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.

2,625 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2016 - 116d ED Plus 5-Door

£7,289

1.5L
75.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Gold Cars Ltd

01386831300 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - BMW 118i 1.5 M Sport 5dr

£17,909

1.5L
50.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Baylis Gloucester

01452227254 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2010 (10) - 123d M Sport 3dr

Low Mileage

£3,195

Finance available £49 pm

2L
120.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Trade Centre Direct

01217288653 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

Low Mileage

£19,985

Finance available £390 pm

3L
45.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

TIME MOTORS LIMITED

01156849371 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 - 120d Sport Plus Edition 2-Door

Reduced

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

2L
60.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Coupe

Imperial Motor Company Limited

01732443737 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (67) - 118i M Sport Shadow Edition M140i Replica - Lovely Example - 45MPG 5-Door

£10,999

Finance available £223 pm

1.5L
75.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

FMC Swansea Ltd

01792739469 *

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

£9,598

Finance available £192 pm

2L
95.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

MQAS CARS LTD

01254946245 *

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

£10,608

Finance available £215 pm

1.5L
80.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Auto Group

02037808971 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 2.0 118D SPORT 5d 147 BHP 5-Door

Reduced

£6,895

Finance available £132 pm

2L
90.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Evoque Motors

01254445630 *

4.2/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 - 1.6 118i 5-door Sport Sports Hatch

£5,500

Finance available £101 pm

1.6L
110.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Wootton Motor Company

01553602430 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 1.5 118i M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£12,000

Finance available £246 pm

1.5L
55.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

IMV Motors Ltd

01217525794 *

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

Low Mileage

£18,900

Finance available £318 pm

1.5L
14.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 128ti Step Auto [Live Cockpit Professional] 5-Door

Low Mileage

£26,176

Finance available £540 pm

2L
13.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Scunthorpe

01724514202 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 2.0 118d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£7,500

Finance available £145 pm

2L
99.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Coventry Sterling Motors

02475103850 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 - 120d M Sport Shadow Ed 3dr Step Auto

£14,799

Finance available £308 pm

2L
53.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2025 - 120 M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£33,998

1.5L
750.0
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Dumfries BMW/MINI

01387340162 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 1.5 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps) - SUN PROTE

Low Mileage

£22,859

Finance available £459 pm

1.5L
11.6K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Carsa Durham

01388217377 *

3.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 1.5 116D Sport Auto 3dr

Low Mileage

£11,400

Finance available £232 pm

1.5L
45.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

S.M.T Automotive Ltd

01296326349 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2010 (10) - 120i SE 2dr

Low Mileage

£2,000

2L
69.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Coupe

Southern Prestige Cars

01293228219 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£9,970

2L
76.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Dace Specialist Car Centre Manchester

01612417068 *

4.8/5 Stars

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