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.

2,917 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 1.6 116I SPORT 5d 135 BHP 5-Door

£6,995

Finance available £134 pm

1.6L
100.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Cars4You Edinburgh West

01313226854 *

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

Reduced

£24,745

Finance available £488 pm

1.5L
10.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Quest Motor Group

01376312247 *

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

Low Mileage

£21,999

Finance available £460 pm

1.5L
13.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motorpoint Peterborough

01733797063 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 118d Sport 5dr

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

2L
91.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Beechwood Van Sales Ltd

01515417902 *

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

Low Mileage

£20,280

1.5L
13.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Grimsby

01472806814 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 118i [1.5] Sport 5dr [Nav/Servotronic]

£10,999

Finance available £223 pm

1.5L
64.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Jack Reid Cars Carrickfergus

02893448937 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) 5dr DCT

£19,000

Finance available £394 pm

1.5L
44.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Chris W Roads Ltd

01773301938 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

£31,293

2L
9.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Sunderland

01918146399 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 - 116d M Sport Shadow Edition 5dr

£11,199

Finance available £221 pm

1.5L
73.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (72) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£18,300

Finance available £310 pm

1.5L
27.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Cannock

01543221765 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i [1.5] M Sport Shadow Edition 5dr

£12,697

Finance available £251 pm

1.5L
59.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Birmingham

01215165158 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 118i [136] Sport 5dr

Reduced

£10,695

Finance available £217 pm

1.5L
122.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

V12 Sports and Classics Worksop

01455241730 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 2.0 118d M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£18,700

Finance available £325 pm

2L
32.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 2.0 120d M Sport Steptronic Euro 5 2dr

Low Mileage

£5,495

Finance available £100 pm

2L
87.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Coupe

Eminent Motor Group

01614700240 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 3dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Reduced

£9,200

Finance available £183 pm

1.5L
63.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

RDM Direct

01283241526 *

4.5/5 Stars

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

Reduced

£12,850

Finance available £265 pm

1.5L
101.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

FM MOTORS GB LTD

02039484610 *

4.1/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 118i Sport 5dr ++ SAT NAV / ULEZ / DAB / BLUETOOTH / CAMERA ++

Low Mileage

£11,625

Finance available £237 pm

1.5L
30.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Nick King Car Sales (Gloucester)

01452227299 *

BMW 1 Series2013 - 1.6 116i M Sport 3-door

Low Mileage

£8,495

Finance available £167 pm

1.6L
48.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

NATIONAL VEHICLE SUPPLIERS LTD

01182270649 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (73) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£23,991

1.5L
2.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Prestige Cars by Peter Cooper West End

02380017190 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£23,998

2L
35.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Grangemouth Hyundai

01324465374 *

4.7/5 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