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.

2,697 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2016 - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

Reduced

£12,790

Finance available £263 pm

2L
25.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Embleton Motor Company

01642937550 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£9,495

Finance available £190 pm

1.5L
72.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Car Hunters

01621733521 *

BMW 1 Series2021 (21) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£15,899

Finance available £333 pm

1.5L
12.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Aran Used Car

01215165146 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

£16,796

Finance available £353 pm

3L
88.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Tenby Car Supermarket

01582280726 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 116d Sport 5dr [Nav]

£7,595

Finance available £147 pm

1.5L
84.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

M1 AUTOS

01164785132 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 120 M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£30,390

1.5L
2.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Maidstone

01622234873 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 2.0 120d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps) + N

Reduced

£11,990

2L
73.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Car Shop 365 LTD

01274028208 *

2.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 - 116d ED Plus 5-Door

Reduced

£7,945

Finance available £155 pm

1.5L
72.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Imperial Motor Company Limited

01732443737 *

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 2.0 120D SE 5DR

Reduced

£3,681

2L
115.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Daniel Maxwell Car Sales

01614139879 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 118d M Sport 5-Door

Low Mileage

£17,300

Finance available £335 pm

2L
32.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

John Clark BMW Aberdeen

01224451046 *

BMW 1 Series2020 - 1.5 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Reduced

£12,795

Finance available £264 pm

1.5L
98.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Daci Autos Bristol LTD

01172331343 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 - 118i M Sport 5dr

£6,495

Finance available £123 pm

1.6L
90.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Purewell Motor Company

01202076204 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - 116d SE 5dr Step Auto

£17,887

1.5L
32.1K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall BMW Hampshire

01256268420 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 1.5 118i Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£7,480

Finance available £145 pm

1.5L
107.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

The Car King

01522309949 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 1.5 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps) Sat Nav,

Reduced

£9,475

Finance available £189 pm

1.5L
61.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

The Van Centre Bury

01618048245 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 1.5L 116D Sport Auto Hatchback 5dr Diesel Automatic Euro 6 (114 bhp)

Low Mileage

£10,950

Finance available £222 pm

1.5L
52.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Rely Motors Ltd

01592807336 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 135i M Sport DCT Coupe N55 2-Door

Low Mileage

£12,990

Finance available £268 pm

3L
65.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Coupe

Oakley Specialist Cars

01435510392 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (71) - 1.5 116d Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£17,700

Finance available £381 pm

1.5L
31.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

BMW 1 Series2014 - 116d EfficientDynamics 3dr

Reduced

£3,796

Finance available £62 pm

1.6L
89.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

SK CAR COMPANY LTD

01384885534 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

£22,448

1.5L
25.9K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall Approved Used Melton Mowbray

01664490868 *

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