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 Series2018 - 116d M Sport Shadow Edition 5-Door

Reduced

£10,450

Finance available £211 pm

1.5L
81.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

MARLING CAR SALES LTD

01952953911 *

BMW 1 Series2014 (64) - 1.6 116i SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£8,495

Finance available £167 pm

1.6L
28.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Perry Road Autos

01621734653 *

4.9/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2012 - 123d M Sport 2dr

£4,290

2L
106.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Coupe

The Motoring Company

01280733610 *

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

£19,990

1.5L
29.9K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Cars2 Wakefield Hyundai

01924667154 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2024 (24) - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£23,799

1.5L
20.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

HPL Motors Oldham

01612416881 *

BMW 1 Series2012 (12) - 1.6 116I SPORT 5d 135 BHP 5-Door

Low Mileage

£4,500

Finance available £78 pm

1.6L
72.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Car Central

01217287201 *

BMW 1 Series2023 (72) - 1.5 118i Sport (LCP) DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£17,990

Finance available £349 pm

1.5L
33.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

UK WHEELS LIMTIED

01279212123 *

BMW 1 Series2017 - 3.0 M140i Shadow Edition Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (340 ps)

£18,223

2L
68.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Lympsham

01934312926 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2023 - 118i [136] Sport 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

£20,850

1.5L
15.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Stratstone BMW Milton Keynes

01908104093 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 2.0 120d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

£10,499

Finance available £212 pm

2L
66.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Northumberland Motor Village

01665660980 *

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

Low Mileage

£24,399

Finance available £512 pm

1.5L
7.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motorpoint Birtley

01913387241 *

BMW 1 Series2021 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£17,899

1.5L
16.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Perrys Chesterfield Ford Commercials

01246383484 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2011 (11) - 116d Sport 2.0 5dr

£2,395

2L
124.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Auto Mobile Motor Group Ltd

01442504346 *

BMW 1 Series2009 (59) - 2.0 116i Sport Euro 5 5dr

Reduced

£3,250

Finance available £50 pm

2L
79.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

The Drivers Gallery Ltd

01572491189 *

0/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2020 (69) - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [Tech/Pro Pack]

Low Mileage

£16,500

Finance available £346 pm

1.5L
15.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Car Universe Limited

01708202780 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2018 (68) - 1.5 116D SPORT 5d 114 BHP 5-Door

Low Mileage

£11,499

Finance available £235 pm

1.5L
41.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

John Keeble (Bramford) Ltd

01473354329 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2025 - 1.6L BMW 1 SERIES PETROL

Low Mileage

£6,600

Finance available £125 pm

1.6L
55.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Jan London Trade Ltd

01217288705 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 1.5 118I Sport Auto 5dr

£20,900

1.5L
29.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

LMC Cars

01708206105 *

BMW 1 Series2020 (70) - 118d M Sport 5dr

£18,990

2L
47.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Listers Boston (BMW)

01205335096 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 2016 BMW 120d sport start/stop ulez compliant £35 road tax 5-Door

£6,893

Finance available £132 pm

2L
98.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

GPS Transporters

01280730894 *

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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