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.

2,659 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 118i M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£19,000

1.5L
16.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Tayside

01382238686 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i M Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£18,498

1.5L
20.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Glasgow BMW

01416119940 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 - 1.6 116d ED EfficientDynamics Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£4,495

Finance available £78 pm

1.6L
138.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Trade Sales Bodmin

01208221184 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 116d Sport 5dr [Nav]

Low Mileage

£9,895

Finance available £207 pm

1.5L
46.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Range Manchester

01618048254 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

Low Mileage

£22,990

1.5L
11.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Maidstone

01622234873 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 2.0 118d M Sport Auto Euro 5 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£7,695

Finance available £150 pm

2L
72.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Norton Car Sales Limited

01616720268 *

BMW 1 Series1.6 M-Sport Auto 5DR

Reduced

£8,995

Finance available £179 pm

37.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

THE CARMARKET

02890023139 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 1.5 116d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£9,599

Finance available £192 pm

1.5L
53.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Pine Lodge Cars

01948805118 *

4.3/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£4,150

Finance available £70 pm

1.6L
87.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Rochdale Motors Group Limited

01706391404 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

Low Mileage

£18,995

Finance available £370 pm

1.5L
24.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Graham Marsh Car Sales Ltd

01227204258 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 2.0 125i M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£10,450

Finance available £211 pm

2L
47.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Lami Auto Ltd

01895541066 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 1.5 116d SE (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£17,499

1.5L
24.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

HPL Motors Stockport

01615298284 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 2.0 116d SE Auto Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£5,295

Finance available £96 pm

2L
120.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

EQUUS VEHICLES LIMITED

01325521615 *

BMW 1 Series2015 - 118d Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£6,495

Finance available £123 pm

2L
81.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Dunwoody Car Sales

02890023606 *

BMW 1 Series(17) - 1.5 118i Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£7,494

Finance available £145 pm

87.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Not Supplied

Vivian Price Cars

01172331344 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - M140i Shadow Edition 3dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£21,999

Finance available £469 pm

3L
17.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

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

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

1.5L
103.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Rhondda Motor Company

01443803258 *

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

Reduced

£22,699

Finance available £475 pm

1.5L
14.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Portsmouth

02382146197 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118i SE 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£17,000

Finance available £329 pm

1.5L
13.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Hawkins Motors

01939550262 *

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

£5,000

1.5L
114.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Buckley Trade Centre

01352871794 *

4.4/5 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