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.

2,623 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 116i Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£3,695

Finance available £60 pm

1.6L
92.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Colebrook and Sons Ltd

01202145724 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 128ti 5-Door

£23,990

Finance available £472 pm

2L
31.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Whitley Bay Motors LTD

01916075847 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

£23,500

Finance available £462 pm

1.5L
15.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Richard Nash Cars Ltd

01603931816 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 128ti 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Professional] Automatic

Low Mileage

£27,495

Finance available £544 pm

2L
7.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

D M Keith SKODA Grimsby

01472404046 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 1.5 116d M Sport 5DR Hatch Diesel

Low Mileage

£17,289

Finance available £335 pm

1.5L
26.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Direct Cars Limited

01145510336 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i [1.5] SE Business 5dr [Nav/Servotronic] - 2 KEYS, REAR PARKING SENSORS

£11,450

1.5L
55.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

TrustFord Mallusk

02890026913 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 116d Sport 3dr

£3,995

Finance available £67 pm

1.5L
120.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

EMV Car Sales

01553603585 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i [1.5] M Sport Shadow Edition 3dr

Low Mileage

£13,895

Finance available £300 pm

1.5L
40.6K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Range Liverpool

01515417938 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - M140i Shadow Edition 5dr Step Auto

£18,000

Finance available £349 pm

3L
68.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carzooo Limited

01616720266 *

BMW 1 Series2010 (60) - 2.0 118d Sport Euro 5 2dr

Low Mileage

£3,495

Finance available £56 pm

2L
99.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Convertible

Car Nation Ltd

01945664291 *

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

Low Mileage

£13,500

Finance available £279 pm

1.5L
33.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Alpino Cars Ltd

01616696759 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 1.5 116d Sport lcp Hatchback 5dr Diesel Dct Euro 6 s/s 116 Ps

£18,900

1.5L
37.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Pentagon Vauxhall (Loughborough)

01332414577 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 3.0 M135i Auto Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£11,450

Finance available £233 pm

3L
71.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

SJ Approved Used Cars LTD

01455241696 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 1.5 116d SE Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£12,995

Finance available £268 pm

1.5L
19.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Ace Car Sales Bury

01618042294 *

3.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 1.5 116d Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
54.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Harpers of Essex Ltd

01279598863 *

3.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 (73) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP] Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£25,028

1.5L
4.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Bridgwater

01278555750 *

0/5 Stars

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

£20,000

1.5L
49.4K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Peoples Ford Falkirk

01324461492 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto [Pro Pack]

£29,499

Finance available £624 pm

2L
17.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Newport

01633493027 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 116d Sport 5dr Step Auto ++ SAT NAV / 35 TAX / DAB / BLUETOOTH / SENSORS ++

Low Mileage

£7,975

Finance available £156 pm

2L
49.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Nick King Car Sales (Gloucester)

01452227299 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (73) - 2.0 128ti (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto-1 OWNER FROM NEW FINISHED IN BLAC

£27,500

Finance available £544 pm

2L
25.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Rix Motors

01925917564 *

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

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Used BMW 1 Series snapshot review

Pros