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.

2,936 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

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

£19,198

Finance available £382 pm

1.5L
34.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carsa Bolton

01204323445 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 118I 136 M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£18,699

Finance available £403 pm

1.5L
29.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Hendy Car Store Portsmouth

02392006087 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 118i [1.5] M Sport Shadow Edition 5dr Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£14,440

1.5L
36.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Vertu Renault Bradford

01274028395 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£21,999

Finance available £431 pm

3L
67.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

TDC Collection LTD

02038928005 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£8,300

Finance available £163 pm

1.5L
60.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

RDM Direct

01283241526 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

Low Mileage

£12,990

Finance available £268 pm

2L
45.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

AutoVenue LTD

01633747902 *

4.7/5 Stars

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

£20,797

Finance available £424 pm

1.5L
26.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

CarSupermarket.com Birmingham

01215165158 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 116d Sport 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£15,995

Finance available £335 pm

1.5L
36.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

NI Car Sales Ltd

02838447728 *

BMW 1 Series(73) - 118i M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£26,000

7.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

John Clark BMW Tayside

01382238686 *

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

Low Mileage

£22,198

Finance available £435 pm

1.5L
16.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

drivedirect Bury St Edmunds

01284331263 *

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

Reduced

£15,995

Finance available £335 pm

1.5L
67.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Crawford Clarke Cars

02890022258 *

BMW 1 Series2013 - 2.0 120d SE Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual xDrive Euro 5 (s/s) (184 ps) Manual

Low Mileage

£5,995

Finance available £112 pm

2L
81.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

O C Davies Penguin Court

01267612071 *

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

Reduced

£11,499

Finance available £235 pm

1.5L
81.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motorplus Car Supermarket

01633742350 *

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

£23,499

1.5L
23.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Leeds

01134676295 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (73) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Reduced

£24,628

Finance available £485 pm

1.5L
20.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

WRC Sales Limited

01228588371 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 - 116d EfficientDynamics 5dr

Reduced

£2,995

1.6L
139.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Herts Car Sales Ltd

01992367364 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)

Low Mileage

£27,499

Finance available £544 pm

2L
10.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Cartime Bury

01613887693 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (68) - 1.5 118i SE Business Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£8,590

1.5L
106.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Automatic Motors Ltd

01895546521 *

BMW 1 Series2025 (74) - 123 xDrive M Sport 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

£33,173

2L
7.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Sunderland

01918146399 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 116d EfficientDynamics 5dr

£4,495

Finance available £78 pm

1.6L
117.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Amon Motors Solihull

01216615432 *

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.

View guides

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