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.

3,062 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 118i M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£28,500

1.5L
3.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Tayside

01382238686 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (70) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£18,200

Finance available £392 pm

1.5L
17.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (64) - 2.0 120d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual xDrive Euro 5 (s/s) (184 ps)

Low Mileage

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

2L
69.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Cars4You Ltd Falkirk

01324465357 *

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

Reduced

£8,195

Finance available £161 pm

2L
90.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Autoshop Norwich

01603959728 *

4.8/5 Stars

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

Reduced

£16,249

Finance available £341 pm

1.5L
73.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

CARS YARD

02039577371 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 118i [1.5] Sport 5dr [Nav]

£6,299

1.5L
85.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Virk Motors

01708973756 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 116d SE 5drONE OWNER FROM NEWFULL MAIN DEALER SERVICE HISTORY**

£12,870

Finance available £205 pm

1.5L
75.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Hailsham Motoring Centre

01323914685 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 116d SE Business Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£11,994

Finance available £246 pm

1.5L
32.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

AutoTrade Southwest

01453701529 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 2.0 116d Sport Hatchback 3dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£3,995

2L
92.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Suffolk Car Centre

01502446963 *

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

£18,900

Finance available £392 pm

1.5L
36.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Leeds

01134689988 *

BMW 1 Series2025 (74) - M135 xDrive 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

£34,381

2L
8.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Sunderland

01918146399 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (66) - 2.0 120d Sport Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£8,699

Finance available £172 pm

2L
99.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Prestige Motoring Group

01215160648 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (72) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£17,990

Finance available £349 pm

1.5L
33.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

UK WHEELS LIMTIED

01279212123 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 116d EfficientDynamics Plus 5dr

£5,495

Finance available £100 pm

1.5L
97.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

One Stop Motors Dewsbury

01924665170 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (72) - 128ti 5-Door

Low Mileage

£26,400

2L
17.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Aberdeen

01224451046 *

BMW 1 Series2015 - 1.5 116d Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£6,495

1.5L
91.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Woodcroft Motors

01642030069 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 1.5 118I M Sport Auto 5dr

Low Mileage

£20,490

1.5L
40.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Phantom Motor Company

01942365271 *

BMW 1 Series2008 (08) - 116i ES 5dr [122]

Low Mileage

£1,495

1.6L
101.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

ARVP Group LTD

02475103329 *

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

£21,425

Finance available £420 pm

1.5L
30.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

D M Keith Select Bradford

01274089129 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition 5-door

Low Mileage

£22,250

Finance available £437 pm

3L
31.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Tyrala Performance Cars

01913387311 *

0/5 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

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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