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.

2,974 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

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

£16,998

Finance available £365 pm

1.5L
59.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Bristol

01172331396 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr

£18,700

Finance available £364 pm

1.5L
46.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Ocean Group BMW Penryn

01326333538 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] SE 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

£17,449

Finance available £356 pm

1.5L
24.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.2/5 Stars

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

£10,499

Finance available £212 pm

2L
66.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Northumberland Motor Village

01665660980 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 1.5 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Reduced

£11,995

Finance available £246 pm

1.5L
98.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Daci Autos Bristol LTD

01172331343 *

4.6/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£17,995

Finance available £349 pm

1.5L
6.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Green Motors Dewsbury

01924667351 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 1.5 116d SE Business Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£7,999

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
38.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Prestige Motoring Group

01215160648 *

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

Reduced

£18,489

1.5L
67.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Dace German Car Centre

01616969152 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2009 (59) - 59 PLATE BMW 118d Sport 2dr CONVERTABLE ,RED

Reduced

£3,995

2L
81.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Convertible

Cowbridge Road Motor Company

02920027040 *

4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£25,950

Finance available £513 pm

2L
37.4K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Jack Reid Cars Carrickfergus

02893448937 *

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

Reduced

£27,495

Finance available £443 pm

2L
25.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Norman Motors Bournemouth

01202133536 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 - 2.0L 116D M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (114 bhp)

Low Mileage

£5,895

2L
81.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

One Cars

01259230762 *

BMW 1 Series2011 - 2.0 116i Sport 5 door

Low Mileage

£4,295

Finance available £74 pm

2L
65.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Appleby Motors

01283243485 *

BMW 1 Series2015 - 2.0 118d Sport 5-Door

£6,800

Finance available £130 pm

2L
85.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Chapelfield Car Sales Ltd

01616946801 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 - 1.6 ED EfficientDynamics Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (116 ps)

£2,495

1.6L
172.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Hexon Cars Ltd

01296323163 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 116d Sport 5dr [Nav/Servotronic]

Low Mileage

£11,295

Finance available £230 pm

1.5L
41.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Dorchester Collection

01305238372 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i M Sport 5-Door

£19,990

Finance available £390 pm

1.5L
40.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Whitley Bay Motors LTD

01916075847 *

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

£10,790

Finance available £214 pm

2L
80.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Ponko

01223857211 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (70) - 118i M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£16,499

Finance available £346 pm

1.5L
78.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

John Griffiths Cars Ltd

01778308207 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 1.5 116D Sport 5dr

£7,295

Finance available £141 pm

1.5L
94.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Bath and Somerset Cars

01761252117 *

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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