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.

3,043 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

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

£24,898

1.5L
14.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Dumfries BMW/MINI

01387340162 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 2.0 116d Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£3,789

2L
62.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

AZS Cars Ltd

07471751013 *

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

£16,100

Finance available £257 pm

1.5L
51.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Quality Part X Ltd Stevenage

01438584759 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (66) - 1.5 118i M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£9,495

Finance available £190 pm

1.5L
64.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Car Genie

01484509565 *

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

£21,995

Finance available £431 pm

1.5L
37.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Donnelly Motorstore Bangor

02891638497 *

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

£29,989

Finance available £595 pm

2L
14.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Wrexham Volkswagen

01978800738 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2025 (74) - 123 xDrive M Sport 5dr Step Auto Petrol Hatchback

£30,514

2L
5.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Bridgwater

01278555750 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2008 - 1.6 116i ES 3 door

Low Mileage

£4,000

1.6L
55.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Cuxton Road Car Sales

01634959364 *

1.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2017 (66) - 3.0 M140i Hatchback 3dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

£13,700

Finance available £284 pm

3L
82.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Hammond Cars Ipswich

01473927579 *

4.5/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£10,289

Finance available £208 pm

1.5L
38.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Distinct Motors Ltd

01618048207 *

BMW 1 Series2019 - M140I SHADOW EDITION 5-Door

£14,995

Finance available £313 pm

3L
91.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Mersey Leisure Vehicles

01514597705 *

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 120i [2.0] M Sport Shadow Ed SALVAGE REPAIRED 5-Door

Reduced

£10,991

Finance available £223 pm

2L
25.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

AUTOMOTIVE SOLUTIONS

01280733612 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2007 - 118D SE 5-Door

Reduced

£3,299

2L
168.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Bexhill Motors Eastbourne

01323403942 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 (63) - 2.0 118d M Sport Hatchback 3dr Diesel Auto Euro 5 (s/s) (143 ps)

Low Mileage

£7,295

2L
91.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Elmbank Motor Company

01292430978 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - 1.5 118i Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£6,489

Finance available £123 pm

1.5L
96.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

DJH Prestige And Sports

01216615564 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 118i [1.5] SE 5dr [Nav] Step Auto

£7,999

Finance available £156 pm

1.5L
97.8K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Mayesbrook Motors

02037808232 *

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

Low Mileage

£21,844

1.5L
16.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

drivedirect Bury St Edmunds

01284331263 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 1.5 116d M Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£13,890

1.5L
44.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Dace Car Supermarket

01616945306 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2022 (22) - 2.0 118d M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£21,200

Finance available £442 pm

2L
34.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Big Motoring World Blue Bell Hill

01634557830 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

Reduced

£20,250

Finance available £395 pm

1.5L
29.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Ballyrobert Bangor

02891249490 *

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.

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