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.

2,909 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

Low Mileage

£20,434

Finance available £408 pm

1.5L
30.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carsa Durham

01388217377 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2025 (62) - 1.5 BMW 1 SERIES

Low Mileage

£5,490

Finance available £100 pm

1.6L
52.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Jan London Trade Manchester

01216474048 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 1.5 116d M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£8,289

Finance available £163 pm

1.5L
117.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Carworld Sheffield

01143086605 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 (73) - 118i [136] Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional] Petrol Hatchback

Low Mileage

£20,857

1.5L
13.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Vertu BMW York

01904237114 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2007 - 118d SE 5dr

Reduced

£2,199

2L
98.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

RAPID AUTOS LIMITED

01782917185 *

BMW 1 Series(22) - 118i M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£24,300

13.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

John Clark BMW Aberdeen

01224451046 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118i M Sport 5dr Step Auto [Tech Pack]

Low Mileage

£20,354

1.5L
28.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall FordStore Cambridge

01223632572 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 125i [224] M Sport Shadow Ed 3dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£10,950

Finance available £222 pm

2L
50.7K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

HD AUTOS SHEFFIELD

01144786507 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£29,898

2L
11.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Inverness BMW

01463211082 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 2.0 118d Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

£6,995

Finance available £134 pm

2L
104.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Poolstock Car Sales Limited

01942597424 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (11) - 2.0 116i M Sport Steptronic Euro 5 5dr

Low Mileage

£4,497

2L
108.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Click Once Motor Group

01753379108 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 116i SE 3dr Step Auto

£4,995

1.6L
99.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Jap Motor Cars Ltd

01773304675 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 1.5 118i M Sport Shadow Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£10,950

Finance available £222 pm

1.5L
71.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Car Planet Watford

01923927636 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 2.0 120d M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

£21,995

Finance available £431 pm

2L
40.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Alpha Cars

01748900791 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 - 118i [1.5] Sport 5dr [Nav]

Low Mileage

£10,699

Finance available £217 pm

1.5L
25.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP/Pro pk]

Low Mileage

£22,998

1.5L
24.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Birtley Motorstore / MG / Vanstore

01916070584 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£27,490

2L
29.3K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Hampshire

01256268420 *

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

£12,295

Finance available £252 pm

1.5L
73.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

WMGB

01278550715 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 1.5 118i M Sport DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£18,800

Finance available £398 pm

1.5L
24.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Car Planet Barnet

02039577301 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 118i [136] M Sport [Live Cockpit Professional] DAMAGED REPAIRABLE SALVAGE 5-Door

Reduced

£6,250

Finance available £117 pm

1.5L
16.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

FULLERS AUTO SALVAGE LTD

01255449991 *

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

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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