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.

2,924 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 120d M Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£8,800

Finance available £174 pm

2L
74.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Carzooo Limited

01616720266 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 2.0 120d M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

£10,495

Finance available £212 pm

2L
82.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

H2 Autos Ltd

01782917254 *

BMW 1 Series2025 - 123 xDrive M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£36,494

Finance available £729 pm

2L
3.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Derby

01332318252 *

BMW 1 Series2025 (74) - 123 xDrive M Sport 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

£32,412

2L
7.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Durham

01918146639 *

0/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£10,538

Finance available £217 pm

1.5L
52.6K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Carbase - Weston

01934313340 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (64) - 2.0 120d BluePerformance SE Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (184 ps)

Low Mileage

£8,000

Finance available £156 pm

2L
63.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Hammond Cars Norwich

01603937224 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 2.0 118d M Sport 5-Door

£14,995

Finance available £313 pm

2L
98.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Quality Motors

01143086577 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£19,900

Finance available £431 pm

1.5L
20.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Leeds

01134689988 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 116d Sport 5dr Step Auto

£3,895

Finance available £65 pm

2L
124.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

SK CAR COMPANY LTD

01384885534 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 116d Sport 5dr ++ 35 TAX / 65.7 MPG / DAB / BLUETOOTH

Low Mileage

£6,875

Finance available £131 pm

2L
70.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Nick King Car Sales (Gloucester)

01452227299 *

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

Reduced

£7,990

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
115.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Aylas cars ltd

01784770040 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£21,400

Finance available £369 pm

1.5L
24.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 2.0 128ti (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (265 ps) - M SPORT B

£22,776

Finance available £457 pm

2L
35.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carsa Cannock

01543227664 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 118d M Sport Shadow Ed 5dr Step Auto, NAVIGATION, AUTOMATIC LIGHTS, FRONT &

Low Mileage

£14,750

2L
41.7K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

TrustFord Barnsley

01226107151 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118i [136] Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£16,999

Finance available £347 pm

1.5L
19.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

cinch

01273121210 *

4.2/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 2.0 118d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (143 ps)

Reduced

£7,489

Finance available £145 pm

2L
72.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Stirling Cars Ltd

01992661749 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (65) - 116D SPORT 5-Door

£5,395

Finance available £98 pm

1.5L
126.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Tony Car Sales Ltd

02393871677 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (61) - 116i [2.0] Performance Edition 3dr

Low Mileage

£3,460

Finance available £55 pm

2L
81.6K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Gregs Cars Ltd

01889224516 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 1.5 118i Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£8,499

Finance available £168 pm

1.5L
87.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Sterling Motor Group Ltd

02039537434 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 120i M SPORT SHADOW EDITION 5-Door

Reduced

£14,000

Finance available £290 pm

2L
50.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

MMRM Cars Ltd

01992666288 *

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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