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.

2,990 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2014 (14) - 116i Sport 5dr

£4,588

Finance available £80 pm

1.6L
97.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Stoke Motorz ltd

01782389384 *

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

Low Mileage

£27,350

Finance available £541 pm

2L
6.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Saxton 4x4

01245202306 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (63) - 2.0 116d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 5 (s/s) (116 ps)

Low Mileage

£7,500

Finance available £145 pm

2L
70.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Bhakar-Wood Cars LTD

01952953931 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 116d M Sport 5dr Step Auto Diesel Hatchback

£25,995

1.5L
10.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Vertu BMW Exeter

01392341615 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 - 118i Sport 5dr

£15,298

1.5L
54.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Click & Collect Exeter

01414839930 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (19) - 1.5 116d M Sport Shadow Edition Hatchback 3dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (116

£13,399

Finance available £260 pm

1.5L
59.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Hilton Car Supermarket Milton Keynes

01908049370 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 2.0 120d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

£9,770

2L
81.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Dace Specialist Car Centre Manchester

01612417068 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 (71) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£17,945

1.5L
22.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Motor Trust UK Bury

01612416386 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (67) - 1.5 118I Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£11,300

1.5L
32.7K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Liberty Green Cars

01329559706 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 - 2.0 118I SE Auto 2dr

Low Mileage

£6,745

2L
59.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Convertible

Eco Cars Motor Company (London)

01144372786 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 1.5 118i M Sport DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£15,898

Finance available £333 pm

1.5L
71.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Corus Automotives

01777800508 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (20) - 1.5 118i Sport DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£16,499

Finance available £339 pm

1.5L
54.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Sandles Car Supermarket

01553601835 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 2.0 118d M Sport Shadow Edition Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£13,490

Finance available £279 pm

2L
58.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Dynamic Motor Company Ltd

01422413648 *

4/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2014 - 2.0 120d M Sport 3 door

£5,695

Finance available £105 pm

2L
106.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

MUGIEMOSS AUTO CENTRE LTD

01224453658 *

BMW 1 Series2017 (17) - 2.0 120d M Sport Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£12,295

Finance available £252 pm

2L
74.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Precision Motor Group

02039537318 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 128ti 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Professional]

Reduced

£30,800

Finance available £612 pm

2L
5.8K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Ocean Group BMW Penryn

01326333538 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (69) - 1.5 118i M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps)

Low Mileage

£17,290

1.5L
39.8K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

AutoUnit Ltd

01633741698 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 - 116d Sport 5dr [Nav]

£8,750

Finance available £173 pm

1.5L
77.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

JB Autos Sales

02870440586 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (66) - M140i 5dr [Nav] Step Auto

Low Mileage

£22,995

Finance available £452 pm

3L
67.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

DMC

01412601329 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 1.6 118i M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£7,900

Finance available £154 pm

1.6L
100.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Browns Car Company

01621733495 *

4.7/5 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

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

* 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.