345 pm

2L
25.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Urban Car Company Ltd

01954770393 *

0/5 Stars

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

£18,989

Finance available £390 pm

1.5L
40.5K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.2/5 Stars

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

£7,800

Finance available £152 pm

1.5L
96.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Nuneaton Car Sales Ltd

02475187138 *

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

£17,025

Finance available £365 pm

1.5L
7.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Enfield

02037634741 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps) - 18I

Low Mileage

£19,464

Finance available £388 pm

1.5L
29.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carsa Shrewsbury

01743292169 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)

£29,975

Finance available £595 pm

2L
20.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Cottrell Motor Co LTD

01925903926 *

BMW 1 Series2025 (74) - M135 xDrive 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

£34,950

2L
4.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Teesside

01642630363 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118d M Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£19,998

2L
26.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Dumfries

01387340091 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 116d SE Business Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
98.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Elm Motor Company

01752749650 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 - 1.5 118I Sport Auto 5dr

Low Mileage

£18,995

Finance available £370 pm

1.5L
27.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Richlee Motor Company Billericay

01277281160 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 1.5 118i M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£15,950

Finance available £334 pm

1.5L
58.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Williams GB Ltd

01614700090 *

0/5 Stars

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

£20,814

1.5L
37.5K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall Volkswagen St Albans

01727224916 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 2.0 118d M Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£5,615

Finance available £103 pm

2L
97.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

GD Motors

03030037968 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£28,990

Finance available £575 pm

2L
35.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Your Car Group

01633749117 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 1.5 116d M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (116

£14,995

Finance available £313 pm

1.5L
50.1K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

HR Cars

01494927722 *

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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