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.

2,787 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2010 - 120i SPORT 2-Door

Reduced

£4,390

Finance available £76 pm

2L
83.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Coupe

V P I Used Car Sales Limited

02039377580 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 2.0 118d M Sport Shadow Edition Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£12,494

Finance available £257 pm

2L
63.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

AutoTrade Southwest

01453701529 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 118i [136] Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

£20,995

1.5L
24.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

V12 Sports and Classics Hinckley

01455244504 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - Sport 5-Door

£15,999

1.5L
43.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Right Car Hull

01482947530 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 3dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£9,695

2L
72.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Park Lane Cars

01782518971 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 2.0 118d M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£13,495

Finance available £279 pm

2L
50.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Cheadle Car Sales

01613887701 *

BMW 1 Series2013 - 2.0 120i Exclusive Edition Auto 2dr

Low Mileage

£9,000

2L
33.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Coupe

Vortex Cars Limited

01614700153 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 118i SPORT [NAV/SERVOTRONIC] 3-Door

£8,595

Finance available £170 pm

1.5L
110.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

MM AUTO CAR SALES

01382238685 *

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 Series2016 (16) - 1.5 116d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£7,220

Finance available £139 pm

1.5L
77.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Sandhaven Car Sales

01917314499 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (69) - 120d xDrive M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£19,495

Finance available £405 pm

2L
52.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Essex Car Company

01708973745 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£20,495

Finance available £400 pm

1.5L
35.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

SERE Belfast

02895908111 *

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

£23,299

Finance available £488 pm

1.5L
16.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Birtley

01913387241 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (73) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£20,575

Finance available £402 pm

1.5L
26.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Quality Part X Ltd Stevenage

01438584759 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 125i M Sport 2-Door

Low Mileage

£7,495

Finance available £145 pm

3L
88.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Coupe

Couston Motor Company

01383347938 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 2.0 125i M Sport Hatchback 3dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (218 ps)

Low Mileage

£11,495

Finance available £234 pm

2L
34.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Ivybridge Trade Centre

01752982776 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 118d M SPORT SHADOW EDITION 5-Door

£12,995

Finance available £268 pm

2L
86.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Southwest Motor Company

01752982529 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£21,700

Finance available £425 pm

1.5L
26.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Quality Part X Ltd Dunstable

01582280653 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (74) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional] Petrol Hatchback

£27,524

1.5L
7.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Sunderland

01918146399 *

0/5 Stars

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

£19,186

Finance available £382 pm

1.5L
34.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Carsa Gloucester

01452227227 *

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

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Used BMW 1 Series snapshot review

Pros