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.

2,714 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 2.0 118d M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (1

Low Mileage

£14,970

2L
40.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Dace Specialist Car Centre Manchester

01612417068 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (11) - 116I SPORT 5-Door

Low Mileage

£3,495

Finance available £56 pm

2L
80.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

MOTORS ARE US LIMITED

01753980471 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps) Automatic

£17,800

Finance available £345 pm

1.5L
48.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Taylors Pitstop

01293221182 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (66) - 1.5 116d SE Hatchback 3dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£5,695

1.5L
102.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Northwest Trade Centre Lancaster

01524938637 *

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

£4,990

Finance available £89 pm

1.5L
116.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Hey Motors Ltd

01706572044 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 2.0 118d Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£4,499

Finance available £78 pm

2L
107.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

OTR Motors

01612416878 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - 1.5 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£18,475

Finance available £398 pm

1.5L
35.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Bristol

01172331396 *

4.4/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£14,495

Finance available £302 pm

1.5L
39.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Rodden Road Cars

01373481367 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 1.5 116d M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (116

£10,650

Finance available £216 pm

1.5L
87.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Beehive Cars

01204939561 *

4.1/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 - M140i Shadow Edition 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£18,495

Finance available £407 pm

3L
49.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Range Liverpool

01515417938 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (72) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£18,900

Finance available £323 pm

1.5L
27.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Cannock

01543221765 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i (136) M Sport 5dr Step Auto (LCP)

Low Mileage

£23,000

1.5L
12.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorparks Canterbury

01227203463 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 118i [1.5] Sport 5dr [Nav]

£5,490

Finance available £100 pm

1.5L
95.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

A ONE MOTORS LTD

01143086574 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 2.0 118d M Sport Auto Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£10,495

Finance available £212 pm

2L
35.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Renown Motors

01613887637 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 120d M Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

£23,399

Finance available £490 pm

2L
24.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Sheffield

01143086607 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 2.0 120d Sport Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£14,290

Finance available £297 pm

2L
109.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Brookway Cars ltd

01515417904 *

4.4/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£18,690

3L
50.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Greenwood Motors Ltd

01274028389 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 125d M Sport 3dr [Nav] Step Auto

Low Mileage

£14,399

Finance available £290 pm

2L
57.7K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (66) - 2.0 118d M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£12,550

Finance available £258 pm

2L
56.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Car Planet Watford

01923927636 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5 Dr

Low Mileage

£18,995

1.5L
27.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Victoria Motors Ltd

01747440831 *

4.8/5 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

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