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.

2,941 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

Low Mileage

£20,047

1.5L
13.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Grimsby

01472806814 *

BMW 1 Series2010 (10) - 2.0 120i M Sport Euro 5 2dr

Reduced

£3,895

Finance available £65 pm

2L
83.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Convertible

Renown Motors

01613887637 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - M140i 5dr [Nav] Step Auto

Low Mileage

£19,995

Finance available £390 pm

3L
60.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

ARJ MOTORS

01932507141 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 - 1.5 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Reduced

£12,495

Finance available £257 pm

1.5L
98.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Daci Autos Bristol LTD

01172331343 *

4.6/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£18,990

Finance available £370 pm

1.5L
35.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Derby Trade Cars

01332315433 *

4.3/5 Stars

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

£6,795

Finance available £129 pm

1.5L
86.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Carnet

01172331340 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i SE Business Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£12,911

Finance available £266 pm

1.5L
40.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Sarah Cox Cars Ltd

01623706190 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 2.0 120d BluePerformance SE Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£9,490

Finance available £190 pm

2L
51.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Fab Trade Cars

01584700196 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) 5dr DCT (SAT NAV, HEATED SEATS)

£19,488

1.5L
47.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Jeff White Motors

02920028289 *

4.7/5 Stars

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 Series2018 (18) - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

£18,395

Finance available £357 pm

3L
73.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

EVOLVE MOTOR GROUP LTD

01793680983 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 118i Urban 5dr

Low Mileage

£3,895

Finance available £65 pm

1.6L
106.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

I & B CARS

01636554116 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 2.0 120d BluePerformance SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£5,400

Finance available £98 pm

2L
84.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

High Street Motor Group Ltd

01924793492 *

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

£23,995

Finance available £472 pm

1.5L
17.4K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

BMW Bavarian

02895908116 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i M Sport Shadow Edition Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£15,950

Finance available £334 pm

1.5L
31.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Jagland Empire Ltd

01422412387 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 118i GPF Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£14,950

Finance available £318 pm

1.5L
20.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Cannock

01543221765 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

Low Mileage

£28,354

1.5L
7.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Bury St Edmunds

01284338953 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (11) - 118i SPORT AUTOMATIC/STEPTRONIC CONVERTIBLE (ULEZ COMPLIANT) 2-Door

Reduced

£4,750

Finance available £84 pm

2L
117.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Convertible

Blackrock Motors

01923927525 *

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

£23,290

Finance available £458 pm

1.5L
12.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Chesterfield

01246388445 *

4.3/5 Stars

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

£20,850

1.5L
15.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Milton Keynes

01908104093 *

4.6/5 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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