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.

2,679 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2017 - 116d Sport 3dr [Nav]

£7,750

Finance available £151 pm

1.5L
110.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Village Autosales NI

02890026938 *

BMW 1 Series(68) - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£23,999

Finance available £472 pm

44.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

TDC Collection LTD

02038928005 *

BMW 1 Series2012 - 2.0 116d ES Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (116 ps)

£2,990

2L
107.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Motors Avenue Inc

01483917624 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (71) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£21,444

1.5L
22.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Fleet Sales (Leicester) Limited

01455245180 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

£25,098

1.5L
21.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Birtley Motorstore / MG / Vanstore

01916070584 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 1.5 116d ED Plus Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£5,495

Finance available £100 pm

1.5L
85.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Central Car Sales

01524917288 *

4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 1.5 118i Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

£5,500

Finance available £101 pm

1.5L
95.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Oxus Cars Ltd

02039537307 *

BMW 1 Series2008 (58) - 2.0 118d SE Euro 4 5dr

£1,600

2L
180.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

TASKGROUP AUTOMOTIVE LIMITED

01506539091 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

£23,999

Finance available £503 pm

1.5L
15.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Maidstone

01622291202 *

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

Low Mileage

£21,378

Finance available £465 pm

1.5L
20.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Lympsham

01934312926 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 1.5 116d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£7,562

Finance available £147 pm

1.5L
86.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Vehicle Solutions NW Ltd

01995910308 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 2.0 M135i Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£25,990

Finance available £513 pm

2L
44.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Your Car Group

01633749117 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 - M135I M PERFORMANCE AUTO 5-Door

Low Mileage

£11,995

Finance available £246 pm

3L
93.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Platinum Car Sales Ltd

01685702348 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (65) - 2.0 118D SPORT 5d 147 BHP 5-Door

Reduced

£6,895

Finance available £132 pm

2L
90.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Evoque Motors

01254445630 *

4.1/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 - 1.6 118i 5-door Sport Sports Hatch

£5,500

Finance available £101 pm

1.6L
110.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Wootton Motor Company

01553602430 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 116i Sport 5dr

Reduced

£3,995

Finance available £67 pm

1.6L
53.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

SK CAR COMPANY LTD

01384885534 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 1.5 118i M Sport Shadow Edition Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£12,390

Finance available £254 pm

1.5L
60.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

JB Quality Cars

01942590040 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 116d M Sport Auto 5dr - Virtual Cockpit & Apple CarPlay & Heated Seats

£17,890

Finance available £347 pm

1.5L
46.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Crossroads Garage Limited

01909496760 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 - 1.5 118i SE Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

Low Mileage

£15,366

Finance available £328 pm

1.5L
20.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Carbase - Bristol

01172331396 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 1.5 118i Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

£6,790

Finance available £129 pm

1.5L
79.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

B&F Cars Northampton

01604343399 *

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