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.

2,675 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2025 - 120 M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£35,450

Finance available £708 pm

1.5L
5.0K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Hatchback

JKC Approved Used BMW

02870441623 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 1.5 116d Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

£5,990

Finance available £111 pm

1.5L
77.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Lancashire Autos LTD

01254457567 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (70) - 2.0 M135I XDRIVE 5d 302 BHP 5-Door

Reduced

£25,495

Finance available £514 pm

2L
21.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Eclipse Car Sales Limited

02392006073 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 - 118d SE 3-Door

Low Mileage

£4,150

Finance available £70 pm

2L
83.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Stanley Automotive

01513189273 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (65) - 1.5 116d Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

£6,390

Finance available £120 pm

1.5L
75.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

RD Motors Ltd

01708973724 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 116d M Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£21,500

1.5L
19.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Listers Kings Lynn (BMW)

01553601557 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

£19,750

Finance available £385 pm

1.5L
11.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Palamino NW Ltd

01704335673 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 2.0 116d M Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 3dr

Reduced

£3,895

Finance available £65 pm

2L
132.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Old Wool Motors

01616944295 *

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 2.0 120D SE 5DR

Reduced

£3,681

2L
115.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Daniel Maxwell Car Sales

01614139879 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 118i M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£26,000

Finance available £514 pm

1.5L
8.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Tayside

01382238686 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 116d SE Business 5dr ++ SAT NAV / DAB / BLUETOOTH / ULEZ / 78.5 MPG ++

£8,775

Finance available £174 pm

1.5L
75.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Nick King Car Sales (Gloucester)

01452227299 *

BMW 1 Series2011 (11) - 2.0 116d ES Euro 5 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£2,495

2L
111.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Renown Motors

01613887637 *

BMW 1 Series2014 - 116d SPORT 5-Door

£3,995

Finance available £67 pm

2L
121.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Southwest Motor Company

01752982529 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 118d Sport 5dr [Nav/Servotronic] Step Auto

Low Mileage

£11,495

Finance available £244 pm

2L
57.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Range Liverpool

01515417938 *

4.6/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£19,790

1.5L
26.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Maidstone

01622234873 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i GPF M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 3dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s)

Low Mileage

£15,295

Finance available £313 pm

1.5L
40.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

The Essex Car Group

01277286584 *

4.1/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 120i Exclusive Edition 2dr

Low Mileage

£7,995

2L
56.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Convertible

The Carfella Ltd

01923268888 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 116d M Sport 5dr

£7,995

1.5L
122.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

V12 Sports and Classics Hinckley

01455244504 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118d M Sport 5-Door

£15,795

Finance available £331 pm

2L
72.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Stores

01515419312 *

BMW 1 Series2010 (60) - 2.0 120i SE Steptronic Euro 5 2dr

Low Mileage

£4,495

Finance available £78 pm

2L
104.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Coupe

Cheadle Car Sales

01613887701 *

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