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.

2,725 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 2.0 120d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

Reduced

£12,300

Finance available £252 pm

2L
38.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Hammond Cars Ipswich

01473927579 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)

Reduced

£25,800

Finance available £443 pm

2L
13.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Enfield

02037634741 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 2.0 118d M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£9,995

Finance available £201 pm

2L
78.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

DR-CC (DR Car Company)

01143086588 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 118i Sport 5dr

Reduced

£9,795

Finance available £197 pm

1.5L
119.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

V12 Sports and Classics Worksop

01455241730 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 3dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

Low Mileage

£10,000

2L
57.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Radley Motor Company

01217288665 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£20,799

1.5L
28.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

HPL Motors Stockport

01615298284 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 116d SE 5dr

£13,650

Finance available £283 pm

1.5L
54.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

JB Autos Sales

02870440586 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 2.0 118d SE Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£9,590

Finance available £192 pm

2L
62.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Autocars UK

01482296002 *

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

Low Mileage

£16,600

Finance available £356 pm

1.5L
32.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps) 1 OWNER

Reduced

£17,545

1.5L
49.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Trust UK Lancaster

01524938891 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£8,300

Finance available £163 pm

1.5L
60.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

RDM Direct

01283241526 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 2.0 120i Sport Steptronic Euro 5 2dr

Low Mileage

£1,647

2L
106.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Coupe

Click Once Motor Group

01753379108 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)

Low Mileage

£28,499

Finance available £565 pm

2L
10.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Wearside Autoparc

01913002146 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (71) - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£25,799

2L
16.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Prestige Cars by Peter Cooper (Horsham)

01403331264 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 1.6 118i Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£4,350

Finance available £75 pm

1.6L
83.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Oh My Car Limited

02038934353 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 120d M Sport 3dr [Nav]

Reduced

£10,695

Finance available £217 pm

2L
64.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Ratcliffe Car Sales

02890026912 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Hatchback 3dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

£14,878

Finance available £316 pm

3L
78.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Lympsham

01934312926 *

4.5/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£18,990

Finance available £370 pm

1.5L
35.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Derby Trade Cars

01332315433 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps) Touch

Low Mileage

£21,799

Finance available £427 pm

1.5L
17.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Cartime Bury

01613887693 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 - 118d Sport 5dr [Nav]

£9,995

Finance available £201 pm

2L
64.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

MB Motors

02825440802 *

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