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.

2,941 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 2.0 118d Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£7,790

Finance available £152 pm

2L
85.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Globe Cars

01733915026 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 2.0 120d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps) Tou

Reduced

£20,221

2L
43.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Cartime Bury

01613887693 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 (62) - 120i 5dr + IMPORT + 34K + PETROL + CLEAN CAR

£5,495

Finance available £100 pm

2L
34.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Mexus

02037639082 *

3.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£9,270

2L
76.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Dace Specialist Car Centre Manchester

01612417068 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (61) - 118d Sport 2dr

Reduced

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

2L
95.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

Car Nation Bourne

01480597473 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2004 (54) - 120i SE 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£2,495

2L
71.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

BROOKE CARS M65 LIMITED

01254457250 *

0/5 Stars

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

£25,498

1.5L
18.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Click & Collect Southampton

01414839954 *

4.7/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£22,556

1.5L
22.1K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall Volkswagen Letchworth

01462559198 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - M140i Shadow Edition 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£22,990

Finance available £452 pm

3L
46.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

AUTOPRESTIGE

01274087615 *

4.1/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 1.6 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

1.6L
62.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Andy Hall Cars

01934318499 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

£20,594

1.5L
33.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Durham

01918146639 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2010 (60) - 2.0 120I SPORT 2d 168 BHP 2-Door

Reduced

£6,490

Finance available £123 pm

2L
60.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Coupe

Derby Trade Cars

01332315433 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 - 120 M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£32,499

1.5L
7.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Leeds

01134676295 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 1.6 116i Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£7,782

Finance available £152 pm

1.6L
47.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Beep Beep Cars Ltd

01913232953 *

BMW 1 Series2025 (14) - 1.6 116i Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£7,290

Finance available £141 pm

1.6L
46.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

HKW Car Sales Ltd

01616967899 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£8,950

Finance available £178 pm

1.5L
65.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Car Capital Ltd

02038933681 *

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£18,300

Finance available £316 pm

1.5L
36.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 1.5 118I M Sport Auto 5dr

Low Mileage

£20,990

1.5L
40.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Phantom Motor Company

01942365271 *

BMW 1 Series2016 - 1.6 120I M Sport Auto 5dr

Low Mileage

£12,295

Finance available £252 pm

1.6L
57.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Richlee Motor Company Rayleigh

01268219714 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 118i [1.5] SE 5dr [Nav/Servotronic]

Low Mileage

£11,895

Finance available £243 pm

1.5L
45.6K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

RL Cars

01555700871 *

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

Author: Jack Evans

View profile

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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