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.

2,754 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 1.6 116d ED EfficientDynamics Business Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£3,500

Finance available £56 pm

1.6L
144.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Trade UK

01246383671 *

BMW 1 Series2016 - 1.5 118i Sport 3-Door

£6,488

Finance available £123 pm

1.5L
101.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Fine Car Sales

01733942778 *

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 Series2012 - 135i Sport Plus Edition 2dr DCT

Low Mileage

£12,995

Finance available £268 pm

3L
57.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Convertible

Worlingham Motor Company

01502441250 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 118d Sport 5dr + 1 OWNER / NAV / ULEZ / DAB / BLUETOOTH

Low Mileage

£10,575

Finance available £214 pm

2L
44.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Nick King Car Sales (Gloucester)

01452227299 *

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

Low Mileage

£3,995

Finance available £67 pm

2L
83.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Convertible

Renown Motors

01613887637 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 118i M Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£17,298

1.5L
35.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Hexham GWM

01434629849 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 2.0 118d M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£15,295

Finance available £319 pm

2L
98.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Top Cars Telford Limited

01743291623 *

0/5 Stars

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

£30,999

Finance available £616 pm

2L
29.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Rom Motors Ltd

01455240096 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]

£23,998

1.5L
13.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Fiat/Kia/Abarth (Seafield)

01316036422 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 2.0 120i GPF M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (184 ps)

£10,995

Finance available £223 pm

2L
101.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Duman Autos

01506376796 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118D Sport 5-Door

£17,580

Finance available £370 pm

2L
34.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Hippo Approved

01254445378 *

BMW 1 Series2011 (11) - 2.0 123d M Sport Euro 5 2dr

Low Mileage

£4,991

2L
105.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

Your Next Car Ltd

01156849398 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

£24,498

1.5L
14.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Vauxhall (Glenrothes)

01592803918 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto

£23,990

Finance available £472 pm

2L
51.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

MSP (NW) Ltd

01706391368 *

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 2.0 118d Sport Steptronic Euro 5 2dr

Low Mileage

£3,949

Finance available £66 pm

2L
107.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Coupe

PX Cars Ltd

01924667043 *

BMW 1 Series2012 - 1.6 116i Sport Auto Euro 5 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£8,190

Finance available £161 pm

1.6L
38.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Alex Marc Motors

01389311467 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 1.5 118i M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

£6,489

Finance available £123 pm

1.5L
115.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motorhub

01535281058 *

BMW 1 Series2013 - 116d M Sport 5-Door

£6,495

Finance available £123 pm

2L
104.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Abberton Car Sales

01206879441 *

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

£22,490

Finance available £441 pm

1.5L
40.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Mervyn Stewart Used Select

02895908140 *

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

* Telephone numbers starting with 084X or 087X will cost you up to 13p per minute plus your telephone company's access charge. Calls to other telephone numbers will only cost your phone company's access charge.

Used BMW 1 Series snapshot review

Pros