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.

2,675 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 1.6 116i SE Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£4,795

Finance available £85 pm

1.6L
137.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Allton Cars Ltd

01216618747 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 118d SE 5dr

£3,495

Finance available £56 pm

2L
117.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Beechwood Van Sales Ltd

01515417902 *

BMW 1 Series2016 - 2.0 120d Sport 5-Door

£5,999

Finance available £112 pm

2L
173.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Chester Motor Company

01207262648 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£28,290

Finance available £606 pm

2L
9.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Match Crewe

01270441019 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 - 120D M Sport 5-Door

Reduced

£21,720

Finance available £463 pm

2L
40.1K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Hippo Approved

01254445378 *

BMW 1 Series2009 (59) - 118d M Sport 3dr

£1,395

2L
177.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Assured Cars

01274028296 *

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

Low Mileage

£19,499

1.5L
16.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Perrys Chesterfield

01246383490 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 1.5 116d Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£6,399

Finance available £121 pm

1.5L
81.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

RP Logistic Services Ltd

02038895518 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 118i M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£20,250

Finance available £395 pm

1.5L
34.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Tayside

01382238686 *

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 118d Sport Plus Edition 2dr

Reduced

£4,795

Finance available £85 pm

2L
62.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

SK CAR COMPANY LTD

01384885534 *

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

£9,799

Finance available £197 pm

1.5L
69.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Prestige Motoring Group

01215160648 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 118i M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£19,500

Finance available £380 pm

1.5L
36.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Tayside

01382238686 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£17,000

Finance available £357 pm

1.5L
40.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Car Planet Barnet

02039577301 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 2.0 120i GPF Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

Low Mileage

£12,980

Finance available £268 pm

2L
40.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Wembley Prestige Cars

02037803372 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 1.5 116d Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£18,700

Finance available £324 pm

1.5L
32.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Cannock

01543221765 *

BMW 1 Series2016 - 2.0 118D M Sport Auto 3dr

£9,445

Finance available £189 pm

2L
99.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

MP Auto Group Limited

01743295540 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 116d Urban 5dr

£3,395

Finance available £54 pm

2L
130.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

KLA Motors

01924668202 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - 2.0 120d xDrive M Sport Shadow Edition Auto 4WD 5dr

Low Mileage

£19,145

Finance available £373 pm

2L
28.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

RallySport Automotive Limited

01206489764 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (73) - M135i xDrive 2.0 Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (306 ps) 5-Door

£30,999

2L
14.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Castle Motors (Trebrown)

01503770414 *

4.1/5 Stars

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

£20,090

Finance available £435 pm

1.5L
33.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Lympsham

01934312926 *

4.5/5 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

* 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