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.

2,724 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 2.0 120d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

Low Mileage

£10,991

Finance available £223 pm

2L
70.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

AUTO RANGE TRADE CENTRE LTD

01443801307 *

4.2/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Reduced

£8,000

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
44.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Stockport Car Supermarket

01612416384 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

Low Mileage

£27,450

Finance available £543 pm

1.5L
4.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

JKC Approved Used BMW

02870441623 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 2.0 116d Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£3,595

Finance available £58 pm

2L
125.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

RM Traders

01780430645 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 116d Sport 5dr [Nav]

Low Mileage

£8,995

Finance available £179 pm

1.5L
52.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

BSS CAR SALES LTD

01362700947 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118d M Sport Shadow Ed 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£14,450

Finance available £301 pm

2L
64.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

SM Auto Sales

02890026930 *

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 Series2023 (23) - 128ti 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£29,224

2L
11.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Bridgwater

01278555750 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 1.5 116d Sport (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£15,380

Finance available £321 pm

1.5L
65.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Quality Part X Ltd Stevenage

01438584759 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 116d EfficientDynamics 5dr

£2,495

1.6L
123.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

S&O AUTOMOTIVE LTD

01143089077 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (64) - 116i Sport 5dr MANUAL PETROL 82000 MILES

Low Mileage

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

1.6L
82.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Brownlow Cars

01325527847 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 1.5 116d M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£10,974

Finance available £223 pm

1.5L
49.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Greenlight Automotive Ltd

01254920838 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 118d SPORT 5-Door

Low Mileage

£8,990

Finance available £179 pm

2L
28.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Just the Car Ltd

01494311220 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 2.0 120d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps) + N

Reduced

£11,990

2L
73.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Car Shop 365 LTD

01274028208 *

2.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 116d EfficientDynamics Plus 5dr

£5,290

Finance available £96 pm

1.5L
115.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Autopoint UK (Notts) Ltd

01156977743 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Reduced

£9,990

Finance available £201 pm

1.5L
65.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Toccar

01652247128 *

BMW 1 Series2016 - 3.0 M140i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

Low Mileage

£18,500

Finance available £360 pm

3L
59.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Earls Autos

01733977929 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 3.0 M140i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

£16,350

Finance available £343 pm

3L
70.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Beehive Cars

01204939561 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

Reduced

£12,695

Finance available £261 pm

1.5L
82.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motorswitch Ltd

01942364531 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto [Tech-Pro Pack]

Low Mileage

£31,599

Finance available £670 pm

2L
8.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Peterborough

01733797063 *

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