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.

2,985 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

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

Reduced

£20,995

Finance available £411 pm

1.5L
29.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Ballyrobert Bangor

02891249490 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£19,173

1.5L
23.6K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Grimsby

01472806814 *

BMW 1 Series2014 - 3.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (320 ps)

Low Mileage

£14,800

3L
56.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Earls Autos

01733977929 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i [1.5] M Sport Shadow Edition 5dr

Low Mileage

£15,999

Finance available £325 pm

1.5L
14.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.2/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 116d EfficientDynamics Plus 5dr

£5,495

Finance available £100 pm

1.5L
106.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Mania

01614700093 *

3.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 2.0 118d M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 3dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (1

Reduced

£9,995

Finance available £201 pm

2L
104.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Select Cars Southwest

01404511315 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (72) - 2.0 M135i Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps)

Reduced

£27,995

2L
36.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Enkae Prestige Motors

01484240747 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 1.5 116d Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£6,300

Finance available £118 pm

1.5L
88.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Browns Car Company

01621733495 *

4.7/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£23,495

Finance available £462 pm

1.5L
9.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Auto2000 Prestige Cars

02037808184 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (23) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£23,499

Finance available £462 pm

1.5L
13.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Bassetts Honda Swansea

01792940530 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 118I [136] M Sport 5Dr Step Auto [Lcp]

Low Mileage

£25,499

Finance available £608 pm

1.5L
10.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Lookers Stoke-on-Trent BMW

01782917219 *

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

Low Mileage

£10,050

Finance available £198 pm

1.5L
60.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Evans Halshaw Ford Burnley

01282503246 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 2.0 118d M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£11,800

Finance available £241 pm

2L
42.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Chapelfield Car Sales Ltd

01616946801 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£13,995

2L
93.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Dace German Car Centre

01616969152 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 116i M Sport 5dr

£6,195

Finance available £116 pm

1.6L
88.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Surecar Direct

01172447335 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 - 1.6 114i ES Hatchback 3dr Petrol Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (102 ps)

£3,500

1.6L
105.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

KC KARS UK

01332418996 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 (19) - 118i SE Business 5-Door

£13,250

1.6L
20.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Estate

Stoneacre Darlington Toyota

01325529181 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118i M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£17,199

Finance available £362 pm

1.5L
54.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

FOW Trafford

01616969155 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto Diesel Hatchback

£26,669

1.5L
10.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Exeter

01392341615 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2010 (10) - 116i [2.0] SE 3dr

Low Mileage

£2,995

2L
108.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Cannon Street Car Sales

01304793064 *

4.3/5 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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