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.

3,027 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2021 - 116d SE 5dr

£15,349

Finance available £311 pm

1.5L
36.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

cinch

01792001651 *

4.2/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£8,986

Finance available £193 pm

1.5L
82.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Staverton Garage Limited

01327221580 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 1.5 116d Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£4,987

Finance available £89 pm

1.5L
115.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

1UP Automotive Ltd

01616945346 *

5/5 Stars

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

£24,499

Finance available £525 pm

1.5L
16.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 2.0 120d Urban Auto Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£7,999

2L
41.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Thornbury Car Centre

01454800976 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 118i [136] Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

£17,995

Finance available £349 pm

1.5L
29.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

V12 Sports and Classics Worksop

01455241730 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 2.0 118d SE Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

Reduced

£6,989

2L
90.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Dace German Car Centre

01616969152 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 1.5 116D SE 5dr

£12,400

Finance available £255 pm

1.5L
86.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Braunstone Crossroads Motors

01164028881 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 3.0 M135i Sports Hatch Sport Auto 3dr

Reduced

£9,795

3L
96.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Derbyshire Performance

01332419213 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 1.6 118i Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£5,959

1.6L
102.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

AT Motors Essex

01206581651 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 - 116i SPORT 3-Door

Reduced

£6,690

1.6L
52.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

V P I Used Car Sales Limited

02039377580 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 3.0 M140i GPF Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps

£19,299

Finance available £376 pm

3L
64.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Empressive Motor Company

01865591236 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 - 118d Sport 5dr

£6,950

Finance available £133 pm

2L
91.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

CM CARS NI

02827441893 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 1.5 116d SE Hatchback 3dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£4,995

1.5L
103.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Rhondda Motor Company

01443803258 *

BMW 1 Series2013 - 2.0 118d M Sport 5-door

Low Mileage

£8,995

2L
48.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Beckingham Garage

01621733875 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£21,949

Finance available £454 pm

1.5L
25.4K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.2/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£8,795

Finance available £174 pm

1.5L
62.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Grosvenor Cars Norfolk

01493808752 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 2.0 120d SE Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual xDrive Euro 5 (s/s) (184 ps)

Low Mileage

£5,295

2L
93.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

MG MOTOR GROUP LIMITED

01642937567 *

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

Reduced

£5,995

1.6L
72.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

AUTOTRUST LTD

01708205221 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£12,899

Finance available £266 pm

1.5L
68.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

IBZ Motors

02039897125 *

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.

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