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.

3,122 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2022 (71) - 118i M Sport 5-Door

Reduced

£21,100

1.5L
32.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Aberdeen

01224451046 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

£15,477

Finance available £323 pm

1.5L
61.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Liverpool Car Centre

01515417928 *

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

£18,000

Finance available £372 pm

1.5L
44.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 118d M Sport Shadow Edition 5dr Diesel Hatchback

Low Mileage

£13,759

2L
44.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Vertu Renault Nottingham

01156977745 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 1.5 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£8,995

Finance available £179 pm

1.5L
62.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

PEMBROKESHIRE CAR & VAN SALES LTD

01994220015 *

4.2/5 Stars

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

£17,499

1.5L
67.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Browns of Richmond

01748900788 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 116d Sport 5dr Step Auto

£17,889

Finance available £366 pm

1.5L
37.9K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.2/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 120d Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

£20,870

2L
23.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Evans Halshaw Ford Wolverhampton

01902916130 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118I [136] M Sport 5Dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£22,257

Finance available £437 pm

1.5L
10.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Nissan Sunderland

01738502458 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 1.5 116d ED Plus Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£5,281

Finance available £96 pm

1.5L
112.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Eye Green Cars

01733794296 *

3.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i GPF M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s)

£11,899

1.5L
81.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Affordable Cars Prestige Car Supermarket

01904238447 *

BMW 1 Series2025 - 120 M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£28,995

Finance available £575 pm

1.5L
7.1K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

BMW Bavarian

02895908116 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (66) - 2.0 120i Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£12,698

Finance available £261 pm

2L
37.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Auto Group

02037808971 *

0/5 Stars

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

£16,950

Finance available £356 pm

1.5L
60.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Farlan Automotives Limited

02038737341 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 1.5 116d ED Plus Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Reduced

£4,695

1.5L
119.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

North West Trade Centre

01772285821 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (74) - 120 M Sport 5-Door

Reduced

£30,000

1.5L
3.1K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Tayside

01382238686 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

£14,795

1.5L
66.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Trust UK Bury

01612416386 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 116d EfficientDynamics 5dr

£2,995

1.6L
150.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Hamworthy MOT Centre

01202051972 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£7,000

Finance available £134 pm

1.5L
98.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

TGZ SELECT T/A SELECT CARZ LTD

01915945501 *

BMW 1 Series2010 (60) - 118d M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£2,495

2L
153.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Elite Motor Group LTD

01782389098 *

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.

View guides

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